| I confess.
Miss Lana really didn’t have to twist my arm too hard on getting me to
review these CD’s. She may have to twist it pretty hard to get them
back. I don’t care if they are autographed to her.
“Alive and Pickin”
Some artists I am just glad to get to go and see perform. Others I
feel as though it’s a special privilege to sit in their presence and
watch. Tommy Alverson is one such artist. The best part is that as
incredibly talented as he is, he is just as incredibly nice when you meet
him.
This is a LIVE performance taped at the Chatauqua Auditorium in
Waxahachie, TX in March of 2000 (except for the final cut). As I
listened, it was as if I were transported to Waxahachie and watching the
Tommy Alverson Band on stage. Not many CDs have that kind of feel to
them.
This album is full of Alverson fan favorites, all of which were either
written or co-written by Alverson. “Texas Woman”, “I Don’t Think
I’ll Go to Mexico”, and “Buy Me a Bar” are really “stand-outs” here.
“How Good a Bad Woman Feels” and “Not Tonight, I’ve Got a Heartache” I
found exceptionally good, too. Listening to this CD again in my
children’s Elementary school parking lot, I felt extremely relaxed and
comfortable and kept reaching for my cold beer that just wasn’t there.
The final track is “Una Mas Cerveza”, taped LIVE at Larry Joe Taylor’s
12th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Texas Music Festival on April 29, 2000.
I’ve never been to one of the Meridian gatherings, at least, not until
this song. It has to be the next best thing to being there.
The music is perfectly balanced with the crowd and was also perfectly
balanced with my 4 year-old in the back seat just singing right along.
Again, the only thing that would make listening to this song any better,
would be “Una Mas Cervaza” in hand. This is one CD that any OKOM fan
shouldn’t be without.
“Texasongs”
Do yourself a favor and pick up Alverson’s “Texasongs” too,
containing previously released songs from both “The Heart of the Hill
Country” and “Always in My Heart”. There are many really good songs on
here from this talented Texas artist. It does have one of my very
favorites, the song I first associated Tommy Alverson with, entitled
“Purty Boys”. Tommy laments all the popularity and media exposure of
those “oh so handsome” Trashville artists, while some of our fine
Texas/Americana boys without baby faces keep just plugging along.
Just as true now as when it was first released, all OKOM fans should have
a copy of this song and know it by heart. “Whoever heard of Lake
Alan Jackson anyway!”
Although...don’t tell him I said so ‘cause he might have to change the
song a little, but I do think Tommy’s kinda cute myself!!!!
Written by Dana Jones,
November 2001
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