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Honkey Tonkin'
So you're not a kid any more. You're an adult and rock and roll that's aimed at kids just doesn't do it for you anymore. You want music made by adults, for adults. You want to go honky-tonkin', even if it's right in the comfort of your own home. Here's several CDs (most from independent labels) for you then.
BILL KIRCHEN, "RAISE A RUCKUS" (1999: High Tone) - The former guitarist from Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen took his trio down to Texas to record this CD, which features guests Flaco Jimenez on accordion, Austin de Lone on guitar and keyboards, and Bobby Flores on fiddle, among others. The record explores Texas Swing ("Big Hat /No Cattle"); cajun rock ("Girlfriend"); and Dylan meets barroom boogie ("Raise A Ruckus"); electric country ("Interstate"), as well as the occasional ballad ("Man In The Bottom Of The Well"). "Raise A Ruckus" is a solid collection of adult rock and roll.
THE IGUANAS, "SUGAR TOWN" (1999: Koch International) - From New Orleans, the Iguanas are perennial favorites at festivals. Playing their specialty, Latin meets bayou music, is where they really shine, though it's easy enough to cut a rug to them when they play straight out rock as well. Two saxophone players are among the multi-instrumentalists in this quintet, which is often driven along by lots of percussion, and Mexican instruments like the bajo sexto and guiro as well as the horns.
ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS, "HERE & NOW" (1999: Tone Cool) - The 17th recording from this 34 year veteran of the professional music business, harmonica player, vocalist and songwriter Piazza has made a very good disc filled with blues that really swing. The quintet features Rod's wife Honey, who is an excellent piano player and songwriter herself. The occasional saxophone section adds to what is a very well-paced romp through every kind of electric blues sound. Piazza gets amazing tone from his harps, partly perhaps because he has co-designed his own line of "Harp King" harmonica amplifiers which are the talk of the harmonica community.
THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS, "SONS OF THE GOLDEN WEST" (1999: Grateful Dead Records) - This musical institution is back at it again. The line-up for this unit has changed many times over the 30-some-odd years since it first formed with the late Gram Parsons and former Byrd Chris Hillman. Since the 1980s the Burrito Brothers have been led by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter John Beland, and features Wayne Bridge on all the sliding things, from steel guitar and lap steel to dobro. The Burritos make adult music for adults who refuse to take themselves too seriously (or even grow up all the way) and those who like to go to their honky tonks fueled by things other than alcohol. If you pause to wonder if this is some cynical attempt to capitalize on a known name, forgeddaboutit. Guests like Merle Haggard, Sam Bush, The Oak Ridge Boys, Allison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Ernie P. Ball, and Delbert McLinton -- not to mention the Grateful Dead Records people -- wouldn't allow themselves to associated with such a thing. This is the real thing.
_______flowerpunkprods______ For more of da Flower Punk's thoughts on recent CDs and concerts, check out http://pauserecord.com .
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