With the release of “I’m Southbound”, Norfolk South announce themselves not merely as a new band, but as a meeting point for lived-in musicianship, shared influences, and a reverence for the timeless pull of American roots music. This first original single is a statement of intent, one that wears its love for Southern rock, blues, country, and Americana openly, while grounding those traditions in the soil of Norfolk County, Southern Ontario.
At its core, “I’m Southbound” is a road song in the purest sense. It is not obsessed with speed or spectacle, but with motion, resolve, and emotional gravity. The track unfolds over a steady, unyielding drum pulse from Mark Kantor, whose 35-plus years behind the kit are evident in every measured strike. His drumming securely commands the song, acting as the pulsing heartbeat of a journey that has already begun before the first note fades in.
Beneath that rhythmic spine, Ron Harten’s basslines thump with purpose rather than flash. They move like tires on asphalt, constant, grounding, and subtly melodic. Harten’s experience as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter shines through in the way his bass supports the narrative arc, never crowding the arrangement, always reinforcing the sense of forward momentum. There is a feeling here that the band understands restraint as an art form.
The guitars, handled by Rick W Mercer, bring grit and character. His playing is dirty in the best way, favoring texture and feel over flashy bluster. Each riff feels weathered, as if it has already lived a few miles before reaching the listener. Mercer belongs to a lineage of songwriters who treat music as testimony, not product, and this track exemplifies that philosophy. Having written the song years ago and revisited it with fresh urgency at Studio 224, Mercer allows the composition to breathe, trusting its bones and emotional truth.
Hovering and weaving through the mix is Tony Duclos’s harmonica, an instrument that often defines the soul of blues-based music. Duclos uses it not as a decorative flourish, but as a narrative voice of its own. The harmonica moans, warns, and beckons, echoing the internal pull that drives the song’s protagonist onward. It is insidious and expressive, adding a smoky edge that connects the track directly to the blues traditions Norfolk South so clearly revere.
Vocally, the song is surefooted and unpretentious. Mercer delivers the story with conviction, never overplaying the emotion, letting the words do their work. The chorus hook lodges itself quickly, not through bombast, but through repetition and sincerity. This is the sound of a man who knows where he is going, even if the destination itself remains more spiritual than geographic.
Lyrically, “I’m Southbound” operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it is a travel narrative, tracing a route through iconic American landscapes. But beneath that map lies a deeper meditation on escape, identity, and rebirth. The imagery of worn clothing, limited means, and a one-way departure speaks to a conscious shedding of the past. This is not a reckless flight, but a deliberate leaving, fueled by the belief that something essential waits further down the road.
The recurring references to mountains are particularly telling. Rather than obstacles to be conquered, they are portrayed as guardians, forces that both challenge and stabilize the traveler. This duality mirrors the emotional tension of the song itself, the fear of falling balanced against the comfort of movement. Nature becomes both witness and companion, reinforcing the timelessness of the journey and its universality.
What makes the song resonate so deeply is its refusal to romanticize struggle while still honoring its necessity. There is humility in the narrative, an understanding that freedom often comes stripped of comfort, and that transformation rarely arrives neatly packaged. The South, in this context, is less a literal destination than a symbol of roots, rhythm, and belonging. It is a place where music, memory, and self converge.
As a collaborative side project, Norfolk South could have easily felt fragmented. Instead, “I’m Southbound” sounds unified and intentional. Each member brings decades of experience from their respective paths, whether through bands like The Shoeshine Boys Blues Band, The Old Barn Doors, Lower Ground, Indebt, or Northernsoulbrotherhood, yet none of that history weighs the song down. It enriches it.
For a debut original release, this track feels remarkably assured. It does not chase trends or attempt reinvention. Instead, it leans into tradition with confidence, proving that roots music remains powerful when handled with authenticity and care. “I’m Southbound” is a song for anyone who has ever felt the urge to leave, to move, to trust the road ahead even when the future is undefined.
With this release, Norfolk South have planted their flag firmly in familiar yet fertile ground. If this single is any indication, their journey is only just beginning, and wherever they are headed, it will be worth following.
You can find Norfolk South on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/norfolksouth and at their website www.norfolksouth.com. The track “I’m Southbound” is currently a FREE download at https://norfolksouth.com/single/169217/i-m-southbound.
