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DUSTIN WELCH
Whisky Priest
Self-released
(Release Date: 4/11/09)

Dustin Welch's high-energy live shows built an enthusiastic fan base eagerly awaiting his debut release, Whisky Priest. His southern-accented rock ‘n’ roll is played hard and loud, with as many as seven or eight musicians gathered on their guitars, bass, and drums, accented by Tricia Keefer's violin and Welch's banjo. Throughout the album, Welch and his band provide an amped-up and thoroughly modern take on a variety of traditions.

The opening tracks "One False Move" and "Heartbreak" start out heavy on the guitar and drums. The lyrics also reveal a youthful impudence: "Yeah, I got all the answers but nobody never listened to me," is the petulant lament of misunderstood youth. "Don't Tell 'Em Nothing" adds distrust and paranoia to the same theme.

On each track, the banjo and violin are turned up just a little bit more. "Dirty Mind" fuses the violin and banjo with the drums and guitar. The title track, "Whisky Priest", has a catchy chorus destined to be chanted around the keg in the finest of southern rock traditions. The album takes a reflective turn with the allegorical ballad "Two Horses."

"Lower East Side" opens with the violin carrying a surprisingly gentle melody, joined by the banjo. Suzanna Choffel's vocals chime in on "Empty Parking Lots," adding a bit of elegant jazz swing. Drew Smith and Kacy Crowley also share their vocal talents throughout the album.

"Green Badge of Courage" is an old-fashioned jig, telling a story of Irish conscripts in the British army in World War II. The closing track, "Poor House," continues with the banjo and violin in the forefront. The studio recording captures the feeling of a stage full of musicians playing for a live audience.