Due to traffic, we did not catch their whole set, but when we heard they would play the cozy Mucky Duck we were there. Out of the chute, we were blindsided, yet again, when bud Jack Saunders appeared as lead guitarist for the evening. Come to find out that JS is the producer of the self titled CD coming out July 16th! Boy did he, and the lovely trio of ladies, produce this night in H-Town!

Lainey Balagia, Debbie Forrest and Libby Koch make up the band and wrote most of the songs for their break-out CD in a hotel room in Galveston, Tx over a twenty-four hour period, preparing for a Wildfire benefit for Bastrop at the Firehouse Saloon. Pretty amazing.

The band performed the entire CD in order this night with ‘Second Fiddle’ kicking it off showcasing the vocals of all three from the get go.

‘Traded In’ smoked with Saunders just ampin’ it up on the backside of a band that shows tremendous maturity in such a short time together. ‘Tell Me No Lies’ was followed by the group’s first single off the CD, ‘Sleepin’ Dogs’ , which should get good air play.

All three of these women are highly talented musicians who already seem like one of the best all-females bands Houston has produced, with only one album to their credit together. Judging by the packed house on a freakin’ school night, I think the word is out on this band!

Newbie ‘Ain’t That Good’ was followed nicely by the only cover on the CD, John Prine’s ‘Angel From Montgomery’, done in superb fashion with Saunders’ growling, steady-rumble-racket guitar blending well with the sassy, classy trio of ladies!

‘Come to the Water’ ended the first set power packed with hand off lead vocals at a drop of a hat between the women.

After a well deserved break, where CD’s were scored and hugaroos galore from the girls were dished out to all who desired one, the band took the stage for a song swap type set-up with each one playing individual tunes not on the new CD.

Libby kicked it off with ‘Lay My Burden’ down and her vocal range was highlighted on this tune and her mandolin playing-especially in face off moments with Saunders-rocked my world all night!  We had the pleasure of sitting next to her mama who was so beaming proud of her baby!

The “rockem sockem” stuff just kept coming at you with Debbie’s ‘Lucky One’ about her recent marriage and her earlier tale about reaching a “magic too many drinks” number was too funny-and reached this evening by her self acknowledged babble!  Funny stuff and really let you see the cool side of these women.

Other goodies were ‘Neverland’, ‘I’m Coming Home Tonight’ about Libby’s grandmother that did not have a dry eye left in the house and ‘Big is You’. If bands got the 6th Man of the Year Award, Jack Saunders would definitely win it for his performance this night!

The show steamrolled to conclusion with happy tune ‘Baby It Hurts , alleluia song ‘All That Love’, ‘Truth Is’ and a touching encore of ‘Circle Be Unbroken’! Grievous Angels have got a blender mix of rock, country, gospel and pizazz in their bag of tricks that equates to a beyond satisfied feeling after witnessing a gig by them!   By the non-stop grins on their appreciative faces I think they might be enjoyin’ themselves and may be able to quit their day jobs sooner rather than later…Come back soon and do it again please.  Out and about lookin’ for you!