My favorite blonde Chicago friend emailed me a week or so ago indicating that she had a good time at a show recently. She had spoken with the guys in the band Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and they indicated that they were coming to Pittsburgh. Well it turns out that they were playing Moondog’s in Blawnox. Tara (said Chicagoan) gave me the number of the drummer, Tim. I gave him a call and told him we’d be out for the show. He was excited to hear this and I looked forward to hearing them play.
We arrived at the show after attending (another) wedding shower for Bill and Laura. The opening band was a three piece (sans drummer) number called “Mini Mavens”. They were an old school honky tonk band (think Hank Williams, Sr.) out of Pittsburgh. Even though I’m not a huge fan of such music, they put together some solid tunes and I enjoyed myself.
The BSOJC showed up after awhile and Bridget and I proceeded to talk to the band members for awhile. We talked to Tim for about 45 minutes until they had to play. We stayed for both their sets and we picked up their pre-release CD. Their live show was much more reflective of the coolness factor than the CD. I still enjoy it though. I also bought two of their tracks on the iTunes Music Store. I got a song called “Truckstop in La Grange” from the album “Walk Alone” and another song entitled “1970 Monte Carlo” from the album “Distance Between.” BSOJC play what is called “alt-country.” It’s more of a new version of what country used to be. It’s nothing like the power-pop albums that current country stars put out. As far as I’m concerned, current country music is nothing more than pop rock with a steel guitar and/or a fiddle.
I’m not a big fan of country music but I enjoy some of the unique stuff that was made in a prior age. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings are names that I cut my teeth on in the country genre. I’ve yet to hear a country song that matches “Folsom Prison Blues.”
Long story short; Grab a few BSOJC songs if you can. At minimum go and listen to the samples on their website. It may not be your cup of tea, but it’s worth checking out for the sake of expanding your mind.
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One of the best albums I ever nabbed at a flea market - Johnny Cash, Live at the Folsom Prison … on vinyl mind you.
Let me know if you wanna come over and listen to it some time.
Another shower…I take offence…this is the first one you attended…and I think you really enjoyed the bachelor party, Mr. Ringleader…someone is just jealous….
I’m not complaining, I’m just saying you’ve had a bunch of showers. A bunch!
I’m hoping they’ll be on your IPod when you visit…..
Thanks for the recommendation, I just downloaded some of their stuff from iTunes. It’s good to finally hear some real country that hasn’t been “Toby Keithified”.