San Saba County: “Here”
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When we Central Texans hear the name San Saba County, we might think of dry, sleepy, sun-drenched vistas full of gently swaying cedar trees and the Colorado lazily winding its way through the Hill Country. While some of that imagery may apply to Austin alt-country quintet San Saba County, the band adds a little downtown indie sheen to their rootsy sound.
San Saba County the band began its life as a rough-and-tumble country combo headed by singer-songwriter John Saba and his high school buddy Chris Wellington. As the years went by the band shifted–in sound and membership. The more jagged edges of the band’s music were smoothed out as they injected a bit more “alt” into their alt-country à la Wilco. Today Saba and Wellington are joined by bassist Tyler Mallory, drummer Tom Hudson and Carlos Orozco on keys. San Saba County issued their first album Easy Does It back in 2004 which they followed up with 2006′s It’s Not The Fall That Hurts and 2008′s …Though Cheating Was Never An Option. This week San Saba County is back with a brand-new album titled Broken Record, and we’ve got a selection as today’s song of the day.
“Here” is perhaps the best introduction to the band. The gently (but purposefully) strummed acoustic that opens the song betrays some of San Saba County’s country-rock roots. But as soon as the band kicks in you know that this is something very different, and much more interesting. The Mellotron keyboard sounds give it a slight 60s British psych flavor and the loud, bouncy bass and punchy drumming are pure power-pop. It’s a tune that’s as at home in the Hill Country as it is at your local indie-rock club–and in fact, you can catch San Saba County at their record release show this Friday at the ND.
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