Courtesy of Whiskey Shivers
Many bands try to blend traditional music with modern and rarely do it well. Austin’s bluegrass Americana quintet Whiskey Shivers does just that. One minute, they’re playing bluegrass at punk blitz speeds and the next they slow down for an Americana tune while still rockin’ out with an alternative edge. Their latest full length album, which is self-titled, has an impressive spread of folk tunes with their own current flair.
Whiskey Shivers kicks off with an intense bluegrass track called “Free” performed at a supersonic punk tempo. Immediately, frontman Bobby Fitzgerald stands out with his amazing fiddle skills alongside percussionist Joe Deuce who blows minds with his washboard abilities. Even James Bookert’s banjo playing is hands down magnificent and guitarist Jeff Hortillosa lays down some astounding solos. The following few songs reduce the pace down to a more old timey Americana feel. “Friends” has a train-hopping feel to it with occasional sing-along moments. The next song, “Pray for Me”, is more of an uplifting gospel country jam that has just enough of a poppy melody to make it catchy. This is followed by sprightly country song “Angel in the Snow”.
About a third of the way through the album is “There is a Time” which features vocalist and violin player Kelsey Wilson from Austin indie pop band Wild Child whose vocals wonderfully complement Fitzgerald’s soothing country tenor-ish voice. A radical direction is then taken in “Graves,” a gospel tune that sluggishly and eerily brings the hammer down with Deuce’s percussion being accompanied by full band vocals. The momentum is immediately picked back up again with the punkgrass jam “Hot Party Dads”. Fitzgerald’s talents on harmonica are very noticeable on the next song “Give Me a Reason”.
Whiskey Shivers gets extremely eccentric on “Been Looking For” by experimenting with a more alternative sound with astonishing acceleration and solos from everyone in the band. They immediately simmer down for a somber country jam called “Long Low Down” which is when I noticed Andrew VanVoorhees gifted upright bass skills in the forefront. The album is closed out with the swift bluegrass sounds of “Swarm”. In the long run, not only is this Whiskey Shivers album worthy of being played on rotation but it pumps the listener up to see their ingenuity in a live setting.
Whiskey Shivers are scheduled to play Sunday, August 23rd at Rebel Lounge located at 2303 E. Indian School in Phoenix with Some Dark Hollow and The Shivereens.
~ Garyn Klasek
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