Sunny Sweeney
Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame
Honky-tonk heartbreaker Sunny Sweeney screams country. Make that twangs. Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame doubles as the twentysomething’s local debut, but it demonstrates the self-assurance of someone much more accomplished. Backed by a who’s who of countrymen – drummer Tom Lewis and guitarist Tommy Detamore, who are also responsible for production, plus Casper Rawls, Bobby Flores, Eddie Perez, and Ted Roddy – the sound is impeccable. The songs are where Sweeney fails just a bit. There are already definitive versions of Libby Bosworth’s “East Texas Pines” and Tim Carroll’s “If I Could,” so their selections are suspect, but Audrey Auld’s “Next Big Nothing” is a two-stepper’s delight, and a duet with Jim Lauderdale on Keith Sykes’ “Lavender Blue” bears just the right tinge of sorrow. Sweeney isn’t much of a writer – yet – but it’s obvious she possesses plenty of talent to be shaking things up for a long time. (Wednesday, March 14, Parish, 9pm)
All Showcases Subject to Change
This article appears in March 9 • 2007.