The Devil Makes Three

 My pal Rob just turned me on to this acoustic combo who, once again, has essentially no information on their FB page or website, so I can't tell you anything about them other than what they sound like, which is a melodic, harmony driven trio playing various acoustic instruments in the manner of Las Vegas acts like the All Togethers and the Unwieldies, or Virginia's Gallows Bound, or even a (far) less demonic Bridge City Sinners. 

Things start off with a bouncy, quick-paced pirate-themed tune about "The Plank", that highlights their fine use of harmonies, followed by a quiet, finger-picked, cleverly melodic ode to alcoholism, cheerily titled "Graveyard", then the chunky-rhythmed "Beneath the Piano", once again, relating the troubles of tippling, while "Ten Feet Tall" is purely foolish bravado but with some melodic finger pickin', and once again, drink takes front'n'center in the happy-go-lucky "Shades", this time the need for them while day drinking (nicely sung with cool harmonies, though, with a hip, old-timey feel). "Old Number Seven" is an homage to Jack Daniels (I'm sensing a theme here!) and its amnesia-inducing properties, "Chained to the Couch" has more purty pickin' as the singer tells a tale of livin' his life in recline, more staccato rhythms accent "To the Hilt", "The Bullet" is a fast-paced, truly catchy paean to the end of our worldly sufferin', and the closer for the original record sounds like a honestly heart-felt song "For My Family" that kinda reminds me melodically of a Red Hot Chili Peppers ballad, of all things, although I have no idea which one came first!

This CD has four bonus tracks though, beginning with "Nobody's Dirty Business", which is essentially an bluegrass/hillbilly update (backdate?) of the old tune "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", while "Dynamite" is a peppy, well written tune that has a fine, memorable melody and terrific harmonies, the live "Fun Has Just Begun" is almost circus-like in a demented way and the finale, "Oceans Cold", also cut live, is another quick moving crowd pleaser.

Kinda hard to describe these folks if you don't know the bands I listed above - kinda Americana, kinda 20's/30's-ish, kinda country, kinda hillbilly jazz, but all totally hip'n'cool, with great songwriting and vocalizing. Recommended!