Whiskey Shivers: “Middlesboro”
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When you name your band after booze you kind of know what you’re in for. In the case of Austin’s own Whiskey Shivers, it’s right on the money. Their brand of revved-up folk and Americana is less smooth, aged bourbon and a lot more white lightnin’ straight from the tap.
The quintet formed in 2009 out of transplants to Austin from all around the country (except washboard player Joe Deuce, who’s from here). The band is Andrew VanVoorhees on upright bass, fiddler Bobby Fitzgerald, banjo player Evan Heidtmann, guitarist Jeff “Horti” Hortillosa and Duece on washboard. For most of the band’s history they’ve slugged it out, sometimes playing two sweat-soaked shows a night. Last year the band released a very cheeky video (and kind of hilarious if you’re into dark comedy — just trust me on that) for their song “Gimme All Your Lovin’” (off 2011′s Batholith) that brought them some national attention.
Last week the Whiskey Shivers released their latest record Rampa Head. It’s full of barn-burning, breakneck rootsy Americana tunes like today’s song of the day “Middlesboro.” Clocking in at a scant two-and-a-half minutes, the song packs quite a wallop in a short time. Replace the folksy instruments with electric ones, and you’d have yourself quite the punk song. And that’s the beauty of the Whiskey Shivers: They deliver the kind of shot in the arm that folk sure needs sometimes.
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