Dang! This is some twang.
From the first galloping Telecaster notes, these five Bozeman
fellows prove they're the real thing. Their website promises
we'll get none of that "smarmy whiny country that comes
out of Nashville these days." They're right. What we get
is some good old honky-tonk, true to country's roots.
The band, formed in 1998, is Sandy Dodge, steel guitar; Jim Lewis, electric and
acoustic guitars; Buck Buchanan, guitar (and songwriter); Russ Olsen,
bass; and Johnny Regan, drums. Friends Duke Sharp, Mike Parsons, and Mike Gillan
on guitars, fiddle, and percussion, respectively, contribute as well.
In between numbers penned by Buchanan are tunes good country bands aren't afraid
to cover, sung originally by country legends: "Glad to Let Her Go" and "The
Race Is On" (George Jones), "Lonesome Fugitive" (Merle Haggard),
and "Wine Me Up" (the late, great Faron Young). And don't forget Ned
Miller's "From a Jack to a King."
Shuffles, jitterbuggers and beltbuckle-shiners abound. There's Buchanan's "Live
in Town" ("If you really love the country, live in town"), "Clayne
and Virgil," about a Mexican fishing trip, and the kick-it dance number "Morina."·
Trucks, broken hearts, runnin' from the law, booze. It's all here, wrapped up
in searing guitar licks and cookin' bass and drums. Throw in excellent lead singing
by at least three voices and you've got twang in a big way. Besides, any band
featuring killer pedal steel is worth listening to in my book.
-Mariss
McTucker
State of the Arts
The most “country” country western
band in Montana, www.Twang mix up classic country covers with
equally classic originals and the chops to carry it off. The
solo work by steel guitarist Sandy Dodge and new lead guitarist
Jim Lewis shine throughout, but with five singers in the band,
the vocal harmonies are the frosting on the cake. With their
second release, this Bozeman-based band leans more on originals
by member Buck Buchanan. And that’s a good thing.
-Scott Prinzing
Billings Outpost
