Buffalo Gospel has a way of crafting classic country songs that still deserve a place on the playlists of modern listeners. Fittingly, the band’s timeless sound lends itself well to public domain footage. About two months after facing tough luck (and Ted Perry) in their “18 Wheeler” music video, Buffalo Gospel decided to throw its cowboy hat back into the visual field with a much less whimsical video this time around.
“Homeless” is arguably the most somber song on the band’s emotional and altogether outstanding new album, On The First Bell. It references the concept of a city becoming a ghost town, and chronicles a once-bustling community slowly vanishing. For the song’s video, singer-guitarist Ryan Necci paired his sad lyrics with grainy fair use footage that he cut together to capture the spirit of Buffalo Gospel’s composition. Images of children, happy families, marching bands, and life in a thriving small town are quickly countered with shots of brush fire, exodus, and emptiness. Like much of Buffalo Gospel’s material, it’s tragic and captivating all at once.
“I think, at first look, the images show a hopeful and vibrant lifestyle,” Necci tells Milwaukee Record. “However, when paired with the song, there’s also sort of an ominous and sad vibe to it. Hopeful, vibrant, ominous, sad—that’s usually where my head is at when I’m writing.”
Before Buffalo Gospel plays Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire this weekend and Burnhearts/Pabst Street Party on June 30, watch the video for “Homeless” now.