Halloween and closing night for Parkway Bar
The Sickstring Outlaws
Johnny Drank Jack
CD Review by Eli J. Medellin
The Sickstring Outlaw’s Johnny Drank Jack is a tall glass of good ole honky-tonk
with a shot of “psyco-billy”
I said that I was not going to do CD reviews because I don’t consider myself
qualified to critique anyones hard work in the studio, but Mark Eppler gave me
this CD, I put it in the player of my car and I haven’t ejected it yet. A collection of
very well recorded sessions that are easy to listen to and original “outlaw” songs
that are reminiscent of my honky tonk days back in Texas.
The intro track is a country rock’n instrumental followed by fast-paced ‘hellbelly’ tune “Ole Saint Peter” complete with banjo and fiddle accompaniment. I like
every song on this recording, all of which spell out their obvious influences such
as Ronnie Van Zant, Waylon Jennings, George Jones and “getting stoned.” The
song “Dive Bars is a “haw-larious score about how the dive bar scene has changed
since those honky tonk days of old. The title track “Johnny Drank Jack” is a fine
bar side (as opposed to side bar) tribute to the “Man in Black” (Check out the
Video on their website). This CD fades out perfectly with a, last one to leave the
bar, mellow tune called “One More Round.” Well played Outlaws… Well played.
If I owned a cowboy lid, it would be off to you.
Boogie Magazine 11