Monday, June 9, 2008

Nothing desperate about the Bart Crow Band

By Andrew McElwee

Take the vocals of Brad Paisley, the energy of Cross Canadian Ragweed—then throw in a pinch of the Eagles—and that pretty much sums up The Bart Crow Band.

Holly Bronko

The Bart Crow Band

For almost a decade, the Bart Crow Band has steadily rocked the Texas music charts and reverberated with audiences. Stylistically, they’ve remained fiercely distinct, while climbing into the upper echelons of Texas country. They’ve even managed to open for mainstream artists, only to be called back a scant few months later and headline the same venue themselves.

So how do Bart Crow and his comrades pull it off? One word: heart.

Born in Maypearl, Texas, Bart developed his craft during his Army years. It was a time of relative peace back then, so idle moments were spent writing songs and learning guitar techniques. By the time he rejoined the civilian world, Bart had an extensive journal of lyrics, multiple chords, and a warrior’s courage to impart to fans.

If memory serves, another country legend got his start that way, only in the Air Force. Of course, we speak of Johnny Cash. And yes, Bart appreciates the analogy.

With his newfound talent, Bart initially toured as a solo acoustic act. However, charisma is infectious, and it wasn’t long before he teamed up with lead guitarist Paul Russell. Drew Campbell, the group’s drummer, soon joined the lineup and after shopping around in Austin, they added bassist Joseph Drew to their ranks. Breaking the Drew-Paul-Drew palindrome was slide/rhythm guitarist Hunter St. Marie, and thus began the story of the Bart Crow Band.

First breaking ground with their 2005 release, Finally, the album enjoyed widespread success. Lonestarmusic.com ranked it as a best-seller for 5 consecutive months, and the record was even nominated for Album of the Year at the My Texas Music Awards.

What’s more, the Bart Crow Band has performed live on The Front Porch with 99.5 The Wolf’s Justin Frazell. They’ve headlined high-profile venues such as Gilley’s Dallas and Red Dirt Round-Up. And, they’ve managed to grab the spotlight at Billy Bob’s Texas, usually considered the definitive step towards country superstardom.

Now, with their newest release, Desperate Hearts, Bart and his crew prove once again there are no limits to musical genius. Like a well-made margarita, the CD infuses bluesy patterns into traditional country, along with some carefully placed progressive rock. It manages to floor the listener with upbeat pieces such as “Back Down” and “New York”, only to reveal a more sincere side with confessional tracks like “Tammy”.

“I think [Desperate Hearts] reflects our growth as songwriters,” commented Bart. “It’s got a lot more depth than our last album, and it shows our maturity as men and musicians.”

Contrary to its title, Desperate Hearts doesn’t plead for anything. Rather, it’s an honest declaration of four guys who’ve got the will and the talent to reach fans on a personal level.

This review submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.

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