CD Review: Rich Pagano + the Sugarcane Cups’ Hold Still Light Escapes (2025)

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Rich Pagano & the Sugarcane Cups, which is our loss ‘cause Rich is a helluva singer, songwriter, and musician, as evidenced by Hold Still Light Escapes, his sophomore effort. An impressive and altogether amazing collection of lovingly-crafted songs, Hold Still Light Escapes documents Pagano’s late son Nic’s five-year substance abuse disorder, with the songs inspired by their texts, journals, and personal experiences. Heady stuff, to be sure, and such closely-held, obvious ‘labors of love’ sometimes fall flat – not this one! Pagano’s skills as a wordsmith and musician propel these ten songs firmly into classic rock territory, i.e. lots of infectious melodies, chiming guitars, and smart lyrics.

Rich Pagano + the Sugarcane Cups’ Hold Still Light Escapes

Hold Still Light Escapes opens with the title track, a rootsy rocker with cautiously optimistic, hopeful lyrics with Pagano’s vox nearly hidden in the mix, and some great guitarplay from former Jason & the Scorchers/John Mellencamp/Hearts & Minds guitar-wrangler Andy York. The more up-tempo “Slowly” evinces a garage-rock vibe, mostly due to Kevin Bents’ tasty keyboards work, while the lyrics showcase the positivity of putting the past behind us and moving forward with life.

The somber semi-balled “4th of July” offers insight and support of the lost and lonely with a gorgeous soundtrack reminiscent of Dave Alvin while “True Love” is an enchanting story-song about emergence and perseverance that sports nuanced vocals and instrumentation that creates a gossamer, hypnotic listening experience. The wry “Mother Teresa” is deceptively brilliant – a cautionary tale, perhaps, of the allure and struggles of addiction – the mid-tempo song diving into R&B territory with a blast of Craig Dreyer’s sax solo and subtle guitar from Jack Petruzzelli.

“Huntington Beach” may be my favorite song on Hold Still Light Escapes, a brilliant, cinematic portrait of addiction with poetic lyrics worthy of Bukowski and a sparse instrumental backdrop that swells in grandeur with Pagano’s crescendo of drumbeats. The confessional “Useless” veers directly into Pete Townshend and the Who with great vocals, whipsmart lyrics, and a 1970s-styled, radio-friendly arrangement. The last of the CD’s main tracks, “At the End of the Day” is a Gospel-tinged tale of survival and forgiveness provided gravitas by Pagano’s earnest vocals combined with Brian Mitchell’s reverent keyboards, with guitarist Ann Klein laying low in the groove.   

The Reverend’s Bottom Line

Giving his fans more bang for their bucks, Pagano has fleshed out Hold Still Light Escapes with a half-dozen cool “bonus” tracks, including a powerful live acoustic version of “Useless” and solid, rocking, non-LP live performances of “Ariel’s Return” and “Rearview St. June,” from the self-titled 2009 Rich Pagano + the Sugarcane Cups album. The CD closes with the raw, immediate, and heartfelt “Something To Live For,” providing a poignant end to Hold Still Light Escapes. Net proceeds from the CD benefit The Nic Pagano LGBTQIA+ Scholarship for Recovery (www.releaserecoveryfoundation.org/lgbtqia), so what are you waiting for? Grade: A (self-produced, released 2024)

Buy the CD direct: Rich Pagano + the Sugarcane Cups’ Hold Still Light Escapes