Regular Columnists

Artist: Band: Tumbleweed Mile
CD Review:
Tumbleweed Mile is a trio of fine players that have their sound in roots, blues, twang and alt-country. But don’t be too quick to stick them in a shtick pigeonhole. The songs definitely have the feel of some edges worn down and some guitar fronts worn smooth from playing. There has been some whiskey drunk, regrets formed and hearts filled.

There has also been some fine songwriting. These are definitely poet cowboys more than cowboy poets.

The songwriting is largely Chris Merola who also lays a lot of guitars and lots of other things that have strings. Peter Wilson joins him on drums and Fred Gillen, Jr. fills out the bottom end of the sound. They remind me quite a bit of Ezra Thomas, a duo from Austin I’m crazy about.

The arrangements are appropriately sparse with lots of space for thinking and feeling while listening. Track 4, “Detour” is one of my favorites and happens to have some amazing pedal steel added by John O’Hare.

Fans of Wilco, Tom Petty, Olds 97s and the like will love Tumbleweed Mile.

http://www.tumbleweedmile.com