(BB3 Records) 3 Ring Rodeo was born in 2002 out of a chance meeting between Fort Worth area alumni and founding members Chad Bilbrey, Donny Tomlinson and Sheldon Packwood, who variously worked as sidemen for other notable artists that include Johnny Lee, Bret Michaels, Kevin Sharp, Joe Nichols, Delbert McClinton, Chuck Berry and John Fogerty. No longer being content with toiling in the shadows of others, they decided they wanted to perform their own music on their own terms. In addition to founding members Chad Bilbrey (lead vocals, bass), Donny Tomlinson (drums, backing vocals) and Sheldon Packwood (acoustic guitar, bass, vocals) the band also enlisted Justin Alverson (electric, acoustic, 12 string, baritone and slide guitars, backing vocals) to round out the band. Since recording Don't Send The Invitation, Justin has exited the band, and Rob Packwood, who wrote two of the album's songs, joins 3 Ring Rodeo as it's newest member taking over for Justin.

On Don't Send The Invitation, 3 Ring Rodeo shows off a nicely diversified style that includes traditional country, contemporary Texas music and a smattering of bluesy southern-fried rock. The disc kicks off with the sound of a revving engine that segues into the rocking roadhouse honky tonkin' title track, "Don't Send The Invitation If You Don't Want To Party." They keep the whiskey soaked roadhouse mojo working with the Texas 'outlaw' style "Inner Hank," a standout song that tells of a country singer who couldn't quite find the soul in his country songs till his woman done him wrong. They move into the contemporary Texas music sound with the mid-tempo "The End Is Not In Sight," and Tommy Alverson contributes duet vocals on the aching mid-tempo ballad, "Old Lover's Moon." Sheldon shines, taking lead vocals on "One Look" that also features some great harmony work, while the gritty "G.R.I.T.S." pays homage to Girls Raised In The South. The soulfully powerful "Nothin' Between Us" is southern blues-rock 'end-of-the-line' ballad.

3 Ring Rodeo delivers a healthy dose of traditional style two-steppers and shuffles showing a good measure of witty humor. Although a few of the song titles are tongue-in-cheek, the songs are far from being novelties or as cornball as the titles might hint and are both clever and well written. "I Don't Drink About You Anymore" and "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)" are a pair of two-steppers, while the band delivers a pair of shuffles with "Several Light Beers Away" and "Two Sided Love Affair."

Lead vocalist Chad Bilbrey possesses a voice that has a Travis Tritt quality to it, a soulfulness that allows him to pack a punch on the bluesier-grittier material yet he can also easily deliver the goods on tender-aching ballads and nails the more traditional honky tonkers. Sheldon Packwood also proves a strong vocalist, and no matter who's singing lead, the harmonies are tight and outstanding. 3 Ring Rodeo is made up of seasoned sidemen and road warriors who know the ropes and have proven with Don't Send The Invitation If You Don't Want To Party that there's often just as much (and sometimes more) talent backing 'the stars' as there is in 'the stars' themselves.     

Standout Tracks: "Inner Hank," "I Don't Drink About You Anymore," "Old Lover's Moon," "Several Light Beers Away," "Nothin' Between Us Now," "Pass Me By," "Two Sided Love Affair," "One Look"

On The Net:  www.3ringrodeo.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack May 2004