Texas Sapphires
Roadhouse Gems- Live at John T. Floore Country Store
Written by Don Zelazny
Monday, 03 December 2007 [LINK]

If you had a hamster named Hank and a goldfish named Patsy when you were growing up, and you like live music, you're gonna like the new live CD from The Texas Sapphires called Roadhouse Gems- Live at John T. Floore Country Store. The 'store' is located near San Antonio and has played host to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline (the people, not the pets), Elvis, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Owner John T. was immortalized in Willie Nelson's song "Shotgun Willie" some years back. The CD is packed with 19 tunes. The band is led by Billy Brent Malkus (vocals, guitars, Dobro) and co-lead vocalist Rebecca Lucille Cannon. An interesting group this is! Malkus does have experience as a 'rancher', but of hogs in the Chesapeake Bay area, not longhorns. He came to Austin about 10 years ago. Cannon's musical history includes being front woman in the Austin pop-punk band Sincola. The band also includes "Slim Bawb" Pierce who has spent most of his musical life playing in country bands in Northern California before moving to Texas in 2006. The band pays homage to classic country in their music, both originals and covers, and even to some degree in their dress. Billy Malkus is generally decked out in a fancy black embroidered suit or shirt. No Depression called their music "a sweaty, tattooed take on classic country", (the 'tattooed' part likely referring to several very large tattoos on Rebecca's arms.)

The songs are a mix of classic old and 'classic new'. Malkus' originals fit in very well with some of the classics they played. The classic covers include Under Your Spell Again, (B.Owens), Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down (M. Haggard), Cigarettes and Coffee Blues (M. Robbins) and my favorite, There Stands the Glass, sung by Rebecca with amazing force and emotion and highlighted by some fine pedal steel playing. I've never heard a better version of this song. My favorites of Malkus' originals are Dirty Tattered House Shoes, also sung by Rebecca, and the clever Bring Out the Bible (We Haven't Got a Prayer). The playing on the record is wonderful, and I felt highlighted by the pedal steel of Nathan Fleming. It sounded on the recording that the pedal steel was closest to the microphone, which perhaps made it sound so forceful throughout.

This is a talented bunch. They play the old with passion and skill, and the new stuff doesn't stick at all, in fact I had to frequently look at the credits too see which tunes were originals. Also I doubt you will hear a more forceful singer than Rebecca Cannon any time soon. Next time you're in Texas, try to make a 'trip to the store'! You can also 'shop' online at www.thetexassapphires.com.