(Smogveil) California Speedbag, a band that despite it's name, actually hails from Cleveland and grew out of the 70's punk band The Kneecappers. A couple of the members of The Kneecappers would get together with a few members of other bands to play country music, which turned into a side project, which in turn resulted in the formation of a full fledged band. California Speedbag's members are Gary Lupico (vocals, guitar), Russell Sherman Jr. (bass), Jeff Benik (drums), Brian Cox (vocals, guitar) and Dan Morris (steel).

Although California Speedbag has been playing together for over a decade, The Fire Of The Misery is their first official release. While their sound is planted firmly in tradition, lyrically their approach is unique, often running the gamut of off kilter analogies, sly wit and tongue-in-cheek humor. The shuffling barroom weeper, "Don't Drink That Whiskey" is a lyrically left of center love song, while they make an analogy between a truck stop and a broken heart in "The Biggest Truckstop In The World." The country ballad "Home Fries" tells the tale of a man smitten with an unimpressed waitress, and as she tosses him out, he delivers the song's clever tongue-in-cheek punch line. The theme of prison runs through the ballad "Gates Of Heaven," and has the song's character asking Jesus if he's on his "Shit List" after murdering his lover in this gospel/country-rocker. 

The honky tonker "Don't Go City On Me Girl" addresses a wandering lover, while the disc's lone roots-rocker "Marilyn Monroe," slams one who's stuck on herself. There's a drunken swagger to the two-stepper "Button Willow" about a man trying to win back a lost love, and "Empty Bottles, Empty Life" is a shuffling barroom weeper about regrets and loneliness. The honky tonker "Darling Will You Marry Me" tells about the joy of second chances. "White Trash Is People Too" is a swaying mid-tempo anthem that encourages people to take pride in who they are, no matter where they come from. The disc closes out with a footstomping, Cajun inflected cover of Leonard Cohen's "Tonight Will Be Fine."

California Speedbag plays hardcore country music, the kind that was influenced by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard and George Jones. They not only stay true to the sound of classic country, but also to the time honored themes that include drinking, wandering lovers and prison. The vocals are often rough, the music is well played and includes lots of steel, and the production decidedly non-glossed. Overall those things work to their advantage given the rather unconventional lyrical approach of much of their material. With The Fire Of The Misery, California Speedbag terrifically proves that remaining true to the genre doesn't necessarily mean the music has to be ultra-serious, but the lyrics can twist and turn and be as fun as hitting the honky tonk dancefloor.          

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AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack October 2003