Hayseed Dixie - Killer Grass

  by Adrian Huggins

published: 19 / 2 / 2010

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Review

One look at the front cover picture for ‘Killer Grass’ and you might think that you have a good idea of what lie within. Four gurning hillbilly types, pictured in police mug-shot poses, leer out at of the sleeve. The dreadful secret these guys hold, however, is that far from being redneck convicts they are in fact talented and very, very entertaining musicians. Music is a funny thing and those who create it are especially funny, not in the “funny ha-ha” way to quote a famous gangster film, but funny in that they take themselves too seriously, believing their own hype and self-importance. For many this something that comes with territory. It is not an easy thing to expose your inner thoughts, so for the most part music fans put up with it. It is always refreshing, however, to find talented folk who also are just great entertainers and do it all with a massive grin on their face. These types are often overlooked, but to really pull this off, you have to be good. And Hayseed Dixie are fantastic. With their blu grass roots music they play instantly accessible numbers which are obviously meant to be heard in a crowded bar, or maybe more aptly a crowded barn. There is a great energy to these guys and a southern twang alongside banjos and fiddles rings throughout ‘Killer Grass’. They start of with one of their own compositions, ‘Tolerance’, which provides a strong introduction and appetizer to the album. It tells of being worn out by beer, drugs, women and life in general, but how a little bit of the said tolerance will get you by. We are then very quickly thrust further into the crazy world of Hayseed Dixie with tune number two, which happens to be a cover, a very famous cover indeed. This is something that could go either really badly or really, really well, and these good ol’ boys nail it. There has never been a cover of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ like this before, but it works. The beauty of it is that as it is so well known, you’re instantly drawn singing along with it. The iconic first lines are, however, sung in a southern drawl and, backed by a banjo and not a piano, it bops along superbly. Some people are born entertainers and I really think these four chaps are a great representation of this rare breed. They also cover songs by other artists you would not expect such as the Who with ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, Mozart with ‘Eine Kleine Trinkmusik’ and most bizarre of all the Prodigy with ‘Omen’. They, however, they pull it off without making the songs sound stupid and like a parody. They’re fun and they’ve made each one their own. Songs like ‘Just My Type’ and ‘Underneath My bed’ show off the band’s own work and their original and very skilfully executed musicianship is topped up with wry witty lyrics that stick in your head. The album with its mixture of covers and original material works superbly, avoiding the trappings of making the group sound like just another novelty covers band, or some wacky folk from the deep south. As a bonus these kind, kind gents also provide the lucky owners of the album with a bonus DVD, which yet again is another full package, showing off both their musical and comic sides. With promo videos of 6 of the songs, instructional videos on how to playthe banjo and hiding dead bodies, you really get your money’s worth here. Now when was the last time you heard that phrase. Everything on ‘Killer Grass’ sits well together and comes together as a highly entertaining package which begs to be played to the many people who are looking for a good time .

Track Listing:-

1 Tolorence
2 Bohemian Rhapsody
3 Alien Abduction Probe
4 Omen
5 In the Backyard
6 Eine Kleine Trinkmusik
7 Norfolk Girl
8 She's Just My Type
9 Underneath the Bed
10 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
11 Won't Get Fooled Again
12 Ramblin' Man/Don't Cry for Me

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