Sometimes a day is all you need. It certainly worked for Wilmington Americana band Stray Local. The band’s third album, following up on last year’s “The Sun Still Shines,” is an intimate, wildly energetic collection of old time music. The trio of Hannah Lomas, Nick Simon and Jamie Rowen, brought together friends and musicians to make a memorable, lively album of old time music. Local producer Trent Harrison (Hourglass Studios) recorded the album at the band’s house, a session that began in the afternoon and finished late at night. “Lonesome Road” sounds fantastic, capturing a band that’s really finding its groove and is very comfortable as a live act. The strictly live recording grew out of weekly jam sessions and rehearsals. The result is an album with a dual personality of songs that sound like they were brought to life on a back porch on Sunday afternoon and played with rollicking ferocity on a Saturday night. I hate to think what the album would feel and sound like if it were recorded in a studio, with time to re-record or tinker too much with songs. “Lonesome Road” sounds perfect without being studio perfect (look no further than the lovely “Say Darling Say”). Faster songs feel so alive. Take “Cripple Creek,” which sounds like it was recorded at the end of the night while gallantly feeling as though it’s coming apart near the end. Slower songs, like the green field elegance of “As Time Draws Near,” has Lomas at the top of her game — warm, forlorn and angelic. Stray Local really shines on this material, returning to its roots as players of old-time music. Rowen and Lomas met in college at UNC-Greensboro, bonding over this style of music while studying. They met Simon while in Wilmington, asking him to join the band after watching the percussionist perform in downtown Wilmington. There’s an in-the-moment energy to “Nine Pound Hammer,” “Fall on My Knees” and The Hillbillies’ “Cluck Ol Hen,” which has a punk rock immediacy to it. The same goes for Lomas’ abandon on the song, notably towards its close. Rowen and Lomas sound great together on the title track, his deep singing contrasted against her tender harmonies. But Lomas stands alone, and tall, when singing the haunting murder ballad “Omie Wise.” If you’ve not seen Stray Local around town make a point to check out a show, especially if you’re a fan of old time music. They’ll deliver the goods and also surprise given the variety of material they recorded for their last album. ~Brian Tucker, Wilmington Star News