Shotgun Party

Mean Old Way

As winter chills, Shotgun Party levels a warm blast of summery swing and bluegrassy-folkie bounce on Mean Old Way. The Austin-based trio is a perfect target for fans of anything Maryann Price does, meaning their gentle yet lively music is as loaded with bandleader Jenny Parrott’s mountain-cool vocals as it is shot with hot jazzy fiddle courtesy of Katy Rose Cox. It’s Cox’s fiddle that gives the band such personality, beginning with instrumental cover “Draggin’ the Bow.” On the other side, the unexpected beauty of the bilingual “Y Yo” suggests that Parrott’s horizon is broader than it appears, as does the smoky presence of Steve James on slide and Stanley Smith on clarinet on “Run n Hide” and the sly “Kitchen Mechanic.” Some of Mean Old Way‘s sweet new sound comes courtesy of producer Mark Hallman, who imbues the 17 songs with his legendary expertise, guaranteed to warm cold nights with someone you love.

**.5

This article appears in January 15 • 2010.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US