Scene - Blogs - Review Electric Rag Band If You Got Some

Review: Electric Rag Band 'If You Got Some'
Published: 11/16/2009 11:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/16/2009 11:21 AM

After nearly half a decade, Tulsa's Electric Rag Band is back with a new studio album.

As the liner notes for "If You Got Some" say, "Remember that speeding up and slowing down is a way of life."

This album does plenty of both.

The tunes are more complex than any three-chord rock ditty, and they combine a rich mix of blues, Americana, rockabilly, ragtime, country, folk and straight-up rock 'n' roll. Some call it "roots" music. Maybe it is.

ERB's intoxicating blend of sounds is fermented in the history of all American music, from Piedmont blues (also called East Coast blues) to punk rock. It's drinking music. It's dancing music. It's thinking music.

The title track for "If You Got Some" is a not-so-subtle curb-check to those cigar-smoking, shot-toasting, couch-hogging, girlfriend-stealing, cig-bumming, guitar-borrowing mooches of the world.

The tune's false start is punctuated with clinking bottles. Pat Cook's slide guitar reels with drunken irony. The mooches of the world may know this song's about them, but they're too vain to realize that it's a sarcastic kick in the pants.

Tunes such as "Pontiac Joe" and "Suck on Purpose" leave little doubt of the split-tongue compliments within.

"Go Baby Go" is a classic rocker in the vein of early surf-rockabilly classics. "Across the Sea" translates an Irish-tinged ballad of love and death.

"Government Rant" is a snarky proclamation of independence mixed with mouth-harp, harmonica and lyrics about jerky politicians.

Overall, the album's 13 tracks (plus a few hidden gems at the end) are about as Green Country as it gets.

So, yes, it's roots music in the truest sense that it exquisitely blends the richest of Tulsa traditions: great live music and inspired, quirky songwriting.

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PLUS! Read the full interview with the band at tulsaworld.com,

HERE .

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IF YOU GOT SOME
Artist: Electric Rag Band
Available at: tulsaworld.com/RagBand, Amazon, live shows
Released: Oct. 16 on ERB Records
Rating: 90 (of 100)
Download: “If You Got Some,” “Mustard and Provolone,” “Pontiac Joe,” “Go Baby Go,” “Suck on Purpose”

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Archive

Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

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8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
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8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007

Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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