I’d venture a guess there aren’t many people walking around thinking of Akron, Ohio, as a hotbed of country music. Chrissie Hynde, Devo, The Black Keys: none of those really scream TWANG. Sometimes, though, you need to step outside the guts of the machine to see the big picture. It seems like Ryan Humbert and his bandmates, The Shootouts, have done just that. Their previous record, Bullseye, caught me by surprise and was one of my favorites of that year. Their upcoming release, Stampede, expands their game in a couple of directions.
First of all, Asleep At the Wheel frontman and Texas icon Ray Benson stepped in to co-produce the album. He also lent his vocals to the swinging One Step Forward. That tune also features AATW fiddler Dennis Ludiker, as does Must Be A Broken Heart and a bonus acoustic version of album opener Better Things to Do. Speaking of which, the electric version bursts out of the gate with a breakneck pace and highlights mandolin stalwart Marty Stuart. Other numbers on the record feature Buddy Miller, Raul Malo, and Jim Lauderdale.
As with any record from The Shootouts, twangy dance hall numbers figure prominently. The best of those, in my estimation, is Run For Cover. It has kind of a Jerry Lee Lewis meets Rockpile sound accentuated with a little saxophone. Sax is also prominent in Feelin’ Kind Of Lonely Tonight, a bluesy, country swing piece. The title track is an instrumental tune that starts fast and picks up pace as it goes along. At the other end of the spectrum, if you’re in the mood for a ballad, there’s Coming Home By Going Away, and a truly heartfelt Angel’s Work.
I’ve heard comments that The Shootouts are country music for people who don’t like country music. I can’t speak to that attitude personally. What I can say is if you do like old-school, blow-the-rafters-off, honky-tonk country music, you’re going to love Stampede.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.