For Joey Frendo, “Fool Hearted Woman” is nearly autobiographical. The Americana artist settled in Tulsa with his family after years of cutting his teeth in the Michigan indie scene. Now, he’s living his days as a performing musician, which means a troubadour’s schedule with persistent tour dates and opening features. His Americana befits the travelogue’s archetype, particularly with a single like “Fool Hearted Woman” that playfully jabs at Frendo’s road warrior status. Fittingly, Frendo notes that it was one of the first songs he’d written since moving to Tulsa. Musically, it’s a driving honky-tonk track that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Justin Townes Earle or Hayes Carll record.
“As a musician, I’ve had to accept that doing what I love means being away from home and away from loved ones,” Frendo tells PopMatters. “To a point, the more successful I am, the more I will have to be gone a lot. Even though I dream of being out on the road, there will always be a part of me that wishes I was home.”
“This song speaks to the disbelief that anyone would willingly partner with someone like that and the joy you can find when someone accepts you, flaws and all. Thankfully, my wife is that person for me and has supported me through everything. Although it’s a little tongue-in-cheek, it ended up being an homage to her in many ways.”
“Fool Hearted Woman” releases on 24 February and is the lead single from Joey Frendo’s full-length debut, Bound for Heartache, via Horton. The upcoming LP is a soulful follow-up to the songwriter’s Stone Mason’s Son EP, which marked a solo breakthrough following years on the Michigan folk-rock circuit with various bands. The album is now available for preorder.
