Search - Two Tons of Steel :: King of a One Horse Town

See TToS live & you'll enjoy this disc more fully

Rick Hansen | Cedar Park, TX United States | 07/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"King of a One Horse Town is most notable for two obvious points: one, lead singer/songwriter Kevin Geil has found happiness & comfort in his role as husband & new father and two, bassist Ric Ramirez is very talented in the production booth. The sound on this CD is more balanced & lively than 'Oh No' (their previous disc, also mixed by Ramirez), and the band (Geil on acoustic guitar & vocals, Ramirez on upright bass & vocal--a monster talent, Ramirez was nominated for a Grammy in '98 as part of Los Super Seven--, Dennis Fallon with his heavy surf rock influenced electric guitar, and the rock solid Stephen Hartwell who epitomizes 'less is more' drumming) plays mighty tight throughout. The songs are solid if not altogether spectacular & remain true to standard rockabilly ideals: love lost & won, lonesome honky tonk heroes, & the importance of moving in celebration no matter what happens. I've followed the band since the early '90s (when they were known as The Dead Crickets & were tearing up lousy beer joints in the St. Mary's district of San Antonio), & they're playing better than ever these days. They're branching out more & more these days, and if you live in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, or Corpus Christi odds are you'll be able to see them some night soon. They're wearing grooves in I-35 and I-10. Go out and see them some hot Texas night. And if you're lucky enough to catch them at Gruene Hall near New Braunfels, Cibolo Creek Country Club near Selma, or the legendary Continental Club in Austin you just might find yourself following them all around the state."