Review Revue: Beasts of Bourbon - The Axeman's Jazz

Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels instead of the internet.

This is very strange — and, I'm afraid, very sad. I've had this album cover in my quiver for a while, and just today decided to go ahead and post it (not having written about Beasts of Bourbon in almost five years). In my usual fit of "where are they now" googling, I first went through a very sad, if brief, journey reading a succession of stories from this spring: First, announcing a benefit show for Beasts of Bourbon bass player Brian Hooper, who had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, then a brief mention of his playing at the show (!), and then the news of his death a week later. Then, as I was looking again at the Beasts of Bourbon search results page, I saw that there were current news stories about guitarist Spencer Jones (one of the two throughlines, along with singer Tex Perkins, through the band's career). He died (as I type this) yesterday. I've never been sorrier for one of my columns to be quite so topical. Deepest condolences to all in the Beasts of Bourbon family — fans, collaborators, and loved ones.

With all that said, let's move on to the KCMU crowd (mostly) singing the praises of the band's debut album. I heartily encourage you to crank some Beasts of Bourbon, (responsibly) enjoy the beverage of your choice, and tell your friends and family that you love them.