Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants

When: Sunday, June 2, 2013
Where: Echoplex, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: The beautiful birthday girl, Ms. Knox
Genre: Country

Truth be told, I'm not a fan of country music. At all. Although, I do enjoy listening to Johnny Cash, but come on, who doesn't, right? And I suppose if you were to lump The Eagles into the country category, I'd be inclined to say that I like country. But that twangy, ho down, shit kickin' stuff, is really not my cup of tea. And for sure, that pop country crap that TaySwift pumps out cannot constitute as music. Never. Ever.

So, when Chris Shiflett decided to hit the country road back in 2010 with their debut self-titled album, I was skeptical. Being a huge Foo Fighters fan, I decided the least I could do was be supportive. And it ended up being surprisingly good, for country. 

Fast forward three years later, and Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants have a follow up album, All Hat and No Cattle. This is way more countrified than the first album but that is because it consists of honky tonk covers along with one original.  Once again, surprisingly not a bad thing. Chris gives away two free downloads from the Chris Shiflett Music site, but the full album release dates is set for July 30, 2013.

All Hat and No Cattle track listing:

• Guitar Pickin’ Man (Don Rich and the Buckaroos)
• Good Time Charlie’s (Del Reeves)
• Pop A Top (Jim Ed Brown)
• Happy Part Of Town (Wynn Stewart)
• Skid Row (Merle Haggard)
• Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young (Faron Young)
• Playboy (Wynn Stewart)
• King Of Fools (Buck Owens)
• A Woman Like You (ORIGINAL)
• Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (Waylon Jennings)

In keeping up with being the supportive fan girl that I am, Kathryn and I ventured out to the Echopark area of Los Angeles last Sunday night to meet up with a few friends, say hello to Chris and attempt a bit of two-steppin' (more like do-see-do your partner).  There is always something about live music that makes it really come to life and this certainly goes for all genres.  It was an eclectic group of people in attendance...definite country folk, Foo fans (young and old), and a few moms/dads from his kid's school.  The kind of show where pretty much anyone and everyone fits in. And I imagine that makes Chris and his Dead Peasants happy country folk.

Chris Shiflett, June 2, 2013
Photo courtesy of Kathryn Knox

More photos here: L.A. Record photos