James Carlson's roots run deep. They begin in the foothills and canyons near Sunland – Tujunga; the ‘twin cities' located on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the City of Angels. His songs weave traces of his wanderings, from the yucca and chaparral there, through the miles he hitchhiked from Southern to Northern California, and on to the deeper greens of the orchards of Yakima, Wash., where he picked apples, more as a sustenance for his soul than for his wallet.

His parents met in a college choir, and James and his brother Rob began singing at an early age, soon going on to craft their own songs. First influences: The legendary hard-living country balladeer Merle Haggard, who hailed from Bakersfield; he made a profound impression on the young songwriter who marveled at Merle's surviving prison time. Upon his release from prison, Merle began his new life on the outside as a free man wearing prison-issued paper shoes.

The bluegrass band Country Gazette was another reference; Oklahomans, they made accessible and popularized the old bluegrass country traditions for the modern ears of city folk. Perhaps more than anyone else, Gram Parsons' collaboration with Chris Hillman and their harmonic convergence in the Flying Burrito Brothers influenced James and his brother Rob.

The brothers forged their own harmonies in their first band, Parson's Trail. The band was actually named for an itinerant preacher, Parson Warnum, who had settled in James' hometown, Sunland – Tujunga. A late 19th century preacher, Parson deeply loved the area and became known for singing the old gospel standard, “Lord I'm Coming Home.” He died and was buried in the town he loved, his resting place a cemetery (still called Parson's Trail cemetery), at the apex of the hillside road, Parson's Trail. James and his brother Rob share Parson's sentiments and the songs they write express their wonder of nature's beauty, and the heart's landscape of passionate love and despairing loss.

In 1988 James found his way to Nevada County, to “the river-blessed Sierra Foothills,” and raised his family here; currently he calls Grass Valley home.

Upon release of James' second album, “Meet the Rain,” Andy Gonzales wrote in the May 2008 issue of Tempo magazine of James' songs “ ... that cross several musical genres and weave through love and relationships and socio-cultural issues with acoustic and electric instruments and rich vocal harmonies.” CD Baby recommends the album to those who like Neil Young and Gram Parsons.

Andy Gonzales has invented a new title for the genre of this wandering songwriter's tales of journeys through lands of love and despair: Mystical Country Soul. With a poetry rich in metaphors for life's heights of love and passion to the depths of dark despair, James Carlson's songs reflect his belief that life is a journey; we each undertake our own journey, our destination unknown.

All are invited to join in the pre-New Year's festivities with James Carlson and his band Steady Hand, featuring Jonathan Lyerly on electric guitar, Larry Tracy on pedal steel guitar, Larry Casterly on bass, and Larry Stites on drums; 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Robert Smith's The Old 5 Mile House. No cover; fine dining and full bar.

Lisa Ezell is a freelance music writer. Reach her at musicpress@live.com.