Texas Gulf Coast native Jarrod Birmingham's musical recollections go back to his treasured childhood visits with his grandfather who played guitar and fiddle. Those sounds had a profound and lasting influence on Jarrod. He tried his hand at songwriting as a young adult, but he didn't feel his attempts were very successful. He changed direction and spent several years on the professional rodeo circuit riding bulls. During those years he experienced some hardships, injuries and getting the chance to travel the country. While he was sidelined by an injury, he tried his hand at songwriting again. This time, with gained maturity and some life experience under his belt, the songwriting came easy to him. About this same time, he realized he also had a desire to perform. He started out jamming with friends, and eventually The Jarrod Birmingham Band was formed. The band entered the "Rising Stars Over Texas" talent search and beat out thousands of other contestants to take first place.

Although Jarrod's a native Texan with deep roots in the Lone Star State, the foremost thing that means is he has an independent streak wider than the Grand Canyon. He's often been compared to Waylon Jennings and told he looks like Dwight Yoakam. He takes his influences not only from his Texas roots, but everything from the traditions of Nashville to the highest mountaintops of The Rockies to the Great Plains. Says Jarrod, "To me, making music is about reaching deep inside and pulling out what's in you at that moment in time. It may not be the same as yesterday's or tomorrow's but it is definitely a piece of you. I refuse to be categorized by placing boundaries on those moments. Music, much like life, is all about stages. Hopefully, each stage burns hot enough to take you to the next level."

And so, Jarrod's sophomore album is titled Stages. Out of the album's 11 tracks, it includes 9 of Jarrod's self-penned songs. Stages boasts a few songs in the Waylon 'outlaw' style tradition, starting with the album's opening track, "Best I Can." On this one, while he acknowledges the comparisons, he also makes it clear he's only playing his music the best he can and makes no claim he'll ever fill the shoes of the 'outlaw' legends. "All The Way To Waycross" is a rough and tumble courtship tale between a rogue and the girl who's caught his fancy. "Bad Side Of Me" paints a classic portrait of an orn'ry cuss with a mean streak while "Let's Get It On" has a swampy, country-rock Hank Jr. influence to it. "I Talk To Jesus" successfully meshes a hard outlaw style with gospel and includes a soulful choir backing.

The full blown honky tonk two-stepper, "Guilty" tells the tale of a man who happily spends his life honky tonkin' and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. The shuffling "If That Ain't Country" is Jarrod's statement that he doesn't care for or about the labels people try to pin on him, he is who he is and his music is what it is- country. He delivers a spirited honky tonk kiss off in "Cheap Wine."   

Jarrod balances Stages with a few ballads. The Tex-Mex inflected "Whiskey & Lies" is a swaying barroom weeper of aching regret. Bonnie Bishop joins Jarrod on the beautiful and heartfelt ballad of finding true love, "I Can't Imagine." "Center Stage" is another strong, aching ballad, this one describing the feelings of being torn between his love of performing and the fact it takes him away too often from the other loves of his life- his wife and family, and trying to find a balance.

I'm not quite sure how anyone could consider Jarrod Birmingham and his music anything but country. Folks like Waylon, Willie and Billy Joe Shaver brought country music back to it's basic roots in the 70's, and Jarrod carries on that tradition here. Some of his songs are undoubtedly harder edged, but are still country through and through- the kind heard in rowdy smoke filled, whiskey soaked roadhouses. At the same time, he can nail a straight ahead traditional honky tonker to the wall and deliver an aching weeper with the best of them. Jarrod possesses a strong voice and writes vivid songs about real life, real people and honest emotions. While comparisons can be made to a certain extent, he doesn't sound like Waylon, Willie, Hank Jr. or anyone else- he sounds just like Jarrod Birmingham, a man with his own voice, his own songs and his own style. Jarrod's right, "It may not be the same as yesterday's or tomorrow's," it's all about stages and Stages should, without a doubt, take Jarrod to his next one.   

Standout Tracks: "Guilty," "Whiskey & Lies," "Let's Get It On," "If That Ain't Country," "Cheap Wine," "I Can't Imagine" 

On The Net: www.jarrodbirmingham.com www.cdbaby.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack June 2004