The Bloody Tears

Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

When Sixties soul bleeds into the millennium by way of Austin’s Bloody Tears, add Lone Star and whiskey to the sequins, fringe, and greasers. The Bloody Tears lead us down to the basement on debut LP Downhanded, a playful mix of Southern blues, rock & roll, and down-home soul. Led by Casino el Camino’s bass thump and Eric Makowski’s squishy vox, Downhanded blasts like old-school gangsters got a hold of vintage mics and a tube of pomade, beginning with Rascals cover/opener “C’mon Up,” a righteous blend of Big Jeff’s rockin’ organ and Randall Stockton’s crazy harp. From that point on, the Tears rip through originals and covers alike (Bobby Freeman’s “C’mon and Swim,” the Cornelius Brothers’ “Treat Her Like a Lady”), but nothing leaves its brand like “Talkin’ With Your Baby,” the album title’s genesis and a call-and-response reflection of Southern sentiment. Truly a product of all six bandmates, staples of the Austin scene in one way or another, Downhanded doesn’t take itself too seriously while still sticking to its garage rock roots. No surprises here, just good, unadulterated rock & soul.

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This article appears in April 8 • 2005.

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