The TwangBangers - 26 Days on the Road
(Hightone Records)
3 1/2 Stars (out of 5 stars)
Reviewed: March 22, 2002
By Tom Schulte
The TwangBangers are a country-rock super group of some mighty, singing guitar players. These honky-tonk heroes are the legendary axemaster Bill Kirchen, Redd Volkaert who backed Merle Haggard in The Strangers, barroom baritone Dallas Wayne and steel guitar master Joe Goldmark. Each veteran gets his chance leading this fine array of talent, whether on one of his own originals, or just hard country classics such as "I Got A Rocket in My Pocket" or "Rockabilly Funeral." One such signature tune is Bill Kirchen performing "Hot Rod Lincoln." The nine-and-a-half live version includes Kirchen running the guitar style spectrum from Speedy West to The Sex Pistols, including the Rays, the Kings and more. This is basically a live album recorded during the tour, although three tracks ("In Memory of a Memory," "Truck Drivin' Man" and "Wacky Walk") were recorded in the studio by a reunion of the group.