The Boxmasters

This was very different. It was rockabilly with some twists. The interlude between songs was the twist. I am glad I purchased it.

Whatever you choose from the title of this review: either way it's a very nice album. Great lyrics and some good ol' country & westernmusic.

I happened to see Billy Bob and the Boxmasters being interviewed on a morning San Antonio TV show. I am a big movie fan of his and the show was at a small venue, the Scout Bar, and somehow I managed to persuade my husband to go with me. We both loved it and I bought their CD during intermission between the 2 sets. You could tell that Billy Bob really loved what he was doing and every band member was awesome. Now my husband is a die-hard SRV fan, and we have been to a lot of concerts, but this one remains at the top for me. Sadly, the cd is not getting the play and coverage it deserves, and I still get the raised eyebrows and weird looks when I talk about the cd, but you have to hear them to believe it. Some of the covers they did in the second set are not in the cd and I would love to be able to get them. Thanks Vanguard Records and Boxmasters!

This is a great album. It's sincere and darkly macabre at once. In that way, and in Billy Bob's voice, the music reminds me a little of Warren Zevon. Of course, Billy Bob worked with Warren Zevon and the two were friends, so that would make sense. The video for "The Poor House" has the same sensibility -- the cutaways to Billy Bob's nodding head are creepily hilarious. (The guest drummer in that video has a great British Invasion move, too.)

So anyway, this is a good purchase. I'm glad it's doing reasonably well on the charts. It probably couldn't have been a best-seller -- the Boxmasters, like Zevon, are just too far ahead of the times.

I went to go see the Box Masters in concert at Merrimack Hall in Huntsville Al for one reason. I liked Billy Bob's movies...it was a small venue and I might be able to meet him and get an autograph or two. Who knew that I would actually enjoy the friggin show?!? It is very rare that I see a group not knowing ANY of their songs and after one show I go to the lobby and buy a CD. It doesn't have the commercial appeal that Garth Brooks or Hank Jr. would pull but the songs are very real. You listen to them and if it doesn't apply to you...it applies to someone you know. It has this neurotic "last grasp" feel to it....like mixing the group "Everclear" with "Johnny Cash". I think the with the right exposure tracks 1-4 of their original stuff could easily be country hits.....and tracks 5 and 6 could resonate as bar room anthems across the country(like friends in low places sort of thing). There is quality to this CD and the live show and I think any doubters will be pleasantly surprised