Austinist Show Preview: San Saba County

Well shut our mouths and call us Uncle Tupelo! Austin roughnecks San Saba County have released a stellar new LP proving that Alt-Country is not only alive and well, it's rummaging through your liquor cabinets and throwing up on your cat. It's Not The Fall That Hurts is an ambitious bounty, bursting at the seams with great tracks. Released on India Records, the San Saba boys (and girl?) have crafted what is a worthy addition to the lexicon of subverted twang.

If anyone compares them to Son Volt, they've obviously not heard the whole album. Granted, some of the vocals are reminiscent of Jay Farrar's put-Old-Yeller-down croon, but there's an underlying "damn the torpedoes" craftsmanship that keeps the album anchored in pleasing pop. "More Than Me" kicks the disc off with panache, more Wrens than rotgut. It doesn't take long, though, to get back to their roots. "Psalm 102" is the best song Farrar never wrote, while "New Morning" is jangle-pop to the max. Two interludes punctuate the album, but the other eleven full-length tracks never lose steam, even when things switch gears to Classic Country as on "Oh, And One More Thing..." and "Hell to Pay". One is like weeping over a half-consumed pint of Shiner, while the other is like asking that cute redhead with the space between her teeth to two-step. And there ain't nothing wrong with neither of them situations.

Mirroring their studio proclivities, San Saba County plays fast and loose with their live shows. That said, you should catch them before they're selling out shows in Chicago and you've missed your chance. Mozey on over to their Myspace and peruse their wares. Then, come Thursday, you can catch them at either their Waterloo Records in-store or the Continental Club later on. Hell, if you really want, you can saddle up and go to both. On the other hand, if you can't make it to either, turn on KUT 90.5 at noon on Thursday and hear their live set in the comfort of your own home.

[San Saba County on Myspace]

San Saba County
Thursday, October 12th
Waterloo Records [Map] (5pm)
Continental Club [Map] (10pm)