Honky Tonk Confidential: Your Trailer or Mine?

One shouldn't be too surprised to hear a little irreverence and political incorrectness from any given Washington DC based band, but what's unexpected on 'Your Trailer or Mine' is that it's backed with a solid honky tonk punch with accompanied by retro western swing flair.

From the liner notes, to the cover graphics to song selection and vocals, this project is first rate, entertaining beyond expectations. In turn, it's no surprise Honky Tonk Confidential's 'Your Trailer or Mine' (Too Many Dogs Music) headed straight to the top of the FAR (Freeform Americana Roots) chart upon its release.

Showcasing imaginative, songwriting skills, the project unpredictably takes inspiration from both the bizarre and commonplace events of real life. Self billed as "16 songs about loving, drinking, cheating, murdering and dying," Your Trailer Or Mine, looks boldly in the face of political correctness and proves you can get away with just about anything if you say it with a smile.

With it's tight three part harmony, Honky Tonk Confidential offers retro-twang with a twist. The groups vocals are shared by Diana Quinn (rhythm guitar), Mike Woods (lead guitar) and Geff King (bass).

The album leads straight out of the chute with a heartache song, 'It Still Hurts'. Diana Quinn's memorable twang sets the tone and leads naturally into the title cut, 'Your Trailer Or Mine,' the twangy tale of a quirky, left of center romance written by Ken Harnage. Bobby Martin's steel playing raises the impact of this song by more than a few rungs. 

What would a real country CD be without a drinking song? The band offers up 'Goin' Round The World', a snappy, methodical ditty about an alphabetized pub crawl that's an education in itself, before kicking things into high gear with the rockabilly swing of 'Rock Creek Crawl.'

Honky tonk twang and western swing is only the tip pf the musical iceberg as the band offers a little of everything, from the almost forlorn, roadhouse lullaby 'Daddy's In A Honky Tonk Downtown' to the bluegrass hillbilly lament of a career gone wrong in 'Pee Wee's Gone,' that showcases Dan Mazer on banjo.

'Check Out Time' is alt-country at it's morbidly finest, as it weaves the tale of crime and death, set in a motel room, while the instrumental eclectic-ness of Sancho Panzer proves that it's not everyday that you hear a creative surf beat, mixed with a decidedly desperado tinge, set to an old German folk song. No I'm not kidding.

No Washingtonian-retro-honky tonk band repertoire would be complete without a subtle reference to a political scandal. Inspired by the Clinton school of double talk 'That Depends On What You Mean By Lonesome' more than fills the bill.

If you're fan of country music that used to be -- the witty inferences of Cowboy, Whatcha Got On Me?, Hit With A Bullet and Big Hat, No Cattle will all strike the right chord.

Entertaining from the first intro to the last note, Your Trailer of Mine is an welcome escape from the mundane drove of today's country fare. It'll be well worth the extra effort to find this one!

Laurie Joulie Take Country Back April 2002