The Barnyard Stompers - CDs

 

We had a totally fun time playing with the Barnyard Stompers a couple of weeks back and while buying some merch, they were good enough to gift us with their entire CD catalog! Damn nice folks and totally entertaining! 

That said, be forewarned that this duo is extremely, almost painfully, non-PC in their lyrics about drinkin', womanizing, killin', stealin'n'beatin'! Their image is proudly "white trash" and hick-ish, although they are sweet'n'friendly and put on a charismatic, entertaining gig.

Lead singer/guitarist Casey has a fine voice, and sings like a cross between Junior Brown and Rev. Peyton (from the Big Damn Band) while doing most of Telecaster wranglin', although his wife, Megan, occasionally moonlights from bashin' the drum kit and handles some git-work done when Casey is busy with some harp playing.

Overall their sound is very country - sometimes more than others - but with a heavy, bluesy, downhome tone mixed in, along with a bit of punk rock rowdiness. The Casey Miller and the Barnyard Stompers CD (the one with the pistol/wagon wheel on the cover) is probably the most traditionally country, with steel guitar on a number of tunes and a fuller sound in general. Songs about Texas, Tennessee, Knoxsville, truck drivin', shotguns, the devil, Jesus and drinkin'n'fightin' kinda checks off all of the proper country subjects while the tunes are melodic'n'countrified, although there's a pure Tex-Mex number in "Tomorrow Ain't Promised", partially sung in Spanish, which was a bit of a surprise. 

Goin' Down to Meet the Devil (with the sorta Tenacious D-inspired drawing of them fighting the devil) starts off with more of a cow-punk, high energy sound and is generally a bit harder edged, with plenty of tough, bluesy moments mixing with their own style of country punk and they even go acoustic for "500 miles From Home" and "My Woman's Man". This 2019 release is damn near commercial compared to the loose, purposeful trashiness of some of the others - even the lyrics don't seem to be nearly as confrontational. Pretty darn rockin'!

The Drunk and Dirty live CD is certainly filthy enough simply from the song titles and the lyrics do not disappoint if you're looking for absurdly X-rated numbers with simple, country-ish singin'n'playin'. If this is indeed recorded at a live show, you cannot hear the audience and the drums are a bit buried, but Casey's voice and guitar are plenty prominent and Megan comes through when she harmonizes with Casey. Listening to this one, it hit me that Casey reminds me a bit of David Allen Coe, as well, which I assume he would appreciate. Funnily, most of these songs aren't nearly as offensive as some of their other songs - these are just funny'n'goofy, in a Rudy Ray Moore kinda way.

I dig the simple, stompin' harp-driven "Corn Liquor" that opens Outlaw With Chainsaws Part II, in kinda a chain gang chant kinda way, that moves into their usual bluesy, D-tuned, outlaw country bravado in "Payback", "Roll On", "California Kicker", "Bad Man" and throughout the rest of the album. They go acoustic for the horror movie-influenced "Saw is the Law" and rockabilly for the (I think!) anti-crack "Pipe Hittin' Daddy" and they close with the powerhouse title cut that continues the horror movie theme.

They do an acoustic gospel parody in the opening title cut for "Highway Gospel" before returning to what they do best - down'n'dirty, D-tuned country blues with more tales of chainsaws (yikes!), the devil, fightin', murder, misogyny, sinnin'n'drinkin'. Some fast, some slow, all crazy!

This duo is as nice as can be and totally fun and engaging live, but if you have an aversion to offensive lyrics, this ain't for you! But, if you have a sick sense of humor and dig raunchy country blues, check it out!