Crooks 10-22-11

by Kimberly Caterino for Live Music Capital Radio at LMCradio.org

Gosh do I love it when I catch a band from the beginning.  Of their career, I mean.  Well maybe the quartet Crooks is not brand-spanking new, but they only have one EP out – Lonesome, Rowdy, and Restless – and it’s a damn good one.  It’s just enough of a sampler to clue you in on what you’ll see live.

Crooks are considered Texas Outlaw Country.  The historically official (if I can call it that) Outlaw Country movement was a response to the growing recording industry, its formulas and standards- which Nashville came to represent-  in the 60’s and 70’s.  The Outlaw movement grew an organic home here in Texas, and frankly it never left.

 Crooks take some of country’s defining traditions – the rhythm of western swing, howling and high lonesome harmonies, forthright and jangly acoustic guitar, the thump of a stand-up bass, lyrics of drinking and traveling—and they blend these, thanks to multi-instrumentalist Sam Alberts, with splashes of mariachi trumpet, bluegrass banjo and mandolin, the mojo and roar of country rock electric guitar – all while befriended by Josh Mazour ‘s salt-of-the-earth vocals.  I dare say this: I have never heard anyone sound as much like Willie, in tonality and articulation.  Really, truly.  (And Josh doesn’t seem to be trying—it’s just naturally in his voice!)  Rob Bacak on drums and Andrew Vanvoorhees on stand-up keep an excellent rhythm section, which naturally had some folks swinging and two-stepping, and a few guests on stage added more instruments (more trumpet, percussive shakers) and vocals to fill out their sound even further.

We heard cuts from the EP, such as “Barstool” and “Downtown” – plus many others new to me – they have a new album coming out in early 2012.  They played a brand spanking and very upbeat new song, only rehearsed once, which was a climactic hit of their set.  Ironically Josh said “wish us luck” at the start of it.   .. this band doesn’t need luck!   We are lucky – to have them right here, driving the Outlaw flag more firmly into Austin soil.  

 Hear Crooks during The Happy Hour, 6:30 - 7:30pm CST daily on LMCradio.org.