Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Are You Ready For The Country and More Cowbell present THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS, SHOTGUN PARTY (AUSTIN, TX) & JACK KLATT
9:00 door | $5
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CACTUS BLOSSOMS

These guys have come straight out the gate with few accolades, few followers, but an incredibly polished sound. Sarah Jean’s done gone and discovered a shiny little pearl for me and I’m just tickled pink. The Cactus Blossoms’ harmonies are as tight as can be (think not only the Louvins but also the Everlys, and again, I’ll credit my friend for her observation that to sing like that you have to have come from the same womb). Playing last night with accompaniment from a bass and a fiddle, their set list pretty much speaks for their sound. In about an hour they played a what’s what of the best old country and folk/blues standards: “Lovesick Blues,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” “Crazy Arms,” “Brand New Heartache,” “I Overlooked an Orchid,” “Blue Railroad Train,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “You’re Running Wild,” and “The Moon Is High” (shoot if that ain’t an impeccable play list), as well as songs made famous by Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan. (Nikki Miller)

SHOTGUN PARTY

As winter chills, Shotgun Party levels a warm blast of summery swing and bluegrassy-folkie bounce on Mean Old Way. The Austin-based trio is a perfect target for fans of anything Maryann Price does, meaning their gentle yet lively music is as loaded with bandleader Jenny Parrott’s mountain-cool vocals as it is shot with hot jazzy fiddle courtesy of Katy Rose Cox. It’s Cox’s fiddle that gives the band such personality, beginning with instrumental cover “Draggin’ the Bow.” On the other side, the unexpected beauty of the bilingual “Y Yo” suggests that Parrott’s horizon is broader than it appears, as does the smoky presence of Steve James on slide and Stanley Smith on clarinet on “Run n Hide” and the sly “Kitchen Mechanic.” Some of Mean Old Way‘s sweet new sound comes courtesy of producer Mark Hallman, who imbues the 17 songs with his legendary expertise, guaranteed to warm cold nights with someone you love. (Austin Chronicle)

JACK KLATT

Jack Klatt is one of the coolest people I have been lucky enough to meet. He is one the most traveled, young singer/songwriter, guitar slangin’ men around. Do yourself a favor and just lend him a bit of your time he will dazzle your socks off. When you watch him play you realize he’s not just another dork with a guitar, but a true storyteller who works on nothing but his craft. We are lucky to have him in Minneapolis for the time being but don’t hesitate to see him soon because he wont kick it around these parts forever. (Paul Hirte)