Source: Car Kulture DeLuxe - http://www.ckdeluxemag.com/
Writer: Richard Davis
Date: February , 2009
Link: http://www.groundreport.com/Arts_and_Culture/Three-bands-worth-a-listen
Car Kulture DeLuxe Magazine, February 2009, issue 32, page75
Deluxe Music - Rockabilly, Punk, Swing, and More!!!
Group:
Big Jef Special
Album:
Big Jef Special
Web:
bigjefspecial.com
It’s a classic “chicken-or-the
egg scenario.” Which comes first, bad luck or the desire to sing
country songs? For Big Jef Special and their self-titled album, the
answer remains unclear. But with songs like Choptop Chevy, Alimony
Blues and Heartache ridin’ shotgun, who cares.
Promoted as “Cash meets Clash”
(Johnny Cash, I assume) there’s no mistaking the fact that this is a
rockabilly band with an accent on “billy.” it’s so country it comes in
extra crispy and regular.
The band has put together a
good mix that runs an admittedly thin range of music — from honky tonk
to rockabilly. The themes also follow well-rutted tracks. You’ll find
ballads on messy divorces, improper driving and being cited for traffic
violations. You’ll also find lamentations over having fallen in love
with the wrong person and substance abuse. It’s heavy on reverb and
Country dour.
Big Jef Special: Jef Shumard -
Lead Vocals/Guitar/Fiddle, Nadeem Khan - Stand up Bass/Backing Vocals,
Brian Chodorcoff - Lead Guitar, Brian MaGuire – Drums and Alan Cowart –
Drums