THE BOURBON DYNASTY "The Bourbon Dynasty" Night World
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THE BOURBON DYNASTY, it appears, has nothing to do with French royalty and a lot to do with honky-tonk bloodlines. The band, which is headed by singer-songwriter Charles Walston, formerly of the Atlanta-based Vidalias, consistently looks to hard-core country for inspiration, solace and humor.
With his deadpan delivery and taste for atmospheric ballads and curiously unfolding vignettes, Walston comes across as someone T-Bone Burnett wouldn't have a problem relating to in the studio. As it turns out, though, Walston is no slouch himself when it comes to presenting his songs in a light that evokes country music before it was cooled and canned.
While there's more twang than torch here, thanks in big part to guitarist Bob Craver, Walston nevertheless succumbs to a struck-silly encounter on "Girl in the Checkout Line" ("Wish I had the nerve to speak /maybe she'll be back next week") and offers up his love like a school kid with a bad crush on "The Best That I Can Do." The most memorable ballad, however, is also the most haunting: "There's a Whisper," a tale of suspicious minds. With its slinky guitar echoes of "Suzie Q," the mid-album admonition "Low Tolerance for High Maintenance" quietly stands out, too.
Besides his closely attuned bandmates -- Craver, drummer Bob Berberich (of Grin fame), keyboardist Mark Stevens and bassist Philip Stevenson -- Walston is supported by several guest musicians on this impressive debut, including pedal steel guitarist Page Waldrop, saxophonist Chris Watling and trumpeter Vince McCool.
-- Mike Joyce
Appearing Friday at the Red and Black.
