The Krayolas
Long Leaf Pine (No Smack Gum) (Box)Beginning with cover art borrowed from the Rolling Stones, San Antonio’s Krayolas keep serving a savory stew of regional pop styles on their second album since reforming. Tagged as the “Tex-Mex Beatles” during their initial 1977-1988 run, the Krayolas moved beyond that descriptor with 2008’s La Conquistadora. Similarly, Long Leaf Pine approximates a cruise through the Alamo City in the days when Top 40 radio hopped genres without missing a beat. “Corrido Twelve Heads in a Bag” plants Dylan in the middle of Mexico’s drug war, which gives way to the West Side Horns colliding with a Billy Gibbons riff on “So Happy.” The pop punch of “A-Frame” goes ballistic on Louie Bustos’ sax solo, while Augie Meyers’ Vox organ turns up on his own Sir Douglas Quintet obscurity, “I Wanna Fall in Love Again,” into a groovy country shuffle. Like their Texas dance-hall forbears, the Krayolas bring a little something for everyone. (Fri., Habana Bar, 9pm.)
This article appears in March 20 • 2009.
