So today is a good day, one of my favourite albums of all time arrived in a fresh new re-mastered re-modified package with all kinds of new stuff and live recordings I hadn't heard, labelled with love for Joe West & The Sinners from the Austin years. Joe West is now Santa Fe's best, most loved and well kept secret, this album finds him in Austin post his art school New York glam poet period at the turn of the century ready to party like its 1999.
Joe West and the Sinners was one of the many alt-country bands that popped up in the Austin music scene in the late nineties. But for the fans and critics, this band had incredible charm.
Formed in 1997 the band made waves playing regularly at some of Austin’s notorious clubs; The Continental (review), Egos, The Saxon. The songs they sang were about the lives of the Austin people, the rehab clinics, the cab drivers, and the religious fanatics. Often times, to the crowds’ delight, Joe West would perform these strange songs and stories in drag.
Today is like my old friends calling round as a surprise in lovely Jenna's cab (she's best cab driver you'v ever seen Hay! Ho!) with a bottle of whiskey and crate of beer, Jamie the ex-boozer is there, Judas the band crasher is hanging in with everyone still looking for acceptance and the lord, the Roswell girl is still pretty as a pearl and who can argue with that cutie that some conspiracy's are more than just theories, the trailer park liberal still thinks education and art is the answer to the world, and thankfully rehab girl is still sassy, likes her men shady and is along as our guid for the riotous, religious, rolling and rocking ride.
This album was my introduction those 15 years ago and I am still forever that solid devote of Joe (and his growing list of every day characters, we all see glimpses of in our circle of friends before he even straps his harmonicas and guitar on to tells us more about his). My sincere hope is this reissued "Jamie Was a Boozer" may well ignite the sort of interest he deserves out with his own back yard and all be it prolific music playing circles .
A timely reminder that an album of songs is worth owning and not only worth having one song from it on a playlist on the cloud, or on the airwaves and that humour, humility and humanity coupled in song can tell everyday stories of everyday folk better than any other medium. Least it can told through the kind eyes of Joe (simply the best) West.
Classic!! Guess what the album of the week is on this weeks Medicine Show Radio. Excuse me while I listen to it again just to make sure finally, what a master piece this really is.