Bar Bands and Borderlands

Tony Peyser
Mirror contributing writer

   One of The Great American Bar Bands is The Skeletons from Springfield, Missouri. They made four rock ‘em, sock ‘em albums in the 1980s and 1990s which were possessed with a twangy, rockabilly and early rock and roll good time vibe. 
   Like an author who occasionally uses pseudonyms, most of The Skeletons have also recorded on occasion as The Morells. They did this in 1982, took the next 19 years off and now have a second CD out simply called The Morells. Despite its unimaginative title, it was well worth the wait. 
   In “Double Crossin’ Liquor,” a nasty drunk comically blames his legs, mouth and stomach for getting him into trouble. The second track also features a boozed up narrator who could perhaps benefit from an intervention: “I need another shot of the hair of the dog that bit me/If you can’t serve me here, sir/I’ll take it with me/I never met a 12-step program made to fit me.” 
   Another endearing cut is “Seven Days Without Love” which has a singularly great hook with a double meaning: “Seven days without love makes one weak.” 
   These are clever fellas and this is an insanely enjoyable album. One of the most insanely enjoyable songs I’ve ever heard is “The Eyes Of Roberto Duran” about a strong-willed young Hispanic woman. Chris Gaffney, a longtime Dave Alvin crony, did a terrific version as did the guy who wrote it, Tom Russell. Alvin, who just won the best folk album Grammy, has often mentioned how much he admires Russell’s songwriting abilities. That’s saying something. 
   Russell has a new album out, Borderland, which again proves why people like Alvin and Gaffney want to a) write with and b) record his material. Russell starts out with another winner, “Touch Of Evil” which uses the 1958 Orson Welles movie as a jumping off point to talk about the crosses we bear and the borders we cross in the name of romance. 
   Russell takes his time as he recounts the fictional movie he loves and the real woman who no longer loves him. In a bouncier mode is the nostalgic “When Sinatra Played Juarez” about a Hollywood celebrity hangout in a bordertown where quickie divorces flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Joel Guzman, who’s played with Los Lobos and Joe Ely, provides some delicious accordion playing which helps the song sound like margaritas taste: sweet, salty and intoxicating. Russell even throws in a highway tune —- appropriately titled “The Road It Gives, the Road It Takes Away” —- that’ll make you want to head out to parts unknown while listening to it. 
   CDNow has The Morells for $14.49 and Borderland for $13.49. 
   ** Local fave Ramsay Midwood is moving on up in the world with a gig at The Troubador at 11:00 on April 11. Appearing on the bill with Midwood are The Snacks.

   The Goofy Band Name Of the Week is ...Captain Pants.