Onion Creek Crawdaddies
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Onion Creek Crawdaddies

Band Americana Bluegrass

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"Irons in the Fire review"

One of the leading lights in Austin's lively bluegrass scene, the Onion Creek Crawdaddies perform an animated variant of the high lonesome sound they call "beergrass." Irons in the Fire, their second self-produced effort, accurately captures the young quintet's sense of frivolity offset with occasional flights into sentimentality. With boyish harmonies and nimble instrumental prowess, the Crawdaddies most often recall punk-bluegrassers Split Lip Rayfield, while the occasional pedal steel and washboard sets them apart from everyone else. At 16 songs, Irons in the Fire could use tightening, but the easygoing "Off the Wagon," gospel tinged "Dusty Bibles Lead to Dirty Lives," and atmospheric fiddle tune "Saltillo Sunrise" unveil OCC's ability to portray different sentiments with a combination of self-confidence and clever ensemble play that's rare on a band's sophomore effort. - Austin Chronicle


"Irons in the Fire review"

One of the most refreshing things about local bluegrass favorites Onion Creek Crawdaddies is that they are what they claim to be — a bluegrass band. In an era when a lot of very different music gets passed off as bluegrass — “newgrass� or “Colorado-grass� and jam bands in particular — it’s simply refreshing to hear a band that can compose crisp new tunes with an awareness of and nod towards the genre’s traditional roots.

The band goes for broke on this, its second album. Recorded at Willie’s Pedernales Studio, Irons in the Fire is a showcase of the bandmembers’ own songwriting. The album opens with an old-time number entitled “Dusty Bibles Lead to Dirty Lives,� which represents OCC’s fusion of tradition and originality as well as any other song on the album. The tune is simultaneously nostalgic, evoking both old time religion and music, but with an aural flair of the contemporary, particularly in the vocals, that would characterize Old Crow Medicine Show or the Hackensaw Boys more than a purely traditional bluegrass band.

What is perhaps most impressive about this album though, is its success in presenting original music that evokes the best of traditional bluegrass, but that puts a distinctly Texan brand on the sound - no small feat considering that Texas historically doesn’t have a very rich bluegrass tradition and that many bands’ efforts to evoke the local flavor come off as forced or sappy, at best. But songs like “Tortilla Moon,� “The Llano Uplift� and “Saltillo Sunrise� allude to purely Texan experiences as genuine as the small local watershed from which the band takes its name.

As any good bluegrass album must, much of Irons in the Fire concerns itself with love that’s at least a little off-kilter, a little too over, a little too intense, a little too messy. But intermingled with the requisite love-gone-bad tracks are another variety, a series of uplifting tunes that remind me of springtime in the more northern latitudes, songs that, like the first bright, warming days of April in the north, make us want to get up with the sun and put us in a good mood for no particular reason. And the album’s fast-paced rhythms seem likely to inspire even more casual bluegrass fans who aren’t as fond of the genre’s slower tunes. Thankfully though, Irons in the Fire never dips into the self-indulgent, and usually boring, jamming that many contemporary “bluegrass� bands fall victim to, instead offering up among the witty and often emotional lyric numbers, three tightly composed and executed instrumentals.

Quality bluegrass is difficult to find these days, especially in the more country defined hills of Texas. And as Irons in the Fire was limited to a run of only 1,500 copies, this one may soon be hard find as well. But as the Crawdaddies plead on “Far Side of Nowhere�: “you can miss me when I’m gone, just don’t miss me while I’m here.� Don’t miss them while they’re here. - AustinSound.net


"Ten Indie CDs You Might Have Missed"

Onion Creek Crawdaddies, Irons in the Fire (self-released)

I first heard these guys at an easygoing bar near Austin, Texas, called The Oaks, and the laidback vibe there complements their loose approach to bluegrass. You can't help but sing along to the energetic lead track, "Dusty Bibles Lead to Dirty Lives." - CMT


Discography

Irons in the Fire (LP-2007) (http://cdbaby.com/cd/occrawdaddies2)

Barn Burners & Bathtub Bourbon (LP-2003) (http://cdbaby.com/cd/occrawdaddies)

Photos

Bio

Quarter moon shining down a long, lonely stretch of highway. Suddenly, headlights from over the pass blind your eyes. As the RV approaches, you hold out your thumb, hoping that this will be the ride. Stepping aboard, you almost trip over the instrument cases trying to find a seat. From somewhere, a cold beer is handed to you as the driver pulls back onto the road. To your left, the fiddle player gives a quick smile before starting a song, followed quickly by a harmonica, banjo, guitars, and washboard. Taking a sip of cold beer, you sit back, relax, and forget where you were trying to go in the first place.

Or that's how it feels, at least, when you put on the Onion Creek Crawdaddies' sophomore album Irons in the Fire. The critically acclaimed Austin, TX quintet have been playing their unique style of Americana music for the past five years, a unique blend of old country, rock, bluegrass, and even gospel, all delivered with an honest voice. From small town main street hoedowns to inner city punk rock clubs, the Crawdaddies have a unique gift for bringing the blue hairs, spike hairs, and all hairs in between together on the dance floor with their assortment of love songs, lost songs, breakup songs, breakdowns, drinking songs, and spiritual songs.

Trent Shepherd and Ryan Hunter provide most of the group's songwriting and lead vocals throughout the self-produced Irons in the Fire, in addition to playing mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. Besides anchoring the band on upright bass, Brink Melton penned and sings, 'I Never Learned', a pop single with grit. Jay Harward gives the songs textured depth, playing all guitars, pedal steel, and mandolin. Drawing the crowd in closer is Brian Reed, the band's live emcee who blows a bluesy harp when not holding down the rhythm with his washboard or snare. As an ensemble, the Crawdaddies' music, with its richly layered harmony vocals and eclectic styles, shoots like lightning straight through your nodding head all the way down to your tapping toes.

So maybe, if you're lucky, the Onion Creek Crawdaddies' RV will pull over in your town someday soon. Just have your dancing shoes ready.