By Russ Gordon
One of my favorite concerts that we’ve produced during the last 25 years was the Austin country-rock-soul band, the Gourds at the Pajarito Ski Area 4 years ago. Their lead singer/frontman is Kev “Shinyribs” Russell. Do you remember that show? Have you ever seen the Gourds? No? You must catch this Friday’s Shinyribs concert at Ashley Pond. The Gourds have 2 songwriters and singers plus they’re a democratic band where they all argue over who controls the performances and CD production. Kev Russell writes so much great music that he and Gourds drummer, Keith Langford started this other band that performs when the Gourds are not on the road.
I’ve been watching the Shinyribs videos and listening to their music everyday lately. Remember listening over and over to your favorite bands when they put out a new album? This band is now one of my favorites. I can’t wait till Friday. The show is free and starts at 7PM.
Kevin Russell was born in Beaumont, Tx and started singing in Louisiana biker bars at 17 “playing loud country-blues-rock and psychedelic swamp jangle for the grumpy ingrates congregated there.” He formed the Gourds in 1994 and has been twisting and combining music genres ever since. He started the Shinyribs in 2006. The band is free of routine and convention.
If you want a genre, I’ll call them a combination of alt-country, Texas honky-tonk, rock, soul, funk, punk, gospel and gospel cowboy. The Shinyribs are funny, strange, rocking, absurd, beautiful, soulful, poetic, and literate. On Friday they may do covers of the Mighty Mighty Bostones, R. Kelly’s “Feelin’ On Yo Booty”, Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice”, “Dixie”, The Band’s “The Night They Tore Old Dixie Down” or a Pink Floyd treasure but listen for their originals. The music, lyrics and stage shows are fantastic and the band is proudly unique. Kev is countrified funk. He’ll be flapping his arms, hands and legs like a funky-tonking bird with his wings ready for a rock & roll attack. He sings “I’m a little bit crazy but I ain’t no fool.” He also can sing a gorgeous ballad.
On Friday, July 20 the LA County Summer Concert Series will be at Entrada Business Park with the great Texas country dance band, the Derailers. The show will be Holiday Inn Express and LA Food Co-op Night. Bring your dance shows and be prepared for another tremendous show.
Please check out www.gordonssummerconcerts.com,, www.myspace.com/shinyribs and www.derailers.com.
Both bands have lots of videos on www.youtube. I hope to see you and your smiling face at the concerts.
Russ Gordon
