Two Dollar Pistols

This'll have to be quick -- I'm on the way out of town for a week or so, so look for slow posting (if any) until the week of 18 October.

Two Dollar Pistols swept the country music section of last weekend's Indy Music Awards, and I can see why (though the other nominees were strong as well). They're no alt-anything, just straight-up, unironic honky-tonk country in a George Jones/Merle Haggard vein. They've been kicking around since 1996. John Howie has a great baritone voice, and Scott McCall tears it up on slide guitar. Their latest album, Hands Up, was produced by Brian Paulson, who's worked with Wilco, Son Volt, etc.) Howie's clear, though, that Two Dollar Pistols are "a country band that likes R&B, that likes rock'n' roll, that likes rockabilly, that likes The Beatles, but not a rock 'n roll band that likes country music."

MP3: "Runnin' with the Fools"
(from Hands Up, Yep Roc 2004)
MP3: "You Ruined Everything"
MP3: "I Will"
(from You Ruined Everything, Yep Roc 2002)
MP3: "Lonely Avenue"
(from Step Right Up!, Yep Roc 1997)
MP3: "If Only You Were Mine"
( from Two Dollar Pistols with Tift Merritt, Yep Roc ????)

I'll add links to buy and download later.