A year ago no one outside of West Texas had probably ever heard the name Ryan Bingham. In a chance performance at a dive in his native Texas, Bingham caught the attention of some notables of the Texas music scene. The performance garnered a record deal on the noteworthy Lost Highway label. Some of the artists on the label are the likes of Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen and Ryan Adams – heavy hitters in the songwriting world. Since the release of Bingham’s debut album Mescalito, many people are learning his name and his music.
Recently, he has been touring as the opening act for The Drive-By Truckers, a prolific band in its own right. Many people have gone to a Truckers’ show and left a Bingham fan.
Mescalito is probably one of the best albums released lately not only in the alt-country world, but in the whole spectrum of music.
Produced by former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford, Mescalito has the drive of an old freight train driving across the prairie and the sincerity of a mother’s prayer.
The opening song “Southside of Heaven” is superbly written and gives a new meaning to what some call the “high lonesome sound”. “Southside” is a perfect choice for the opening selection of the album. Bingham’s voice shines through with all the feeling and sadness of a well-worn drifter. If the Townes Van Zandt song “Pancho and Lefty,” made famous by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, ever would need a second chapter in the story “Southside” would be it.
Mescalito isn’t all drab and dreariness. Tracks like “The Other Side,” “Bread and Water,” “Ghost of Travelin’ Jones” and “Dollar A Day” are the right hook in this one-two combo of songwriting and rocking out. “Bread and Water” have become a popular staple of Bingham’s performances. “Bread and Water” is not your prototypical “road song” and the boot stomp-clap rhythm of the song makes for a great listen either on the back porch or a honky-tonk dance floor.
Bingham’s drifter spirit shows through in “Travelin’ Jones” as he takes you inside the mind of those that can’t stand to sit still in one place a little too long. The road winds on and on all the while Bingham guides you on the ride.
As just as everyday has its ups and downs, the guide to life track “Hard Times” gives you a sense of where Bingham has been and some of the things he has seen. “Hard Times” is another great testament to Bingham’s shrewd skills with a pen.
In “Boracho Station,” a song performed in Spanish and English, shows off Bingham’s deep West Texas roots.
“Dollar A Day” is the penultimate workingman’s anthem. “Dollar” should be mentioned in the same breath as Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” and Merle Haggard’s “I Think I’ll Just Sit Here and Drink” as the songs for that good ol’ boy who wakes up everyday still behind as much as the day before.
Mescalito is a great listen, enjoyable from the beginning track to the end. It’s not a downer of an album to listen to and perfect in the car or for some background music for a house party.
Bingham is a modern day drifter and his songs tell about a carefree life lived on the highway without compromise. The hard living Bingham has experienced shows through in his rough, gravelly voice. A voice that makes him sound wise beyond his years.
Bottom line, great songs live on this album and Bingham has the propensity to be one of the greats of his time.
Check this album out and you’ll get a chance to hear the best of what today’s music has to offer.