Younger McCartney brings his show to Spokane

James McCartney came to a solo career late, although it’s fair to say he’s been around music his entire life. When your parents are Paul and Linda McCartney, there’s little choice.

McCartney, the youngest child of the former Beatle and his late wife, is touring the U.S. in support of his second full-length album, “The Blackberry Train.” He’s bringing his show to the Bartlett on Friday night.

The record, released May 6, is a deft blend of pop and rock, with more than a hint of psychedelia. The opening track, “Too Hard,” features guitar and backing vocals from Dhani Harrison, George Harrison’s son.

McCartney, speaking by phone from London before heading out on tour, said the decision to record “Too Hard” with Harrison came from the song itself.

“The song sounded a bit Traveling Wilburys to me and I asked him to play solo on it,” McCartney said, referring to the 1980s supergroup that featured George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan. “He did half the solo, I did the other half. Simple as that. … It was good. It’s all about the song for me.”

It wasn’t his first time working with a Beatle kid; he played guitar on Sean Lennon’s 2012 release “Alter Egos.” In 2014, he recorded the Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye” with the Cure, singing vocals and playing keyboards, for “The Art of McCartney,” a collection of Paul McCartney songs sung by artists like Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson.

McCartney, 38, performed on his father’s 1997 release “Flaming Pie” and 2001’s “Driving Rain.” But it wasn’t until later that he turned to music full time. He released two EPs in 2010 and 2011, and put out his first full-length album, “Me,” in 2013.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, reviewing “Me” for allmusic.com, called it a “mature” debut: “the melodies are direct, not elliptical, the feel is warm and enveloping – but it’s the craftsmanship of “Me” that resonates, as it takes skill to create a set of songs this subtle and strong.”

In following up with “The Blackberry Train,” McCartney said he was going for a different sound. To help him get there, he enlisted Steve Albini, who produced “In Utero” for one of McCartney’s favorite bands, Nirvana.

“I thought he would do a different sound,” McCartney said. “He’s worked with a lot of cool people. … I think the way he records is cool.”

The tour, his second full-fledged U.S. tour, began in Northern California on May 10. He’s been performing steadily in recent years, primarily in the U.K., and it’s been a learning experience.

“It is daunting,” he said. “But I do enjoy it. The more and more I gig, the easier it gets.”

It’ll just be him up on stage, and he’ll switch between guitar and bass, both electric and acoustic. The set list will be of all original material.

While he doesn’t like to talk about his famous family, he does say it can be a challenge to play for audiences who are there mostly because of his name.

“It depends on the crowd, really,” he said. “I think they have a good time. And it depends on how much I’m enjoying myself.”