LeRoi Brothers
Kings of the Catnap (Rounder)
There’s two ways of doing rockabilly, the nostalgic way (Dave Edmunds’ “I Hear You Knockin'” at best, the non-disco material from Grease at worst) or the just plain-from-the-heart way. The LeRois have done the latter for the better part of two decades now, and this album, their first in almost 10 years, is a nice full plate of roots picked out and served fresh. With not a cover in sight, Austin’s Brothers-that-aren’t deliver originals that in some cases (“One More Last Chance”) sound like they could’ve been recorded back when Elvis was still skinny, and others (“She’s Got Everything”) that have a distinctly modern edge to them but sacrifice none of their authenticity. The guest list for Catnap is as impressive as the music: Jimmie Vaughan, Toni Price, Ian McLagan, Cindy Cashdollar, Pete Gordon, Garth Hudson, Jim Lauderdale, and even Buck Owens put in appearances, all of which fit into the proceedings just fine. The bros have done a damn fine job this time around. Let’s hope their next catnap lasts a bit less than 10 years.
This article appears in August 25 • 2000.