Again, their music is classified as “alternative country,” whatever that means. If it means rock with country influences, then that sounds about right. They have a drummer and a bass guitarist. And they bring in a guy to play violin. Tonight was a guy that used to play with the Asylum Street Spankers (Guy Forsyth’s band). They have songs that are optimistic and pessimistic, totally folk or loud rock, and of course the country anthems.
The guys range in age, from 20-something to 40-something. But somehow they each add a little touch to really make it come together and seem complete. They are fun to watch. And since there is a different singer for each song, there is variation to their sound. What does that mean? It means the problem that plagues so many bands today of all their songs sounding the same really isn’t an issue on any level.
King Straggler also tells the same jokes every night. Ladies, even though they say they are all single and Scorpios, I am not sure that any man in the band is either. But man, are they obsessed with their penises. I cannot tell you how many jokes or references they made to a penis. It really was quite the enjoyable show. It wasn’t packed, which meant there weren’t crazy drunk people rubbing up on me. It also meant there was plenty of room for those who wanted to dance and really get into it. This is the only South by Southwest show I have been to this year where people were dancing in more than a "bob your head and bend your knee" kind of concert dance. It was fun. I already have their CD, but if I didn’t, I think that show would have inspired me to go out and buy it. And yes, King Straggler is one of the 900 bands that has a free download on the SXSW website.
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