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March 15, 2007
Trailer Park Rangers at Sweetwater By: Mo (3/07)
I was so impressed with their short set at the Raymond Jax benefit last Sunday, I was still thinking of it by Wednesday.
As I was sitting, surfing the web on a Wednesday night, kind of bored thinking of going to bed early, I pulled up their website to see where they'd be coming up. By golly.... it was that very night and in no less than an hour from the time it was.
I hadn't even eaten yet but I did get a shower in so off I went, down the corridor, to the town of Mill Valley and the Sweetwater Saloon. They started at 8pm it said but that usually means 8:30 or later by their standards there at this venue.
That's alright, I got me a flavored water and had a seat at a table right in the front. I was looking around at all the pictures on the walls and thinking of all the great shows I've seen at this tiny place. The best shows are those during the week. Weekends are packed no matter who plays. I also noticed, I was in front of the PA so just maybe I could actually hear some vocals. Dave Carter's song lyrics are one of the most important parts of the show. He's a pretty funny guy.
This is an amazing band, I must say. At this show in Mill Valley he had his fiddle player and that was an added plus. He wasn't at the benefit but they were still awesome.
I wanted to get another CD of theirs but was tapped out at the moment. That John Nemeth show did me in along with other unexpected expenditures this month. I'll pick one up the next time they come to the Tradewinds. They play there often. At least they used to.
The part about this Sweetwater gig I really enjoyed was just sitting and watching them. Sure they had a dance area right up front and that was appreciated but I was down for the count on this night. I just want to observe them for there's so much going on. All these different sounds that just wrap around each other, it's amazing. Everyone is doing something totally different but it all comes together to make this Trailer Park Ranger sound. I was reading on their website and still no clear description of their music. It's everywhere from Americana, Ska, Jazz, Rockabilly, Roots, country, circus music, some blues, but the description I liked was a "Fusion" of all those things.
The most fun about watching this band was watching Dave lead them. He leads them and they follow. He plays guitar and has no hands free to lead with but he uses his body. His head, his mouth, his whole body. They just watch him and change with his motions.
They opened for some other band, I guess. A band called The Blue Bellies. Never heard of them but they were dragging their equipment in as TPRs were playing. I'm assuming they were some kind of Alt-country or something and I didn't stay to find out. I was starving and very sleepy. I stopped at In & Out for a burger which I got all over me and the van but man.... it was good. I love their fries. Got home and went right to bed. Slept great and awoke with their tunes still in my head. They have been in my head since. I've been listening to the only CD I have of theirs "Lullabies Of All This Mess" for the last couple of days too. I want some more.
I'm hooked on these Trailer Park Rangers and will be following them around. Right now I do believe they're in Texas but will be back soon. I don't see any Tradewinds gigs but I will be keeping an eye on their where abouts from now on.
http://www.trailerparkrangers.com/
Later,
Maureen
Posted by Mo at March 15, 2007 03:36 PM