Oh Those Thrift Store Cowboys

by Cindy Chaffin of of Life Outside The Bubble

I reckon the Thrift Store Cowboys kids were still in their teens when I met 'em at Buck's about a half decade ago. Babies I tells ya! They may have been (and still are) young in age, but to hear their music you would think they'd been around for decades.

Here's a little background info:

"Lubbock, TX, might seem an unlikely place for fresh and original music to originate from, that is, if you didn’t already know about Buddy Holly, the Flatlanders, Terry Allen, and Jay Boy Adams. Following along with that legacy is Lubbock’s own Thrift Store Cowboys, a five piece collective of musicians adding their own modern influences and flavor to the already rich musical heritage."

"Five years of touring (including over 500 live shows) has placed them on the cusp of national acclaim, having already garnered attention throughout the Southwestern United States on numerous tours that have sent them through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Arkansas."

"The once little known band from West Texas has made a name for themselves by playing some of the top indie venues in the country such as the Granada Theater in Dallas, the Bluebird Theater in Denver, Threadgills World Headquarters in Austin, and the Launchpad in Albuquerque. Additionally, they have shared the stage with national acts such as Old 97s, Ian Moore, Blue October, the Flatlanders, Billy Joe Shaver, and DeVotchKa, just to name a few."

"The band’s sound has evolved over time as well, as is evidenced by the move toward the eclectic sound of their sophomore album, The Great American Desert. The album ranges from straight up rock and roll to mariachi influenced country, along with a few alt country waltzes thrown into the mix. While so many artists depend on one or two writers to shape the sound, TSC is not afraid to mix the influences of all five members in an effort to best utilize the wide array of tastes and talents present in the band. In order to attain their unique sound, the band uses fiddle, lap steel, and accordion as a supplement to an ensemble of guitar, bass, drums to further set themselves apart."

"The road to success as an original band has been neither short nor greatly prosperous for Thrift Store Cowboys, but as success begins to roll in, it is all the more rewarding, having been achieved through such perseverance and inattention to the mainstream. The band recently finished recording their 3rd studio album this February at Wavelab Studios in Tucson, AZ. The album was produced by Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case, Iron and Wine, Devotchka) for projected release in April 2006. No matter what avenue they choose to release the album, whether it be independently or through a record label, the band has already laid a solid foundation that will allow them to continue make music on their own terms."

Tomorrow night at Jake's Backroom in Lubbock was to have been the CD release party for the much anticipated Lay Low While Crawling or Creeping, but as things go when trying to release an album - sh*t happens - and the release has been pushed back a bit. However, the kids are offering something up for us rabid fans to take home with us! The first 100 people through the door tomorrow night will get a 3-song EP - a taste of the upcoming album, if you will.

I don't know about you, but I can't make the trip to Lubbock tomorrow night darn it. However, I can make the trip to AllGood Cafe tonight (8:00 PM) and catch the band live. If you don't believe me when I tell you this band is freakin' wicked-awesome then click on the MP3's I added below. You are quite welcome.

Click here for "Dirtied Your Knees"

Click here for "Understudy"

Click here for "Beneath the Shoes"