Flanfire

Brennen Leigh's forthcoming CD, "Devil's on My Trail," marks a quantum leap in her discography that is evident from the opening notes of the opening cut, "Desperately Alone," which feature the honky tonk piano of the legendary Earl Poole Ball (whom I first heard on a Flying Burrito Brothers album a long, long time ago). This surefire country hit also features the pedal steel of Marty Muse (Robert Earl Keen, Dale Watson, Derailers, Dwight Yoakum, and a long long list) - plus brother Seth Hulbert on acoustic guitar and Lisa Pankratz on drums. "I'm sick and tired of waiting for the time to fly ..." - the opening lyric - lets you know Brennen can write songs in the classic country tradition. But there's lots more where this one came from.

Brennen wrote 10 of the songs on this 15-song collection, including cut 2 - "Waitin' Out the Rain," which features her own fine mandolin picking, brother Seth on guitar, along with producer David Murray and (there's that word again) the legendary Roscoe Beck on bass. A little yodeling on this one to close it out. Brennen covers Fargo buddy Brooks West's "Still Think About You," a wistful ballad that is highlighted by Murray's guitar solo and an electric solo from Robbie Gjersoe. This is a beautiful song.

North Dakota's Leo Rondeau (who now lives in Austin) wrote "You'd Be Wrong," which features Charlie Rose on bass, Jenny Obert on fiddle, and Danny Hawk on steel guitar (along with Murray) -- this is classic beer drinking music, with super solos that make you want to dance. Brennen's "Like A Freight Train" is next - a shuffle with Gjersoe on electric guitar and Brad Fordham on bass, plus Seth and Lisa.

Next is the soulful ballad "Memories of Yesterday," with Fargo native Matt Raum on mandolin and fiddle plus Seth, Brad, and Lisa (Matt writes books on mandolin playing and plays pretty well, too.) Then it's gospel time, with "Don't Let Go of That Rail, John," a Brennen tune which features the spoken words of James Hand and the dobro of the amazing Cindy Cashdollar (plus Brad, Lisa, and Seth). You'd think this song was forty or fifty years old - but, then, many other Brennen songs seem like classics of one genre or another.

Dan Rather's daughter Robin and her hubby (Murray) penned the quiet ballad, "Weather Blows In," which features a lovely cello solo by Danny Levin (of Tequila Mockingbird) plus Cinday, David, Seth, and Brad and drummer Don Pryor. Next up is a duet with James Hand on a Mike Cherry song, "Stumblin' On," which brings back memories for me of the early Porter and Dolly days when I was a teenager listening to KWKH and the Louisiana Hayride. Riley Osbourn's piano and Hawk's pedal steel fill in on top of Murray's work on all other instruments.

The acoustic "Give It Up to Jesus" features Seth, Brad, Lisa, and Cindy -- and this is yet another hundred-year-old song that Brennen must remember from a former life -- this is a sing-along song for large audiences on warm summer nights at Kerrville and similar places. You car hear brother Seth's harmony vocals well here and on the old favorite (off Brennen's debut record), "Pieces on the Ground," which this time features Roscoe Beck on bass plus Murray and Lee Potter on various percussion and some mighty fine pedal steel work by Danny Hawk. This was the song I wanted to hear Brennen do on "Nashville Star" as a classic but they yanked her way too early.

Brennen plays dulcumer on "Carolina," which features just Brad on bass and Seth on acoustic guitar - perhaps his most notable work on the entire CD. [My only complaint about the album is that we do not hear enough of Seth's flat-picking guitar - or his slide guitar, either.] Tom Pittman shows up on banjo on the Leo Rondeau story ballad, "Mountainside," which also sounds like a song from the 1800's and is in the classic murder ballad tradition - but with quite a twist. Lisa, Brad, and Seth add much to this rendition - another taste of Seth's guitar that leaves you wanting more.

We are already in bonus territory with the gorgeous "Carry Me," one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Brad, Lisa, and Seth are all there - along with a fabulous guitar solo by Robbie Gjersoe (that reminds me of Buddy Miller's work with Emmy Lou Harris). The last cut is a rocker with the Weary Boys backing Brennen - this is where our gal explains "That's Why I Sing." I should mention that some of the recording was done by Brendan Burke and Sal Hurtado at Fire Station Studios in San Marcos. The CD is dedicated to the late Colden Naslund, another Fargo singer whose duet with Brennen (on her first CD) of the Steve Earle song, "I'm Still in Love with You," was a highlight that even today touches the heart. Colden passed away last February at the tender age of 26.

I caught up with Brennen, Seth, and Lonnie Key at Ross' Old Austin last Saturday night, and Brennen and the gang will be playing at Ginny's Little Longhorn on February 4!!!! The CD is already getting some airplay on stations like KUT - but it will not be available in stores for a few weeks at best. My best bets for airplay are Desperately Alone, You'd Be Wrong, and Pieces on the Ground - plus (from what I hear) Like a Freight Train - on country stations and just about everything else (but especially Memories of Yesterday, Caroline, and the gospel tracks) on folk stations. Cherry and Rondeau play together in a band recently renamed, "Railroaded," with bassist Josh Hoag.