“We’re not vampires and we’re not ghouls/ We’re not dumbasses, we’re not fools/ We like to play poker and some like to fish/ Some like to work and some like to wish.” So proclaim the Allen family, led by married octogenarians Terry and Jo Harvey, in an eccentric pseudo-manifesto on their debut album. Befitting of the eclectic multigenerational clan, the introductory message establishes the deep sense of history, belonging, and humor that underlies the 22-track release. Five generations of storytellers and artists are bookended by the in utero heartbeat of great-grandchild Lucky Marlo, now approaching a year on Earth, and punctuated by licks of barrelhorse piano from late matriarch Pauline. Duet “Down to the River” sweetly lays the foundational lore of the eldest artistic couple and encapsulates the Western imagery and outlaw warmth that infuses their artwork – and that of their family. Son Bale plays noisily on “A Pogo Is a Logo”; his brother, Bukka, serenades with “Where We Belong”; eldest grandson Sled repaints Texan scenery and family heritage in “Dirt Road” and “Santa Fe”; country-styled songwriter Calder shows off a serious side with the lullaby aphorisms of “No Rush to Fly” and “Arroyo Nights”; and, throughout the double album, piano jams from high schooler Kru draw on his great-grandmother’s legacy.
This article appears in April 17 • 2026.
