(Crazyhead) The Hangdogs, which consists of Matthew Grimm (vocalist, rhythm guitar, primary songwriter), Kevin "Texas Tex" Karg (guitarist, keyboard, sometime lead vocalist), Automatic Slim (guitar, pedal steel), Rob Gottstein (bass) and Kevin Baier (drums), call New York City's Rodeo Bar their home base. However they frequently venture out across the country playing such venues as the famed Lee's Liquor Lounge in Minneapolis and Son's Of Hermann Hall in Dallas, to vent their sometimes angry and often socially/politically conscious mix of beer soaked honky tonk and country roots-rock. Long a local favorite, they've also earned a loyal cult following across the country with their acclaimed previous releases Same Old Story, East Of Yesterday, Beware of Dog and an interim live release, Something Left To Sell: Live Crap 1995-2000. 

Wallace '48 is their new offering that finds the Hangdogs in top form skewering everything from material excess to plastic images. The title track "Wallace '48" is an old-timey country folk nod to Henry Wallace, who ran on the third party Progressive ticket in the 1948 presidential race on a platform championing the common man. Corporate con men who scheme to sell us stuff we don't need and a public that feeds on it is addressed in a blistering honky tonk rocker, "Memo >From The Head Office," while they slam the media for promoting an image conscious society in the shuffling "Early To Bed." They mock corporate ladder climbing workaholics in the driving two stepper "Serious Guy," and for good measure without mincing words, they lambaste the lip-glossed, featherweight 'new country' divas in another shuffling honky tonker, "Drink Yourself To Death."

Between the social commentaries and observations, the Hangdogs offer up some traditional country themes with a clever two stepping drinking song "Alcohol of Fame," and the rocking "Come Back Darlene," about a hell raising couple perpetually drawn to each other despite never being officially a couple. The mid-tempo roots rocker "Goodnight Texas" is a poignant look at a man realizing he's past his prime and it's time to call it quits. They also provide some beautiful ballads, a soulful yet rootsy cover of "Midnight Train To Georgia," the mournful weeper "She's Leavin' You," and the swaying, old-timey reflection "Porch Swing." The Hangdogs close out the disc with an outstanding rendition of "Long Black Veil" which they transform into a country-rocker that still remains true to it's traditional roots.

The Hangdogs aren't interested in being politically correct, they just play what's on their minds whether or not that makes them culturally relevant in the current climate of patriotic jingoism. Still they forge on, proving their bite's as big as their bark delivering yet another solid effort of smartly written melodic malice and some flat out great butt kicking music.             

Standout Tracks:  "Wallace '48," "She's Leavin' You," "Drink Yourself To Death," "Serious Guy," "Early To Bed," "Porch Swing," "Long Black Veil"

The Last Word:  Solid disc of outstanding beer soaked honky tonk/roots rock with a social conscious.  

On The Net:   www.hangdogs.com   www.milesofmusic.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack November 2003