By way of background, I first heard this band in early 2014 when I walked into Friend's bar and restaurant in Croton and heard the sweets sounds of the band performing "Peggy O". Needless to say, I was instantly hooked. I have a lot to say about the fan experience when this band plays live, but I'll save that for another blog post. For now, back to the Disco Cowboy release.
The title track starts with simple blues groove and a lyric every worker can relate to:
I get up every day
Need to slave to earn my pay
Working for the man
Stuck with zombies in a field
Trying to push my way around
To stay alive
But there is a way out ..
When the music starts to play
All my cares go away
It's when I feel complete
The chorus is simple and self-affirming:
'Cause I'm a Disco Cowboy
Truckin' down the highway
I'm a Disco Cowboy Gonna do things my way
The lyric stems from a snide comment made by one of lead singer Frank Primeggia's co-workers that his choice of attire made him resemble a "Disco Cowboy". It was meant as a put-down, but Frank turned it into a badge of honor that became his anthem and title track for the release.
Now the music critic in you say might say this song is lacking in musical sophistication and not likely to win any Grammy awards. That point is debatable, but what makes the song is that its authentic. There's not an ounce of pretense, it's just Frank stepping up, putting it out there and living his life to the fullest. In a way we are all Disco Cowboy's and therein lies the appeal.
In track 2- "Hard to Understand" lead guitarist Jeff Thornton does double duty providing both the main melody and intermediate jams while Frank provides the punctuating vocals and lyrics.
In track 3, the working man Frank is back in "Working Overtime". A halting 3 note bass riff underlies this tune, with some sweet vocal overlays by Francesca Rose. Normally on bass guitar, Dan Howald weights in with a wailing saxophone solo. By the end of track 3 you might think you have this band well characterized as bluesy, funk rock, right? Wrong and read on.
Track 4 is the previously mentioned Peggy O. This is far and away my favorite song on the album and where every band member really shines. This is a Scottish folk song about a solider who falls in love with a girl and their failed attempt at romance. I could do an entire blog post on the origins of this song, but lets focus on the music.
Guitarist Jeff Thornton leads with a acoustic guitar intro, and the rest of the band soon joins with a tight musical wrapper of percussion by, keyboards and bass. Later on, Jeff launches into a solo jam that dances gracefully around the core melody and captures the emotional nature of the piece. Frank's vocals and keyboards are integral, and he has a separate keyboard verse where he jams his own harmonics of the melody. Chris Oliver percussion is tight and at times playful. Francesca's vocals are sweet and inspired singing at the upper end of her vocal range. All in all, it's an amazing song well presented and emotionally impacting.
Track 5 adds a classic blues angle with "Cold Rain and Snow". Dan Howald's bass takes lead on this tune with Jeff again doing double duty on both rhythm and lead guitar. Like "Peggy O", this song has been performed by various artists but has no specific owner and is therefore in the public domain.
Track 6 adds yet another angle to this band with "Disco Cowboy Rap". This is a hip-hop version of the rap Frank does during Disco Cowboy where he introduces the band members. This song is a complete music riot and Frank get another chance to tell his story:
Gonna do it my way
Just like Frankie blue eyes
Banging on the white keys
Gonna tell you who I be
(I'm a Disco Cowboy)
I was walking in a daze
Living in a purple haze
But I never lost my gaze
Stepping up to amaze
This song is fun, clever and utterly original. The final verse is the same as the original song and I think the only thing missing is a trio of background singers echoing "He's a Disco Cowboy" just to turn it into a complete rout. The final track is an extended version of the opening track Disco Cowboy.
Overall I highly recommend you check out the Disco Cowboy CD on CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/withoutanet. It is also available on iTunes and many other services. You can also get the CD as well as tee shirts and other cool stuff on the band's merchandise store at http://withoutanet.bigcartel.com.
Also, don't miss a chance to see these guys play live. When this band plays, good times are sure to follow.
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