by rudyards | June 22nd, 2013
The Footnotes (Houston, TX)
https://www.reverbnation.com/thefootnoteshotx
Rick Eakens founded the Footnotes in New Mexico. The group has quartered in Texas and Nashville. The Footnotes do classic American roots rock with new sounds and styles. Two longtime friends have joined Rick to continue (and refresh) the tradition. Catch them at the nearest music joint.
Rick Eakens - guitars, vocals, songwriter, founder
Allan Gill - sound, Sasquatch tracker (1985-1988); bass, vocals (since 2011)
Kevin Blaine Tate - drums
Gregg Daileda - drums (2011)
Dru Hubbard - drums, vocals (1983-1992; 2010)
James McCown - guitars, bass, vocals (1984-1986; 2010)
Chris Lesikar - bass, vocals (1986-1990); party specialist
Timothy Lane Gay - bass, vocals (1980-1984)
New Mystery Girl (Austin, TX)
https://newmysterygirl.com/
“Twist City” is the first album from New Mystery Girl, a band project envisioned by Chrissy Flatt and abetted by a crew of like minded Austin, TX rock’n’rollers. Ms. Flatt, known for her previous works “Wings of a Butterfly” and “Walk With Kings”, comes out swinging with twelve fresh original songs bringing together influences from 60′s girl groups and British invasion pioneers to 70′s glam and early punk. Longtime cohorts Eric Hisaw (guitar) and Ron Flynt (bass/keyboards) show up on most tracks alongside drummers Lisa Pankratz and Freddie Steady Krc. Guitarist Eve Monsees lends her stylish licks to a pair of songs and chimes with the majority of the harmony vocals. Brian Standefer adds his atmospheric cello to a trio of more meditative numbers. At the center of it all are Chrissy’s voice, guitar and words.
The album kicks off with “Drop Dead Gorgeous” a romantic ride through the musical turf of Joe Strummer and Joan Jett, then gets Stonesy tough with the kiss-off crunch of “Dangerous Lines”. “Pirate Radio” shuffles into British waters paying tribute more to the spirit of discovery than the rock’n’roll icons it name checks, while “South Pacific Stars” soars into the sunset. “Staring Down” rides a Yardbird meets Bonanza groove into the Bowie-esque dreamland of “Echoes On the Airwaves”. Side two comes on strong with a trio of aggressive tunes, the punish social commentary of “Heard It All Before”, the stalker garage stomp of “Twist City” and the rock-a-billy rave-up ode to a reformed wallflower “Sally’s Rumble”. “Dandelion Roars” quiets down musically while celebrating a free spirited rounder. The philosophical “Gather All the Roses” takes a hypnotic trip into Velvet Underground territory before finishing up with the beauty of “Ocean & Moon”, a waltz time declaration of love colored with some shimmering pedal steel guitar.
“Twist City” marks a new direction for Chrissy Flatt. Often burdened with the “singer-songwriter” tag and the folky preconceptions it brings, it was time to release a record free of that label. With a willing gang of co-conspirators , twelve killer songs and a gold Grestch Pro Jet, Ms. Flatt moves forward as New Mystery Girl.
