The Lucky Pierres "My Temptation"
	by Rockzilla

	"Quirky. Yeah. Quirky, but I kinda like it." That's how a local radio program director responded when I asked him what he thought of "My Temptation", the second album from Dallas' Lucky Pierres. After spending a little time with this CD, I have to agree. It IS "quirky", but I kinda like it, too. The first thing that will grab you when you listen to The Lucky Pierres is the incredibly powerful voice of Michele Pittenger, a twenty year stage veteran. This lady can sing! Her voice is perfect for the big-city-hillbilly sound of much of the band's music. Bassist Bart Chaney started out in a New Wave band called Feet First, which was fairly popular with the Deep Ellum crowd in the 80's. Bart writes many of the LP's songs. Guitarist Kim Herriage, another Feet First member, plays lead guitar, lap steel, pedal steel and mandolin. I caught the LP's live a while back and Kim was doing some really cool stuff using distortion on the pedal steel. He was a member of the highly acclaimed Cartwrights in the early 90's and also played with Tex Edwards and the Swingin' Cornflake Killers. Keeping time with a machine gun snare drum is Frank Pittenger. Frank has drummed for Zydeco Faux Pas, the Mutineers, the Tail Gators, Liberty Valance, the Calways and the Rounders. Conveniently, he is also a recording engineer. Reformed punk rocker Philip Prince, who also played with Donny Ray Ford & Liberty Valance handles rhythm guitar. "My Temptation" starts off on a mournful note with 'Jacksboro Highway', a Bart Chaney composition that shows up right off that the Lucky Pierres might just be having a little fun here: So many nights I waited for him Sittin' in the kitchen, keepin' dinner warm While he was down Jacksboro Highway Cookin' up a storm, Cookin' up a storm The sound is, to use that word again, quirky. Heavy reverb, steel guitar, and Frank's snare drum sounding like something on one of those "Play Guitar With The Ventures" albums- it all works. By the way, she ends up down Jacksboro highway her ownself. Throughout the album's thirteen tracks, The Lucky Pierres , joined by Reed Easterwood on banjo, Mark Griffin on trumpet, Meredith Miller on vocals, and Jim Lehnert on accordion, pay tribute to the classic sounds off country, rock, rockabilly, pure hillbilly, and even bluegrass. But all the while, you sense that the LP's are watching you to see if you "get it". All but two of the songs were written by current or former band members. 'Right or Wrong' is a tribute to honky-tonk diva Wanda Jackson, and Michele turns in a fine job on Jackson's 60's hit, with Herringer's distortion laden guitar adding a different twist.. 'Till the End of the World Rolls Round' is a Flatt & Scruggs tune which was written by Thomas Newton, The rapid-fire vocals and Frank's drumming with have you gasping for air by the time the first chorus comes is over. "My Temptation" IS quirky. The Lucky Pierres have put a variety of musical styles onto one disc, and often mix several styles in one tune. Herriage is a fine guitar player, and manages to throw out some really unexpected touches without totally dominating the sound. You can purchase the disc from the band's web site at: www.luckypierres.com

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