Houston Press: Heartless Bastards

Re-printed from an article in the Houston Press by Chris Gray
Monday, Feb. 09 2009 @ 5:16PM
Photo by Cambria Harkey

PR Says: "The record delivers the swamped-up rock howl that fans have always loved - but also brings in this amazing expansion into their sound with pedal steel, mandolin, banjo and strings."

Rocks Off Says: If Cat Power fronted Led Zeppelin, it might sound a lot like The Mountain - indie-rock classic-rock muscle. Rootsier than the trio's previous efforts, The Mountain feels like Erika Wennerstrom's voice has been imported from the '30s on the more acoustic songs, and so do her wistfully Biblical lyrics - midnight trains, wicked suns, pale moonlight, falling down on her knees to pray and so forth. Sturdy and eerie.

Coming Through?: The Bastards tear it up on V-Day Saturday night at Last Concert Cafe in Houston.

Fun Fact: The band appears on The Late Show With David Letterman tomorrow night.

Heartless Bastards (Austin/Cincinnati), The Mountain (Fat Possum) will be back in the Tri-State at the Madison Theater in late March 2009.