Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars
Jenni Rose’s story shouldn’t be as memorable – as singular – as it is. Woman gets sober, does a deep dive on herself, and writes songs in her newly discovered voice. It happens all the time, and it often makes for some pretty good music. One slight difference in Rose’s case – she came out as trans. In a country-punk band. Based in Texas. Nevertheless, Vandoliers’ fifth album, Life Behind Bars, still features one of the loosest, most raucous (and, as it turns out, most supportive) bands around. The songs are still good, and the licks are still fun. But knowing Rose’s story, and feeling every bit of her honesty, are what make this record infinitely more (irony fully intended) ballsy than any collection of common Texas wannabe truck-and-beer anthems.
The first track on Life Behind Bars, “Dead Canary,” begins with a signature Cory Graves trumpet line just before Rose sings the words that end up being a sort of tagline for the entire record – “I was running from my shadow/Tried to hide it, but it followed.” Like much of the band’s catalog, the tune is upbeat and danceable, but Rose doesn’t shy away from her own darkness – “I was dying, all my lonesome/Intrusive thoughts come to me.” The rollicking country rocker of a title track also belies its depth. Penned by Rose, Graves, John Pedigo and Joshua Ray Walker (who’s had his own dark times recently before outlasting colon cancer), the song portrays different visions of prison, from the literal – “Incarcerated/Until the day that I make it/Bum deal on a money split” – to Rose’s own gender dysphoria – “Some birds can’t be caged/Still won’t fly away.” Bottom line – we don’t always know what’s holding someone down.
Longtime Vandos fans seeking loud, sweaty jams need not shy away from this often-deep record – it’s still full of cowpunk bangers, Even the fun ones, though are laced with needed social commentary. Graves wrote and fronts the rockabilly “Thoughts and Prayers.” Set against barroom piano, the gallows humor of the lyrics rails against our inadequate (some might say “entirely lacking”) response to gun violence – “You might as well shoot at the sun…If all you’re gonna do is get down on your knees.” The similarly bouncy “Bible Belt” cruises on Graves’ perverted twist on a church organ as Rose recalls the worst moments of her youth – “I was hurt/I was broken/I was everything/That you hate.” And the ska-spiked raver “Jim’s Barn” is both exactly what you’d expect (a barn dance) mixed with what you don’t – the rare show promoter who’s not interested in making a quick buck off the band: “Jim, I don’t want to play your party/I don’t feel like we belong/I don’t know anything Top 40/Jim said ‘just play your song.’” In this barn, just like a Vandos show, “the hicks and the punks” get along. That’s what Vandoliers do – take your musical expectations and twist them deeply enough to wring out just a little bit of truth.
Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “Valencia” – horns, accordion and the tragedy of still-forbidden love – “Three cheers for the lovers who can’t touch.” It’s the kind of sad story that, one day, maybe we won’t have to tell anymore.
Life Behind Bars was produced by Ted Hutt. The Vandoliers are Jenni Rose (vocals), Cory Graves (trumpet, keys), Trey Alfaro (drums), Mark Moncrieff (bass), Travis Curry (fiddle) and Dustin Fleming (guitars).
Go here to order Life Behind Bars (out June 27): https://store.vandoliers.com/
Check out tour dates here: https://vandoliers.com/shows
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Show Review: Vandoliers and Mike & the Moonpies at Mercury Lounge Tulsa
