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CD REVIEW
Slim Pickens
Happy Trails
One of a slew of (mostly unsung) talented roots artists you can regularly catch in the Byron Bay area venues. Slim Pickens is singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer with a penchant for the aesthetics of simpler times. Think Woody Guthrie meets Ramblin’ Jack Elliot with a little Ry Cooder unpredictability thrown into the mix.
Most commonly appearing alongside trusted buddy Dr Baz, here Pickens releases a selection of songs under his own name, taking care of all vocals, guitars, mandolin, banjo and bass and recruiting Baz for some piano and accordion and Neil McCann for drums where required.
There’s one original composition on the record, written about local music identity Alison Pearl and how she fended off a mugger in New York City. The remaining material reveals Pickens’ musical inspirations, opening with Mississippi John Hurt’s ‘My Creole Belle’, stopping at Guthrie’s ‘Dust Can’t Kill Me’ and ‘Vigilante Man’, old-timey songs ‘I Will Fly Away’ (dedicated to his father), ‘Tamp Em Up Solid’ (with acknowledgement of Ry Cooder’s version) and ‘Can’t Get That Stuff No More’ (Tampa Red). Most of these songs also demonstrate Pickens’ lively sense of humour.
Part folk, part cowboy, part Cajun, Pickens assimilates his loves with delicacy and ardour. If this record doesn't make you smile, you could be beyond help.
Martin Jones – Rhythms Magazine
Dec 2010
- Rhythms Magazine
Discography
"Kingfisher Dreaming" - ABC Compilation album includes Slim's song "Losin Sleep" - 2003
"Cactus" - Slim Pickens & Dr Baz 2004
"Next Time" - Slim Pickens & Dr Baz 2008
"Happy Trails" - Slim Pickens 2010 (went to #2 on the Australian Blues and Roots Charts for airplay in Feb 2011)
Photos
Bio
Multi Award winning musicians Slim Pickens & Dr Baz have been gigging around the Northern Rivers NSW area now for the past nine years. With their instrument
line-up of steel dobro guitar, piano, lap steel guitar and piano accordion they have developed their own style of roots music taking influences from Blues,
Country, Cajun, Zydeco, and Tex Mex music which they incorporated into their first
album “Cactus” (2004).
They have played many festivals in Australia including Byron Bay Bluesfest 3 times and Blues on Broadbeach Festival 5 times and have played festivals and toured Europe in 2004 and 2005. Their latest CD “Next Time”
has had national airplay on ABC Radio. At the last NCEIA Dolphin Awards Slim and Baz were nominated for Best Production and Best Male Vocal and won Best Music
Video Award.
Rhythms Magazine had this to say about Slim's latest album "Happy Trails"..."Part folk, part cowboy, part Cajun, Pickens assimilates his loves with delicacy and ardour. If this record doesn't make you smile, you could be beyond help." ...Martin Jones
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