The Hightone label packaged four of their twang-banging roots country rockers into a single multi-artist unit and cut them loose for 26 live dates in the fall of 2001. The result made for an electric and eclectic experience as
Joe Goldmark's wailing pedal steel traded licks with
Merle Haggard guitarist
Redd Volkaert's flying Telecaster and ex-
Commander Cody guitar/vocalist
Bill Kirchen's remarkably soulful chicken-pickin'.
Dallas Wayne kept the honky tonk flames burning with his classic booming baritone and
George Jones inflections, crooning tears-in-yer-beer ballads. The show blew the roof off the rooms. Ostensibly a live album from its title, the album is interrupted by three studio recordings of the ad-hoc band scattered throughout. There are some real highlights here, though. The guitarists trade lead vocals along with lightening licks as the band shifts effortlessly between honky tonk, swing, traditional country, rockabilly, and rock & roll with a few crowd-pleasing truck driving songs tossed in.
Dallas Wayne's achingly slow weepers effectively change the tempo and
Joe Goldmark's cracking studio instrumental "Wacky Walk" shows how well his slithering pedal steel can rock with a
Bo Diddley-styled backbeat.
26 Days on the Road is a fun listen that provides a glimpse of the nightly excitement. ~ Hal Horowitz