Texas Platters

Weary Boys

From the early part of the last decade until 2007, the Weary Boys were among Austin's best alt.country bands. Their breathless style and dedication to tradition made their live performances the equivalent of three chords and a cloud of dust. And it wasn't just a local phenomenon. The Weary's combination of short songs and maximum sweat kept dance floors packed everywhere they traveled. To celebrate a reunion last fall, the scruffy quintet delved into its vaults for eight tracks recorded between 2001 and 2004. Eight songs, none original, from the Stanley Brothers, Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and their friend Traditional. It's a brief yet brilliant encapsulation of what they were capable of. Two tracks recorded live at Angola Prison in Louisiana give a glimpse into their ferocious concert energy.