By Dante Murphy
"I woke up this mornin'...." That's how a story starts in roots music, much like a fairy tale starts with "once upon a time." And from the moment you press "play" on Low Life of Luxury, a happy ending is a lead-pipe cinch.
Houston's Luxurious Panthers are a rockabilly band, neither more nor less. Western shirts, cuffed jeans, pompadours...when this quartet takes the stage you know what to expect—and you get it.
From the album's title track, an up-tempo rocker in straight 4-4 time, straight through to the closing track, a tongue-in-cheek ebb-tide surf track, the Panthers deliver grade-A roots music. They color inside the lines, but deftly, with a crystal clear reverb-guitar and crisp, clean vocals stripped of any hokey affectations.
The humorous numbers are perhaps the most memorable. "I Drank Every Beer" is a good natured piss-take on Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere", an homage to both "The Man in Black" and the sudsy nectar. "Lend Me a Hat" is a follicle-challenged reprisal of Carl Perkins' "Lend Me Your Comb" that's good for a few yuks.
And while the gags are good, the whole album is worthy of repeated plays. "Palm Trees and Sunshine" chases away the winter blues with a hard-driving rhythm and lively pickin', while "Hurt Me" haunts like the classic psychobilly of The Cramps. "Hazelwood", a cattle-drive instrumental, shows the group's Western influence.
There are a lot of reasons to like this record, not the least of which is the obvious joy that Ford (guitars & vocals), Buddy (bass & vocals), Pat (guitars & vocals) and Red (drums) take in playing all kinds of vintage American music. So get on board, 'cause "This Train" is bound for glory. It's a lead-pipe cinch.
Check out our selection by the Luxurious Panthers!
