LARRY
Among Friends (Lauan Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The members of LARRY call their music "Southadelic Hick-Hop," which is as good a description of their melange of alt.country, Tex-Mex, rock and blues as any. That range of styles and influences, combined with fine musicianship takes them out of the plain vanilla jamband category and puts them on a trajectory for the top of the pack.

It's a nearly universal truism in the jamband field that "you gotta hear 'em live." On Among Friends, LARRY accomodates those who haven't had the opportunity by offering nine tracks recorded on stage in their hometown, Austin, TX and in Boulder, CO. With the exception of the opening track, "Sticky G," none of the material has appeared on their previous releases, and "Sticky G" gets a major reworking, including a side trip into Dukes Of Hazard country with a cover of "Good Ol' Boys." That's followed up by a bit of nearly everthing they do until the closer, "Separate Reality," which covers any bases left untouched earlier, including an audience sing along, a drum solo and some of the best improvisational playing on the album.

All six members of the band make valuable contributions, but the one that really caught my ear was Rick Cannon. Cannon's harmonica playing provides a bluesy anchor that helps keep the music from drifting into the noodling jams that plague many jambands. Not that these guys don't jam, or can't noodle a bit when they want to, but they can do a good deal more and do it very well. The evidence is all over this disc, and if you're a fan of improvisational rock with an Americana tilt, you'll want this one in your collection.

Track List:

Sticky G * Julius * Adelita * Take Your Chances * Plenty * On The Road * Confusion Pie * The Gift * Separate Reality

© 2002 - Shaun Dale