The Moonhangers

TEXAS PLATTERS REVIEW Self-Titled The Moonhangers You couldn't catch a Chili Cold Blood show these days if you turned on the lights of every moontower in town, but Doug Strahan and Ethan Shaw still kick up country dirt at the Mean-Eyed Cat nearly every Friday as the Moonhangers. The cosmic cowboys' third LP arrives straight from the Old West, tales of "Doin Time" with "heartaches put to rhythm" and not trustin' nobody when you're in Mississippi dotting a red-hot Texas landscape. The Moonhangers mosey "Chicken Funk" more country-fried than "Country Thighs," with the J.J. Cale-style Tulsa two-step of "You're in Love" booming Shaw through the mic like he's a strummin' Paul Bunyan. Waylon to Strahan's Willie, the latter breaks hearts on "Devil Off My Feet" and "Let's Do It Wrong," two that'll have folks swaying slowly on their porch swings. They surely don't make 'em like this anymore. ***1/2 The Last of the New York Sessions (Bloodchili) Review of Newest Album: Women, drink, and broken hearts: The Moonhangers like their country honest. And when Doug Strahan's delicate voice starts a-quiverin', it's lights out. His warning shot, "Steppin' Out," deals in regret, just like the rest of these New York Sessions. Ethan Shaw's baritone gets low-down and blues on "I've Been Down," the two frontmen coming together for spot-on Western swing of "3 A.M." Icing down the zydeco ("Crabs and Crawfish"), riffing ZZ Top ("Take Your Time"), and the "Pain, Pain" of Appalachia all result in jaw-in-you-beer musicianship. The local trio's alter ego, Chili Cold Blood, shows up in the funky "Take Your Time," but it's tradition that makes you want to cry: "Party of One," "Lifetime Commitment," and closer "Well to Do Man." This is sawdust-and-leather country worthy of a cold Lone Star on the Broken Spoke's dance rink. Get James White on the horn. **** --Darcie Stevens, Austin Chronicle TEXAS PLATTERS REVIEW OF DEBUT ALBUM HOMEGROWN Chili Cold Blood ladles Bloodchili Music – two Fritos packets' worth. The local trio's publishing company copyrights a dozen originals as its shit-kicking country alt.ego, the Moonhangers. Consider the group's Waylon Wednesdays at the Hole in the Wall a tip of Home Grown's hand. Ethan Shaw's pedal steel and Doug Strahan's guitars – Matt Puryear on drums – translates vocally, trading off track-by-track, into Strahan's more leavened tenor and Shaw's deeper Sun Records, and when they duet on "Homegrown," it ain't nuthin but good. Standouts "For Bein' in Love" ("... you sure don't ever call"), Willie-esque lament "Tumble Down Whiskey," and boot-scootin' instrumental "Bouncin' Buds" rustle up acoustics with the call of the steel, not a clunker in the bunch. *** --Raoul Hernandez, Austin Chronicle Pop Culture Press Review of Homegrown Ethan Shaw and Doug Strahan are the men behind Chili Cold Blood and their honky-tonk-loving alter ego the Moonhangers. Home Grown showcases a dozen laidback, well-done Hanger originals. An inside photo shows Shaw and Strahan sitting around a patio in cowboy hats talking and drinking a 12-pack of High Life, and that’s pretty much the vibe the music inspires. Waylon and Willie as well as Doug Sahm and Joe Ely are definite touchstones for the Moonhangers on songs such as “You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” “Tumble Down Whiskey,” and the album-opening “Drivin’ Home.” The nifty instrumental “Bouncin’ Buds” and “For Bein’ in Love” showcase Shaw’s sweet steel playing, an album strongpoint. --Andy Turner, Pop Culture Press XL Moonhangers: "The alter ego of Chili Cold Blood, the Moonhangers have studied their Waylon Jennings records very carefully. Yes, your beer will eventually hold tears." --Joe Gross, Austin Statesman To Purchase our CDs, go to Waterloo Records Or Call WATERLOO RECORDS AT (512)474-2500 (10 AM-11PM CST). THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS THAT SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS! Also Visit Waterloo Records and/or Cheapo Records in person. Hardcore Rockin' Country and Funky-Tonk If you like real, original Texas music, come see the Moonhangers!