Jul 01 2009
The Von Ehrics – Loaded
The Von Ehrics
Loaded
Crustacean; 2009
When the one sheet for this record came across my desk, I was curious to see how this Texas-based power trio would be able to combine the likes of Social Distortion and Steve Earle without losing the stylistic distinctiveness of both those iconic artists. Thankfully, Loaded finds The Von Ehrics having a rousing good time on a regular basis and the band wants to invite you on stage with them. Over the course of ten tracks, nine of which are three-chord, two- and three-minute cow-punk tunes, outlaw country fraternizes with punk fervor and rockabilly swing to cobble together a sound that’s ready made for dingy, dirty dive bars filled with grizzled regulars.
There’s nothing flashy or fancy going on here, as The Von Ehrics perform their songs with an unapologetic smirk that simply draws you further into the music. These gentlemen are proud of their talesa of carousing, good times, low blows, and living life as they best see fit. There’s an appealing proto-punk throughout the album, what with the snarling guitars and the brief song lengths, but there are instances, especially with “What Else…,” “I’ll Like Yours,” and “The Worst Is Over” when the simplicity is a bit grating. I’m personally a fan of the tracks “Just Leave Me Out,” “Buy Me A Drink,” and “A Week Of Living Dangerously,” mostly because they find the band crafting bawdy, up-tempo two-step numbers that would be welcome at country dance halls and sweaty punk clubs. Loaded might not be the most technical piece of work you’ll hear this year, but The Von Ehrics certainly do know how to inculcate a fun-loving atmosphere with their music.