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Weary Boys: Weary Blues |
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Track List 1. Worried Man Blues |
(Self-Released) The Weary Boys return with
their second CD of high octane bluegrass/honkabilly, Weary Blues. The
CD, however, isn't quite what the Boys' had in mind when they set out to
record it. The original plan was a live CD, recorded at Louisiana State
Penitentiary in Angola, meant to be a tip of the hat to Johnny Cash's
Folsom Prison. The show did take place as planned, and by all
accounts, the Boys' played one of their best shows ever. Unfortunately,
the warden introduced them before they'd had the chance to do a
soundcheck, and their sound man had a chance to make sure everything was
set up right. So the first 3 songs were marred by technical
difficulties. Then they found that the mobile studio ended up
recording the songs too slow, and they wound up with nothing usable.
Disappointed, but left greatly inspired by
the experience, they then headed into Cedar Creek to record the songs,
live in the studio (as was their debut effort), though minus the
audience. The prison show also inspired Mario to write a new original
song, based on something the warden had told him regarding what he says
to prisoners on their way to execution, "Get ready to see the face of
Jesus," resulting in the song "Face Of Jesus."
Once again the Weary Boys, (Mario Matteoli:
vocals & guitar, Darren Hoff: vocals & guitar, Brian Salvi: fiddle,
vocals, Darren Sluyter: upright bass, and Cade Callehan: drums, vocals),
take no prisoners, and dive head first into the songs with so much
energy and passion, it makes their name sound like one the the greatest
oxymorons of all time. Weary Blues contains five original
Matteoli penned songs that once again fit seamlessly into the other 9
tracks of old time traditional songs.
With the breakneck speed of a runaway train,
the Boys tear through traditional fare such as, "Worried Man Blues,"
"Katy Daly," the blazing instrumental "Salt Creek," as well as their
like-minded originals, "Busted Down," "Losin Lovin" and the call and
response "Can't Keep Me Down." They slow things down on the mournful,
high lonesome, "lost love" ballads "No Letter" (with Mario's sister
Janna Matteoli on harmony vocals) and "Another Song, Another Drink."
Another original, "Weary Blues," crackles with the sound of an old 78
record and the lonesome blues of a man truly down and out. Spirituals
are represented with the mournful "Angel of Death," and the Matteoli
original, "Face Of Jesus," which follows a prisoner to his date with
death (with Janna once again on harmony).
One of two standout tracks on Weary
Blues is their amazing cover of Lefty Frizzell's "Be With You
Always." This one stopped me dead in my tracks the minute it came on-
the vocals sound uncannily like the ghost of Lefty himself, and a time
or two, eerily like a young Merle Haggard. The other stunner is
"Pauline," a slow, bluesy, high lonesome instrumental, that's delivered
with an impeccable slow burn.
As with their excellent debut, despite 14
tracks, this one's over before you know it, with half the songs clocking
in at under two minutes, and the other half well under three
minutes. The band sounds even a little tighter this time around, no
doubt the result of a little more time playing together, considering
they'd only been together for a few months before the release of their
debut. The Weary Boys, with their ferocious energy and obvious passion
of the music they play, make the old time treasures sound fresh and
newly relevant. Their original songs show a great depth of understanding
of this music they have chosen to play, that belies the tender young
ages of the band members. The result is another fine album of authentic,
100% country music. Due to a few unfortunate mishaps, Weary Blues
may not be exactly the album the Boys' had originally wanted to put
out, but nevertheless, it turns out to be yet another winner from this
rapidly up and coming Austin band, and once again proves why they've
quickly attracted not only quite a bit of attention, but also
growing following of very devoted fans.
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AnnMarie
Harrington Take Country Back
August 2002