'Home' sound gets down

By Melanie Gilbert
The Detroit News
October 24, 1996
Date-O-Matic

Copyright 1996 The Detroit News

Country and western, bluegrass, hillbilly and honky-tonk is music that springs from the highways and byways of American culture. The flavor in this music comes directly from the storytelling itself and generally doesn't require the heavy instrumentation and splashy flourishes of rock/pop music.

Then there's rockabilly, which is a cross between those musical genres. Lead singer Jason Ringenberg, of Jason and the Scorchers, yodels and breaks his notes like Hank Williams, twangs one-syllable words into two (so "man" sounds like "may-ann") and plays acoustic guitar. Yet the group's newest release, Clear Impetuous Morning (1996 Mammoth Records), demonstrates both their country roots and rockabilly range.

Ringenberg sings the opening track, "Self-Sabotage", in an aw-shucks manner juxtapositioned with electric guitars and some fast and thrashing drum work. In "Cappucino Rosie", a story of fleeting yet unforgettable love, he shifts effortlessly between major (strong and defined notes) to minor chords (shifting and searching notes, much favored by alternative bands for their "moody" feel).

In "Going Nowhere", Ringenberg sings in the slow and somber way of traditional country, and the band plays that way too, quietly backing up his vocals, I'm going nowhere but at least I know the way, sings Ringenberg. This is one band that seems to have found its way.

What to do: Jason and the Scorchers have been around for more than 15 years and were the cutting-edge band for the cowpunk or punkabilly sound. The current band, based in Nashville, Tenn., features lead singer Jason Ringenberg on acoustic guitar and harmonica; Warner Hodges on electric and acoustic guitar; Jeff Johnson on bass and acoustic guitar and Perry Baggs on drums, harmony vocals and percussion.

Emmylou Harris sings vocals on "Everything Has a Cost" on their new release. They write and compose virtually all their material. Catch this rural roots band with a city rock sound at the Magic Bag at 8 tonight with Slobberbone from Denton, Texas. Tickets are $10. 22920 Woodward (just off Nine Mile Road), Ferndale. Call (810) 544-3030.

Where to go before: Buy some comfortable dancing shoes. These boys play music that makes you sweat. You'll look mighty slick if you wear boots and a black T-shirt. Ringenberg once took the stage wearing a frock coat with glitter and fringe, an image described as "part preacher, part Grand Ole Opry". Just about anything goes, and the anything-goes place to shop is Cinderella's Attic on the corner of Fourth and Main in downtown Royal Oak. Call (810) 546-7209.

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