Second Slam
Twang
Muddy River Records 0235
OK, here's your "gotta have" for this year. It's full
of fun music, most of it original, in the footsteps of
the Holy Modal Rounders. Twang stepped out of the ghost
of the Chicken Chokers from the Boston area. They seem to
be playing regularly, and their crazy web site lists
upcoming gigs. It's also replete with strange and crazy
photos. Twang is:
"Chip" Taylor Smith - fiddle and pedal steel
Jim Reidy - various banjos and electric tenor guitar
Paul Strother - telecaster and fiddle
Robbie Phillips on the Wombat "Washtub"
Mickey Bones - drums... whatever.
A lot of Twang's material sounds like they have
studied the Austin Lounge Lizards. Their A22 includes
some good harmonies, clever lyrics and nice pedal steel
work. And they do some really nice work on traditional
stuff, like June Carter's Ring of Fire, where the fiddle
is prominent.
Paul Strother's cover letter with this CD closes
with,
"Let me know if you like the CD. If not, I'd just
leave them in the car for vandals to steal - that's the
best way I know to distribute old-time music."
But I'd disagree. Best way to distribute old-time
music is for groups like Twang to keep on plugging away
with their special kind of music. Keep it up, guys!
Copyright
© 2000, Bill Thomas, Jug Band Rag, All Rights
Reserved