|
Django Walker: Down The Road |
||
|
Track List 1.
Down The Road |
(Lazy Kid Music) Down The Road is
the debut CD from Django Walker. Though he only graduated from high
school in 1999, and then spent two years studying at the Liverpool
Insitute of the Performing Arts (the college funded by Paul
McCartney), he's already penned a #1 hit on the Texas Music Charts,
"Texas On My Mind," which Pat Green and Cory Morrow dueted their way
to the top of the chart with. And already Django's becoming a seasoned
vet of the Texas circuit, playing everywhere from small bars to Gruene
Hall to Billy Bobs. He's also well versed as to the business side of
things.
Could be Django's got two things in his
favor, inheriting a good set of genes, and growing up in a household
where his exposure to the music business was a fact of life. Django
Walker's father happens to be Texas music icon Jerry Jeff Walker. (And
yes, he's named for the famous jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt). It's
tough enough on a kid to follow in his father's footsteps. So imagine
how tough it would be to try to make a name for yourself, when your
father casts such a long shadow. Not only does one have the unenviable
task of trying to step out of a father's shadow, there will always be
comparisons made, and expectations to live up to.
With that in mind, Django had the delicate
task of figuring out how to pay tribute to his roots without getting
tangled up in them. On Down The Road, he does a good job of
finding that middle ground. He's spent a lot of time watching,
learning, and working with current Texas favorites, Robert Earl Keen,
Cory Morrow and Pat Green, who were in turn influenced by Jerry Jeff.
Django was further shaped by a few of his other musical influences,
such as Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, the Beatles, and Seven Mary
Three. Of course it's going to be inevitable that a little of Jerry
Jeff's influence is going to crop up, a bit of a young Jerry Jeff can
be heard in Django's voice every now and then.
When it came time to record Down The
Road, Django enlisted Lloyd Maines to produce. Along with his own
band, Greg Combs (lead and 12 string guitars, harmony vocals), Noah
Watson (drums), and Keld Swart (bass), Django gets musical support
from Brenden Anthony (fiddle), Jordan McBride (mandolin), Riley
Osbourn (keyboards), Lloyd Maines (pedal steel, dobro, slide acoustic
and acoustic guitar), and Pat Green (vocals). Django wrote or co-wrote
10 of the album's 12 songs, and two were contributed by his bandmates.
Several of the songs are about the call of
the open road, whether it's chasing down the dream with a band as in
the title cut, "Down The Road," the weary lament of a road warrior in
"Texas Blacktop Highway," that has seen one too many highways but
keeps on going because there's bills to pay, the lonesome ballad, "All
The Miles," or the toll being out on the road takes on love in ""Love
Is A Crazy Thing." Django and the boys also offer up their own version
of that tug of war between the call of the highway and the longing for
home, "Texas On My Mind," which not only did Cory Morrow and Pat Green
take to the top of the chart, but Jerry Jeff recorded it on his 2001
release, Gonzo Stew. Django also rolls out his own version of
another of his songs Jerry Jeff recorded on his 1999 disc, Gypsy
Songman, "The Road You Choose," the tale of the class geek that
grew up to be a famous movie star, and now his own son is going
through what he'd endured in his youth.
Django gives a tip of his hat to his
dad with "Modern Day Bojangles," co-written with Pat Green. The song
alludes to Jerry Jeff's classic, but it never approaches imitation.
Rather it tells of what a different world it is today. "College Life"
is pure, infectious fun, and even if your college days are long behind
you, it'll elicit a good chuckle. "Jose & Jack" continues with the
theme of alcohol induced adventures, while "Another Day," wonders why
people are always in such a rush, never taking time out to enjoy life.
"Wild Cowboys" is a pretty and wistful fantasy of days gone by. "The
Lost Songwriter" is another strongly written standout, that will
probably be covered quite a few times in the future, an aching
and lonely portrait of a songwriter who can no longer find his words.
Django still got a lot of living to do,
and sticks mostly to the subject matter he's lived so far, which is
mostly an exuberant young man, chasing down his dreams. But so far,
his writing is strong and intelligent, and as he gains more life
experience, it can only get stronger, and Django shows great promise
in rising up to the level of some of music's greatest
songwriters. Vocally, he doesn't possess a remarkable voice, but it's
a good one, and he knows how to deliver his songs to maximum effect.
He's got a strong backing band that helps shape the overall sound.
With his debut Down The Road, Django Walker's off to a good
and very promising start.
|
|
AnnMarie
Harrington Take Country Back October 2002