I started a new job in the kitchen of a right proper dive bar last night. As I’m running food out to the half inebriated patrons I look up on stage to see none other than Al Perry himself. At first it seemed a little strange that Al would be jammin in this dank joint, known mostly for the blues, but really Al would seem as comfortable there as he would at the Rialto, Congress or playing in the 4th Ave. tunnel. The man loves to play music and he’s been doing it longer and better than you and your crappy band. Last night he was getting in touch with his healthy love of George Jones with some blues styling thrown in, but this older 7”, from his extensive back catalog, is a little harder to classify. The first side sounds like later 80s style college rock, but with a heat-fried-tremolo-drenched-drug-fueled strangeness. The second side hints at his love of country but with a rockin’ back beat. The last song is an instrumental cow-punk tune. The cow-punk thing probably started in Austin or something, but I’ve always associated it with Tucson, the late 80s and Al Perry for some reason. Al’s probably spent more time in the Hotel Congress than any other person (plus some of the ghosts) and if he’s not playing somewhere he’s probably behind the front desk, being friendly as hell.
Who did the artwork for the sleeve?
ReplyDeleteI think it was Fish Karma. I have a copy of that 7", but it does not have a credit for the art work.
DeleteMark Canterbury aka Mopar Mark & Slack Mac