HensleySturgis
Cabin Fever
Blue Rose BLU CD 254

by Al Kunz

My initial impression of HensleySturgis was that their music felt similar to Scott Miller's, the former V-Roy now fronting The Commonwealth. They describe their music as "roots-pop that is hook-driven and contemplative at the same time...rock music with one foot in the Midwest and the other farther south." That description is a good starting point. But both Jason Sturgis and Barry Hensley were influenced by country music in their earlier years. Hensley's grandfather was a cousin of Country Hall of Famer A. P. Carter and grew up in the Dayton, OH area where there is a concentration of others with ancestral roots in Appalachia. Rock with shadows of Appalachian and country influences accounts for the resemblance to Scott Miller's music on some tracks, but they mix their own twists into the musical pot to produce a unique HensleySturgis sound.

Conceived as an equal partnership between Hensley and Sturgis, they take turns on lead vocal and songwriting chores. The thirteen tracks on this disc are split evenly, six Sturgis compositions and six tunes by Hensley. For the finale they collaborated on "Hazelwoody Haze," the title referring to eccentric singer, songwriter, and producer Lee Hazlewood. This cut's introductory rhythm and the closing lyric, "These boots were made for walking but I don't know where they're taking me this time," reference Hazlewood's best known song "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," which he composed and produced for Nancy Sinatra.

Woke up with my head on fire and it don't look like rain
It seems pretty obvious my luck's run out again
This old boy has seen some better days
Think it's time to vanish in a hazelwoody haze

Drummer Pat McGann and Trent Arnold on bass round out the band, augmenting multi-instrumentalists Hensley and Sturgis. While the Hensley tunes lean more toward rock and Sturgis is a little more country, Hensley has a country side that comes out on the tracks where he chips in on steel guitar. "Heart of the Past" is one of the country-tinged Sturgis compositions.

If it's dark in the heart of the past you're driving at
We could seal our lips and the crypt to ensure that
We could crash the gate and set that record straight
Bite down hard hide your shame
I'll take the blame on this one

If she pulls away and her tail lights fade
And I'm drenched with rain then nothing's changed

In the 70's we would have called "Ledge" hard rock. The rhythm section provides a hard driving beat with lead guitar adding texture. Not the same sound, but certainly the feel of Aerosmith or "Smoke On the Water" era Deep Purple. A tune meant to be played loud enough to wake up the neighbors.

On "Bottom Land," Hensley opts for a softer approach with just a hint of country sneaking into the mix.

In the bottom land ­ farther down with every swallow
Through the ruby colored half-glow
Cuts the fear of what will follow

Baby, hold me in your arms again ­ let me feel you breathing on me
There's a shadow by the door tonight
And I know it's waiting for me

A hot-and-cold relationship is the topic of "The Hat Song." One day she wants you, the next it's as if she doesn't know you, yet you continue to hang on. Those who have been there will recognize the story.

Here she comes again, there she goes
She's in and out before anyone knows
I'm just standing here trying to keep track
As soon as I see her she's turning her back again

I keep hanging in the dead time zone
Wondering should I call her should I leave her alone
Monday morning she'll be my best friend
But by Tuesday evening I'm afraid I'll never see her again

Lyrically the band's main principals have distinct styles. The Sturgis tunes tilt toward the abstract, painting images with words and music, leaving it to the listener to fill in the gaps. This can make these tunes less accessible at times, but also more meaningful since the interpretation will be more personal. Contrast Barry Hensley's "The Hat Song" to Sturgis's "Same Old Story."

Holding hands with the praying waves
Standing ground against your tide
Raise a glass to drink the darkness in
Let your nightlight shine

Walking out into empty air
A moving target that you hit
You can fight the air's resistance
You're better off just to quit

Hensley and Sturgis are different enough in their individual musical approaches to provide variety, yet compliment the style of the other, resulting in a whole that is stronger than its parts. Intelligent lyrics, a cornucopia of sounds that manage not to clash; this is a CD that far exceeded my expectations.

*This disc is on the German label Blue Rose, which is famous for finding and giving a chance to under-appreciated Americana acts. Cabin Fever can be purchased directly from the label at www.bluerose-records.com or at www.milesofmusic.com To hear samples of the HensleySturgis debut album Open Lanes, latest show dates, and band news visit www.hensleysturgis.com Open Lanes is also available from the internet outlets mentioned above

Contact Al Kunz at kunz-at-rockzilla.net

 
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