Even if I wasn't predisposed toward 'em, I'd probably cozy up to the Waco Brothers' new CD release, New Deal (Bloodshot), after hearing its opening cut. Set to an insistent country blues rhythm, "Poison" contains what can only be a telling put-down of insular blog life:
"You want to make friends but you never leave your homeEnjoy yer new sheltered life, head Waco Jon Langford is saying to a former club-goer. But none for me, thanx. "It's your party, but I don't wanna go. . ."
Tapping out a message in the corner on your own. . .
You're sharing false notions with your new conservative friends
Riding out on-line from the corner you defend."
I'm uncritically fond of the Waco Bros. Three guitarists (Langford, Dean Schlabowske & Mark Durante), mandolin player Tracy Dear and pub rock vet Steve Goulding: true heirs to the wasted rock/country promise of Workingman's Pigpen, Beggars Banquet Stones plus early Burrito Bros. Look at their tiny pics in the CD booklet and you see a buncha middle-aged wrecks, yowling into their mikes w./ the unrepentant rage of lefties who've made it into adulthood neither compromising their beliefs nor their humanity. Just the fact that these guys keep going is enough to make me smile. That they keep getting better 'n' better at their wracked-up squalling is a minor miracle.
Though New Deal opens and closes w./ country poliscreeds - finale "The Lie" would seem to be taking on G.W., the privileged politico ("A builder of bridges to nowhere . . . They all call you junior") - much of the disc is devoted to the more trad hard times themes of mainstream c-&-w, skewed thru the Wacos' p.o.ed punk perspective, of course. "New Deal Blues" evokes the new recession: rough and rueful, full of sinuous guitarwork, angry and barely controlled, the kind of song that tells you why onetime punks like Langford would gravitate to this music. "No Heart" is a rockin' plaint (great pedal steel from Durante) about struggling in Chicago, the city that's been the Wacos' home base from the beginning.
Article comments
1 - Steve Rhodes
Bloodshot Records is having their annual holiday sale. While New Deal doesn't seem to be on sale, several older Waco Brother CDs are on sale for $10 or $12 along with music by Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Old 97s, Sally Timms, Robbie Fulks, and even Neal Pollack's spoken word backed with music album and the children's album The Bottle Let Me Down.
And this is from the end of their latest newsletter (which is well subscribing to):
A Party:
We can't have a spectacular holiday Sale without a spectacular holiday party. On
Fri Dec 13, we're celebrating the holiday's and our 100th release at the Hideout in Chicago. This will be a special evening, featuring special bands, special drinks and special door prizes from dozens of Chicago stores. The party starts at
pm. Check the website soon for more details.
We sincerely hope your holiday season is full of gold, frankincense and mirth. Check out our site, send us some mail or give us a call. Weve cranked up the gift-giving factory to help you spread good cheer. Happy Holidays!
2 - Bill Sherman
Some nice offerings in the sale bins: I'd definitely recommend Electric Waco Chair, the band's previous release, to anyone wanting to check 'em out . . .