Rick Shea is a solo artist, guitarist and songwriter who’s known for his own albums and for his work with Dave Alvin and other notable artists. Sweet Bernardine , his 8th album, is a collection of Shea’s own stories and stories of California and beyond. The arrangements are spare and simple, based on acoustic guitar, accordion or mandolin, and drums, but he does pull out the telecaster on a few. The songs reflect the folk, country, rock and Mexican influences Shea grew up with, as he lets the songs find their own settings. “If I had to compare myself I would say that, when I was younger Merle Haggard cast a long shadow, but since then Dave Alvin, Jim Ringer and a lot of other music has found its way in.”