Stover
By Robert Fontenot
After years playing in some of this towns more interesting roots-rock bands (Bad Mayo, Schatzy, Jonno and Bayou Deville,and the Fessters), it makes sense that bassist Dave Stover would want to drop the first name from his new project and his professional life, for the duration of this CD, at least. It makes even more sense once you listen to the music behind the name; Stover (the album) is a perfect blend of all the music thats been filtered through Stover (the man) after lo these many and varied gigs.
You can hear Bad Mayos damaged alt.country, Schatzys bent art-pop and the Fessters jam-band sensibilities all at once on songs like Falling Again Falling, which burbles menacingly for a half-minute or so before evolving into a taut, folky, yet dark college-rock groove and spiraling into squalls of overdubbed guitar frenzy before subsiding into the psycho-Jell-O echo of the link track A Fine Fuzzy Line. If you can follow all that, youre halfway to buying this CD. If that doesnt do it for you, try Makeup, which centers itself around the line Lets fuck and make up. Gotcha!
Daves main weaknesshis somewhat flat, anonymous voiceis still following him around, but he doesnt take lead much here; indeed, Dave uses these ten originals (some co-written by the Fessters Dave James) as a showcase for his songwriting talents, which remain impressive. And while the mix buries his vocals deep, it also mires some of the lead guitar work and airbrushes out some of the more dynamic interplay of the band. (About that band: Stover functions as a collective of New Orleans finest roots-rock vets, meaning members of the aforementioned groups are all here somewhere.) Still, Stover works wonderfully; its namesake hopscotches around between vocals, guitar, bass, tuba, and percussion, and yet you get his vision even when hes letting others do the talking. Stover changes personae, instruments, and bands like other people change their shirts. But it all looks good on him.
OFFBEAT
STOVER
Via Deluna
Independent
Having already led a scene of roots-rock freaks and collaborated with everyone in town but Morgus, setting famous poems to music is apparently the only direction left for Dave Stover to travel. Everyone from Poe to Robert Herrick gets the Stover treatment on this latest, nine-track solo CD. You may be lulled into a false sense of security by the opener, Stars Keep Shiftin, which is Stovers best batch yet of spooky, art-pop Americana, but then Herricks To The Virgins, To Make Much Of Time careens out of the dark, recast as a Cajun waltz, and here we go.
Savoyards with a social life will appreciate Ko Kos Song recast as a country honk, however, and Poes Alone makes for interesting coffeehouse conversation is Tim Robertsons guitar mocking Edgars pain, or celebrating it?
OFFBEAT
Howdy Stover! I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking the time to accept us as your friend, and listening to our music. We appreciate the gesture and are grateful that you enjoyed our tunes enough to add us to your community of friends. After all, having people connect with our music is why we do this. I hope you'll come by often to say hello and let us know what's happening with you, and when you have a spare moment, please visit our brand new webpage at www. crosstimbersbluegrass. com there you can listen to more of our music and find out more about us. Feel free to sign the guestbook! (And if you have any ideas about how we could improve the webpage, be sure to let us know)
All my best and thank you again, Matt (the bass player) Cross Timbers
Come see us at the New Live Bait this Saturday night (03/01/2008) at 09:00 PM. 200 Old Hammond Hwy. Bucktown, Louisiana 70005 corner of Old Hammond Hwy and Lake Ave. in Metairie For more info call 504-840-0902 Hope to see you there..... Frank and Genny Caronna
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Hey Friends - THSB has four new tunes on our page, including three brand new, unreleased tracks with a whole new sound. Check it out! Also - for our friends in the Houston, TX area, WE WILL BE THERE TOMORROW NIGHT!!
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