THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND
Andrea & Mud, West Morrison & the Stray Hares, Will’s Pub, April 18
Andrea & Mud – the partnership of Atlanta musicians Andrea Colburn and Mud Mosely – aren’t just about basic music. This is a band with
aesthetic. Dealing in consciously graphic songs that could only soundtrack shady business, their sound is a
nouveau Western romp dripping with pulp and noir. It’s a tough barroom blend of country, blues and rockabilly that’s rendered with deep surf tones and vintage patina. And just to certify their dark-side cred, their latest album (
Easy, Sleazy & Greazy) features a cameo by
Legendary Shack Shakers visionary J.D. Wilkes (on “Bad With You”).
Though they often perform with a full band, the two principals came here as a simple duo. Between them, they handled guitars, a singing saw and a kick drum that’s notably impressive for being done with a backwards stomp in
stiletto heels. But for whatever gaps this stripped arrangement had relative to their full setup, the mileage of their
presence and atmosphere carried the show. The long resonance of Mud’s guitar and the bourbon whiplash of Andrea’s vocal personality are, after all, the wild heart of their songs.
And besides credit for a colorful performance, extra points to the Atlanta pair for name-dropping Orlando bands the
Woolly Bushmen and the
Delusionaires. Opening were local alternative country rockers
Wes Morrison and the Stray Hares. They’re a band that are a little obvious, still clunky and haven’t quite found the pocket live yet. But they’re spirited enough for some good times.
Sending the night home was
Jacob Miller, far and away the most honky-tonk of the Woolly Bushmen, leading a band of noted locals – all veterans of
Brian Chodorcoff’s classic country covers nights at Will’s Pub – across a set of old country songs.
Follow Bao on Twitter (@baolehuu)
Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com
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This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2019.
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