The Hudsons Live Album

The Hudsons describe their original acoustic songs as folk music, but with terms like “titty dancers and cocaine” and “dope-ass rhyme,” this ain’t no Carter Family redux. The Austin act began in 2002 as the singer/strummer duo of Brian Hudson and Hudson Mueller, wisely adding singer/fiddler Phoebe Hunt afterward. In contrast to their studio debut Songs About People, the young trio realized their strength lay onstage and recorded this sophomore effort live at Flipnotics two nights earlier this year. Harmonic with vox, witty with the pen, generous of melody, it’s easy to see how and why the Hudsons have engendered a loyal local following, including the Kerrville Folk Festival and KUT’s Eklektikos. Lead-off entertainer “Hibernation” has shades of young Dylan, but then inexperience arises, and it’s quickly apparent The Hudsons Live Album would rate higher as a tight EP. The two spoken-word pieces are interesting once, maybe twice, while “MC Devil’s Son” shows poor judgment at best. Nevertheless, “The Man Behind the Bushes” and “Rollin’ Along” demonstrate budding talent. The live recording was the right idea, kids, but it’s true: Less can be more.

**

This article appears in November 11 • 2005.

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