Texas Platters

Adam Ahrens

Known for his guitar playing, both as an acoustic finger-picker and on Hawaiian slack key, Austin's Adam Ahrens stretches his style on his third effort. With the assistance of producer Michael Ramos, the nine tunes on Prize Fight approximate Beck meeting Calexico at Tom Waits house as wobbly beats and bubbling soundscapes abound. Few would think of covering O.C. Smith territory and Ennio Morricone in the same set, but Ahrens makes it work with singular aplomb.