Mayeux and
Broussard – While The Gittin’s Good (Independent)
In case you weren’t aware, Texas country music is as
distinct a genre as symphonic prog or hardcore punk rock. Songwriters Tate
Mayeux (vocals and acoustic guitar) and Brian Broussard (lead guitar), together
with their band (Taylor Englert on drums, Misha Ben-David on bass guitar and
Matt Wiley on lap steel) reside in Austin, and play a particularly hard-edged
version of Texas country music, the sort of thing Steve Earle made his name
playing before kicking bad habits. In fact “While The Gittin’s Good” will take
many listeners back to that special time in the ‘80s when a host of new performers,
including Earle, revitalized country music, by concurrently taking the music
back to its roots, while injecting some much needed energy, and believe me,
this collection lacks no energy, whatsoever.
They kick off with “Leave Me
Where I Lie”, a drinker’s lament if ever there was, and the first chance
to hear the heady interplay between Mayeux’s ragged, raspy, booze steeped
vocals and Broussard’s Creedence-esque, twangy, bluesy lead. They work together
beautifully, and when they up the pace on “Sky High
Ryder” it’s even better. That’s confirmed on “Papa's
Pistol” and the tremendous “Long Day Blues”,
a deceptively simple song, which brings the musicians to the fore. Live, I
imagine they stretch it out somewhat, but here it’s a succinct and pithy 2:40.
In fact, while we’re on the subject, I’d love to see them play these songs on
stage; I’m sure they’d be absolute stars on the UK roots / alt. country
circuit.
Phil S.
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