Venture South
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The first album from Cowboy Dave Wilson, the honky tonker pens a listen from the position of a 19th century cowboy as well as the struggles of the modern working man, and he’s got an all-star cast with him for the ride.
“247” starts the listen with plenty of energy, where Dave’s swift singing is met with Hank Singer’s fiddle acrobatics for the dusty rocker, and “Honky Tonk Hot Sauce” follows with Andy Sweetser’s fluid drumming matching the frisky delivery.
Further along, Jay Dee Maness brings warm pedal steel and Leslie Brown handles electric bass for the intimate spirit of “Sandhill Girl”, while “Cruel Cruel Queen” features Kristina Murray’s pretty pipes for the rhythmic country rocker.
Close to the end, the dance floor ready “Mama Drove A Big Rig” oozes melody in a barn yard sort of way, and “You’ll Never Be A Prophet” exits with glowing pedal steel and Dave’s vivid storytelling that’s as authentic as it is memorable.
Cowboy Dave certainly is indebted to the Bakersfield Sound, and this debut comes with a timelessness that parallels Buck Owens or Merle Haggard, and is rugged, rich and ideal for any fan of country and western folklore.
Travels well with: Austin Mayse- Bridges And Kerosene; Helen Cronin- Landmarks