The Bottle Rockets

So the last show of our rock n' roll week was billed by the local press as a show by The Bottle Rockets.

Of all of the roots growing from the tree that was Uncle Tupelo (to give them complete credit for the alt country whatever that is movement is to ignore a whole lot of music history but that's a subject for another day and blog) The Bottle Rockets are my favorite. I like Wilco and I want to like Son Volt but the pride of Festus, Missouri has my vote. Singer, guitarist and primary writer Brian Henneman fronts a straight up, gas to the floor, heart on its sleeve rock band. The lyrics are strong and the music is terrific. One of the things that will be on their press materials forever is that Esquire once named them the best bar band in America which is about as good a thumbnail sketch as you could ask for.

So it was billed as their show. Bobby Bare Jr. was also listed but not as the headliner. So we show up late which was, of course, early by rock show time, early enough to suffer through a couple of songs by the openers. (They were sure sweating a lot I just didn't care for what they were sweating over.) Then we see some of the Bottle Rockets come out (they still do their own heavy lifting) which is actually better from a scheduling, "have to work the next morning" standpoint. They get ready and proceed to play their new record "Zoysia" in its entirety, in chronological order.

It wasn't a Bottle Rockets show, it was a CD release party.

Now there's not a thing wrong with that. It was a great way to get to know the new record (for the uninitiated zoysia is a kind of weed-think kudzu or crabgrass) especially with Brian's witty comments interspersed throughout. (I especially liked "Better Than Broken" and "Happy Anniversary".) It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be so as much as I enjoyed it I was still left standing pining for what I didn't hear. What?! No "$1000 Car"? No "Indianapolis"? What the hell? Hopefully, they will be back around soon to play a full blown show with all my favorites. In the meantime , I'll take comfort in their other new release, "Bottle Rockets Live From Heilbronn" a 2 CD concert from Germany that totally kicks it. If you aren't familiar with them it would be a great place to start.


The Bottle Rockets "Zoysia" is available on Bloodshot Records.