The Honkytonk Wranglers
Hangin' Around
(Swelltune Records)
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In 1971, at 12 years old, I spent a weekend with a paternal uncle and his family. They lived in one of Iowa's tiny rural towns.
I was from a city. So, for me, country life was a different reality. Sunday meant all-day fundamentalist church, punctuated at noon by a houseful gathering. A table was loaded down with hot dogs, cold meats, breads, pop, and potato salad. A spirited throng gathered, dressed in church-going finery.
Roaming the rooms, I found a black-and-white 8x10 stashed on a bookshelf. It was a posed publicity shot, and depicted a country western-type combo complete with stand up bass, acoustic, electric, and steel guitars. They sported de rigueur cowboy attire: big hats, neckerchiefs, boots.
I didn't know the photo's vintage, nor did I recognize anyone featured. Some distant family members, perhaps -- ones who'd once dreamed vainly of celebrity? (Excerpted from the author's "Flesh Made Music.")
The Honkytonk Wranglers brought back that memory. They just played Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, and the Country they genially offer - polished (as in professional), but never overly so - is the sort of rug-cutting affair home-folks can never get too plentifully.
Each hand present maintains cool poise. Whether arrangements call for pacific interpretation, or for all on deck to lean back and let loose with jaunty diversions, caliber of executive rank is consistently on tap.
They are too damn good to end up like the unknowns in that 8x10.
Recommended: "Hangin' Around," "Cryin' In the Deep Blue Sea," "Sunday Down In Tennessee," "Better Safe Than Sober," "Under the Influence of Love," "Much Too Young To Die," "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down," "There's Not Any Like You Left," "The Late and Great Me"
Video: "Hangin' Around" (live) "Better Safe Than Sober" (live) "Cryin' in the Deep Blue Sea"
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