Podunk The album opens strong with "Wings," an ultra radio-friendly song
that sets the precedent for the whole recording. This disc could easily be
listened to in its entirety without finding a bad song, yet in that there
is a small fault. It is ear candy, but there is no aftertaste.
Power ballads such as "In the Middle" and "Catch the Bus" keep it
interesting, but not exciting.
Now describe their sound. The band describes themselves as "pure
Texas rock experience." My best interpretation would be the following
scenario: The Black Crowes and Mr. Big had a child, and Podunk was it.
They have a nice marriage of rock and ballad that is toe-tapping and smart.
"Throwin' Bones" has good music, content and lyrics. They are lacking raw
energy. I guess there is such a thing as too polished. *** (3 stars)
Galaxy (San Marcos, TX), 2/11/99
The name means "small town," but Bryan Jones, Jason Touchette,
Dwight Baker and Paul Soroski (a.k.a. Podunk) are hoping to be the next big
thing out of Austin.
-Sean W. Claes
Podunk "Throwin' Bones" Friday Night "Throwin' Bones" is the new CD from Podunk, the band which recently
called the Groves and Port Arthur area home before they headed out to rock
Austin.
The band's lineup is Jason Touchette on vocals and guitar, Dwight
Baker on drums, Bryan Jones on guitar and Paul Soroski on bass.
"Throwin' Bones" is full of work, there are 13 songs and they're
long. The music here has a professional, sharp edge and the lyrics are
emotional with titles such as "Family," "Home," and "Summer Song." The
guys seem to have done well for themselves and this ought to be a
jam-packed welcome home party.
I can't believe they have a song titled as a variation of a band
name that I've just been waiting to give someone. I still won't share
that, but their song is "Dashboard Mary."
"Colorblind" reminds listeners that children can get along with
each other better than adults can. Other titles include "Catch the Bus,"
"Boomerang" and "The Great Musical Suicide."
"Throwin' Bones" follows their first release, "Murlin's Dock,"
recorded on a pecan ranch in Tornillo. Podunk's tour of that CD took them
from California to Maine.
Podunk will appear at Hasting's at 3611 Twin City Highway in the
Jefferson City Shopping Center from 6 to 7 p.m.
The Cadillac Voodoo Choir say they hail from Atlanta, Ga and
Austin. More power to them. They play "Southern flavored R&B retro rock."
They'll present their music from "Boomtown Flood."
The party at Red's will continue Saturday with Jerry LaCroix and the Blues
Krewe. LaCroix said he expects the group to go on the Ice House stage at about
9 p.m.
Port Arthur News, 11/13/98
Podunk and Cadillac Voodoo Choir will have a double CD release
party Friday at Red's Ice House, 7675 College Street, in Beaumont.
-Darragh Doiron
Texas Band Debuts New Album Abilene embraced a rock band out of Port Arthur called Podunk a few
years ago. Time and again the band returned to town and drew crowds to
hear such songs as "Swan Dive," "Lemonade Stand" and "BB Fun" from the
"Murlin's Dock" release.
Podunk has its follow-up recording finished and this week is
launching its kickoff tour for "Throwin' Bones." The band played in
Houston Thursday night, is in Austin - it's current hub - tonight and then
comes to Abilene for a show at Bob's downtown.
The album was done in Austin for Matchbox Records, the same label
that later this month releases a recording by another Abilene favorite -
the Cadillac Voodoo Choir. The two projects were intertwined, with singer
Jason Touchette and Bryan Jones producing the CVC album while CVC band
member Dave contributed keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ and blues harmonica to
the Podunk recording.
"We just got finished," said Touchette. "We had a way bigger
budget than last time and it sounds great. We even have some string
arrangements (by Will Taylor, who did Ian Moore's last album) and it didn't
hurt us to spend $800 a day editing with the Pro Tool system.
"We were staying so busy, it had been on the back-burner. Now we
finally got our record out. We're really excited."
Touchette, who's fond of wearing a floppy hat on stage, admits the
band has matured greatly since doing the first album. The transition from
fist to second albums, most bands will tell you, is the hardest part. It's
when identities come to the front and a singer or group shows first-time
success wasn't a fluke.
The biggest challenge now is finding a first single. The band
thought it would be "Dashboard Mary" and had a 1,000 CD singles pressed.
Then response from selected radio stations indicated interest in "Wings."
So another 1,000 copies of that were ordered.
Touchette thinks the band can't lose either way.
"Wings," he said, sends out a "positive vibe" from a down-and-out
situation. The lyrics are based partly on what has gone on with the band.
"Dashboard Mary" was inspired by driving through El Paso at 3 a.m.
"It's a lot of people's favorite on the album," said Touchette, who
was driving the band's RV while everyone else caught some Z's. His only
company was a statuette of the Virgin Mary glued to the dashboard. Lyrics
started rolling around in his sleepy head.
"I need to hear your voice/ I need to get down this road." "We've waited a
long time," said Touchette. "Now it's time to get out and do the elbow work."
Abilene Reporter-News, 10/16/98
When a city supports a new music act, the rewards might eventually
pay off.
-Greg Jaklewicz