Circuit Riders & Torch Singers

Tony Peyser
Mirror contributing writer
  
   Between guitarist Ray Fralin and lead singer Steve Fisher, the Virginia-based Circuit Riders sound like Mark Knopfler being backed up by The Grateful Dead. Fisher also reminded me of T-Bone Burnett, who’s better known for his “O Brother” producing than his Dylan-esque singing. Track seven on Sun Moon Mule has these lovable lines: “The horses are getting tired waiting in their stalls/The crowd is growing restless hoping the acrobat will fall.” These are from the infectious “Circus Is In Town” which recalls a time when a traveling show’s arrival could lift a whole town’s spirits. The equally endearing “Silence of The Great Divide” reminded me of The Traveling Wilburys, another swell band Burnett was involved with. But given the similarity to the aforementioned Knopfler, let’s just call The Circuit Riders the sultans of twang.
   The last track on San Fernando Valley-based Gie Few’s new album is “You’re Not Deaf, I’m Talking Low,” a sly, slide guitar-driven instrumental. But the other tracks on Agrees & Grins have vocals and I quickly realized this is refreshingly smart roots rock. Willie Ferguson’s voice seems designed for dark nights and open highways. The glibly titled “Force Fed, Fed Up & Tongue Tied” reveals a lyrical wit that pushes everything up a notch or three.
   Ferguson’s singing reminded me of Warren Zevon and Tom Petty. Gie Few (which basically means “damn few”) is quirky, kinda herky-jerky, damn good and deserves to be heard by damn many.
   Two solo pieces on Corey Harris’ fifth album, Mississippi to Mali, are all you need to be convinced of his blues gifts. The instrumental “Coahoma” feels like a walk down Depression-era tracks near hobos about to hop a train to nowhere better than they already are. With his piercing slide guitar and infrequent moaning, “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” is simply stunning. This was on Ry Cooder’s 1970 solo debut. I’m hard-pressed to say which is better. Harris is the blues’ new gold standard.
   Every Tuesday night in Austin, Toni Price performs at The Continental Club. She’s very well paid, packs ’em in and puts on a hell of a show. So, how’s Born To Be Blue, her sixth album? It’s a sultry wonder. The musically multi-tasking Price mixes up blues, honky tonk, country and western swing. She doesn’t write her own material but when you’re singing songs by Walter Hyatt, Gwil Owen and Dr. John, who the hell needs to set pen to paper? After hearing Price’s shimmering version of Hyatt’s “Get The Hell Out of Dodge,” you may want to get hell into Austin, especially on Tuesday nights.
   Get Sun Moon Mule at www.circuitriders.tv for $12.99. Miles of Music has Agrees & Grins for $7.99 and Born To Be Blue for $13.99. Amazon has Mississippi To Mali for $13.99.
   On December 3, Crooked Fingers are at The Troubador.
   *On December 6, McCabe’s has Boston folk rockers Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert.
   * The Iraq-Themed Goofy Band Name of The Week is … Quaqmire.