Natural headline-grabber on Ray Benson and company’s first full-length of Western Swing originals since the fall of the Alamo is set-closing, Red Headed Stranger tribute “Willie Got There First.” As clever as the Avett Brothers’ composition comes off, with Scott and Seth adding their high mountain harmonies, it completely misses New Routes‘ stronger thrills: fiddler/co-vocalist Katie Shore’s witty 4:20 opener “Jack I’m Mellow” and her Patsy Cline-ish torcher “Call It a Day Tonight.” Benson’s gruff, folky take on Guy Clark’s “Dublin Blues” meets those high-water marks as well. Where Austin’s 48-year-old trad country juggernaut transcends is the four-barrel rockabilly revision of Paolo Nutini’s double-entendre-soaked “Pencil Full of Lead,” rife with Eddie Rivers’ Speedy West-ian steel guitar pyrotechnics. (Noon, Honda stage; weekend one only)

****

This article appears in October 5 • 2018.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.