Track listing: The Drop In, City Lights, Easy Come, Easy Go, I've Been Thinkin', Can't Let Go, Big Hat, No Cattle, Don't Take Your Guns To Town, The Missing Link, The Ghost of the Wakehurst Parkway
They're baaaaaack!! Hell, they never left. Australian surf-cowboy-Country-Rockers The Mezcaltones just released their fifth album entitled Big Hat, No Cattle. While the phrase describes someone who dresses the part without doin' any of the work, it sure as hell ain't a self-descriptor. If anything, this band wears their big hats and herds the cattle, then fixes dinner at the chuck wagon for the whole damn posse.
"The Drop In" kicks off this musical cattle drive. It's a surf-tastic instrumental, true to their Tarantino-soundtrack roots. They're just lettin' you know that this album is gonna kick as much ass as its predecessors. "City Lights" follows with a gritty Dwight Yoakam bounce to it, featuring a saucy lil' harmonica lead. You can really feel the band come together here--the rhythm section is smokin', the guitar licks are fast & tight, and the harmony vocals top it off with their silky smoothness.
Giving credit where it's due, Big Hat, No Cattle was recorded at the impressive setup at Damien Gerard Studios, with Andrew Beck behind the board, mixed by Russell Pilling, mastering by William Bowden, and entirely self-produced. The band knows what they want, and they got it again on this one. The record captures their dirty, dusty vibe, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and musicianship that doesn't fuck around. Don't let the elaborate costumes and stage show fool you, The Mezcaltones back up their antics with tried-and-true songwriting, paying close attention to arrangement and production details. When you're rehearsed to perfection, it allows a lot of room to be silly and have a great time. The Mezcaltones have perfected this formula once again.
This is the second Mezcaltones record I've reviewed, taking a swing at Agave Soiree back in 2023. And what they've both done to me is start a little fire burnin' inside to get to Australia to see them live. From their bio: "To truly understand what it is with The Mezcaltones you have to see a live performance. Just before show time there is an atmosphere… a vibration that runs through the audience… an anticipation of something special to come…" They're playing all the damn time and I'd love nothing more than to take in a show while they're still goin' strong. Should you find yourself Down Under, look 'em up: the-mezcaltones.com/shows. In the meantime Big Hat, No Cattle is streaming on all major platforms. Don't just talk, go take a listen now!