The Bohannons take a trip the wrong side of the tracks and wind up singing the Crown Vic Blues on their new single and video — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
Taken from the upcoming vinyl reissue of the sibling-led Chattanooga band’s landmark, Steve Albini-recorded 2010 debut Days Of Echo — returning July 28 on Bloomington’s Let’s Pretend Records — Crown Vic Blues is a rangy, raucous, raw-boned recounting of a close shave on a fateful night in the life of singer-guitarist Marty Bohannon:
“I imagine every town has a place like Rossville Boulevard,” he recalls, referring to a stretch of road just south of the Tennessee-Georgia border. “For years and years I made the trek there often. For used cars mostly. Lottery tickets before Tennessee legalized them. Got my wife’s engagement ring down there. Pawn shops piled with trash and the occasional treasure. Used tires. Loan sharks. It’s the route to my aunt’s house and the most insane amusement park in the southeast, Lake Winnepesaukah.
“It’s also a great place to get in trouble for cheap. Redneck bars, Latin bars, clubs of all variety. And on both sides of the Tennessee-Georgia state line there is an army of jumpy cops out to deal out tickets and arrest.
“After a day of landscaping I ended up at Stumble Inn,” Marty continues. “I can’t remember the Native American lady’s name that sleeps on the pool table but I do know my boss Rice would pound on the door until she woke up and let us in. Commence the pounding of flat natural light and crushing Marlboro butts for hours.
“Alas Rice met a lady and I set off for home. Bam! Blue lights. Not drunk but prob over legal limit. Cooperate. Hands on wheel, licence in one hand registration and proof of insurance in the other. I was almost honest with the cop. ‘Step out of the car for me Mr. Bohannon.’ Searched — luckily no contraband, but as my hands are down on the hood, I take a long look down Rossville Boulevard, the contents of my pockets thrown before me. ‘Why me?’ Looking back I think, what a selfish thought that was compared to what others go through all the time. Passed the field sobriety test.”
Later, Bohannon, his guitarist brother Matt and their bandmates would transform Marty’s brush with law into the walloping, wailing blues-rocker that closes their seven-song EP with all the subtlety of a slamming jailhouse door:
“Don’t want to ride in the back of your car
Don’t want to ride in the back of your car
Don’t put me in the back of your car
Please don’t wanna see those LEDs
Please why can’t you see
I’m not the worst one on this street.”
Initially released in October 2010, Days Of Echo was recorded by Albini at Electrical Audio, mixed by Vance Powell, mastered by Drew Vandenburg, and only available on a limited run of CDs. The recording quickly became all-but unavailable. “Although we went all out for the recording process, it never really got the celebration it so deserved,” says Matt. “Until now, that is! Thanks to Let’s Pretend Records out of Bloomington Indiana, the recording has been pressed to vinyl.”
One of America’a great undiscovered musical treasures — and a massively underappreciated band who have been doing it their way for more than 20 years — the brothers Bohannon, along with current drummer Mike Gault and bassist Justin Colburn, recently released their latest studio album Night Construction. Their first studio disc in five years finds the quartet continuing their relentless quiet to expand the boundaries of southern rock with hefty doses of old-school punk, indie-rock and more. If you happen to be in Chattanooga on July 29, see for yourself at their release party at Cherry Street Tavern.
Meanwhile, watch the video for Crown Vic Blues above, pre-order Days Of Echo HERE, listen to the whole EP below, read more about Night Construction HERE, and follow The Bohannons on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
