The term New Weird America identifies an old-meets-new brand of freak folk, drone fused noise and psychedelic rock but Austin based Shotgun Party are a reminder that the USA also routinely produces a heap of weird hybrid music that falls outside any genre known to man.
The 17 tracks on their sophomore release throw together elements blues, bluegrass, folk, country, jazz and old time swing to create wild mix of numbers tailored primarily for a party loving crowd.
The screwball whine of Parrott's voice will charm and irritate the hell out of listeners in equal measure. She also plays guitar and the trio for this record is completed by Chris Creppes (upright bass) and Katy Rose (fiddle).
Most of the 17 tracks are quirky Parrott-penned originals although there's also a version of Lillie Mae Kirkman's raunchy blues standard He's Just My Size (here renamed Kitchen Mechanic) and Moonlight is based on a song by Tin Pan Alley songwriter Henry M. Woods. In addition, there are a couple of re-worked traditional instrumentals (Dragging The Bow and Tayna) showcasing Katy Rose's lively fiddle playing.
|
Shotgun Party are a lively fun-loving band who don't take themselves too seriously. The main reason for not warming to them is because I kept having the nagging feeling that the whole thing was an elaborate in joke I was not privy to.
Ultimately, their eccentric brand of weirdness just seems to be tailored too specifically for a home-grown Texan fan base, making them a kind of local band for local people.
|
