The Bottle Rockets w/ The Drams – Stubb’s – Austin, TX August 20, 2005
Concert Reviews
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Written by Samuel Barker
Aug 20, 2005 at 08:00 PM
ImageAfter the Bottle Rockets played SXSW this year, former bassist Robert Kearnes stayed behind as he normally did in Austin since moving there and the rest of the guys headed back to St. Louis. Only this time, Kearnes would not be meeting up with them again. Having scored a permanent gig with Chris Cagle, Kearnes, who had taken an active role in songwriting and vocals on Blue Sky, was gone.Now, 5 months later, the Bottle Rockets returned to town with new bassist Keith Voegele filling out the lineup with guitarist John Horton and the two elder statesmen of the Bottle Rockets, vocalist/guitarist Brian Henneman and drummed Mark Ortmann. With the grungy southern boy look happening, Voegele fit in perfectly with the barroom rocking Bottle Rockets…and for those who happen to care about the music more than fashion, Voegele’s bass playing left nothing to be desired from the music.

The only noticeable absence on this night was Kearnes’ backing vocals and occasional lead, which had become a major player in recent releases. However, the band just turned the gain up a bit and brought the songs to life in a dirtier context.

On old acoustic-based classics like Welfare Music, Henneman and Horton traded riffs off to give the song new life as a dirty rocker. Plus an interjection of songs like Trailer Mama and Alone in Bad Company kept the mood in tact as the Stubbs patrons drank and danced away with the music. Despite Voegele being in the band less than half a year, the Bottle Rockets were able to touch on every album and deliver a solid set, even throwing in some last minute requests from the audience.

Just like Horton who joined just a couple years ago, Voegele has been able to fit right in and absorb the music with ease, at least to the eyes of the fans. With a new album on the way, the band looked tight and sounded smoking as they tore through a 20+ song set. The set included a few peeks into the new material in Happy Anniversary, a tale of a heartbroken man at his ex-loves Anniversary party, and Mountain Climb. These songs did plenty to get the audience ready for the spring release.

ImageOpening the show were The Drams, which is the new band from former-Slobberbone frontman Brent Best. Also from Slobberbone was rhythm guitarist Jess Barr and drummer Tony Harper who were joined by a bassist and keyboardist.

While the sound differs from that of Slobberbone, Best’s vocals still cut through the air and delivers his message clear as day. Whether it be the rocking guitar tones mixed with keyboard or Best’s lyrics of finding a new sound that feels right, it’s clear that Best is carving out a new sound with the Drams and, from what I heard, is doing a hell of a job.

In 45-minutes, the band tore through around 8 songs, which captured the majority of the patrons’ attention. Even on the back patio, the sound was crisp and you could not help but be blown away by the band’s sound. Best and company rocked Stubb’s without a problem.

Now, I just have to wait for them to record something. Until then check the listings for their stops in town, it will be worth the trip up the road.