Review: Whiskey Myers ‘Whomp Whack Thunder’

Review: Whiskey Myers ‘Whomp Whack Thunder’

By Hal Horowitz

“One, two, one-one-one-one…” are the first words you hear as frontman/singer/songwriter Cody Cannon and his longtime band kick off Whiskey Myers’ seventh studio album, released Sept. 26, with an exuberant bang.

The drums click out an ominous beat, perhaps mimicking a lit fuse, appropriate for opening track “Time Bomb” as Cannon sings “I’m waiting around to explode/Praying for another day.” The three guitar lineup twists, tangles and grinds out serious Southern grease and we’re off into another impressive entry of Myers’ exemplary catalog.

The East Texas bred six-piece has been honing its rugged red clay blues/country roots since forming in 2007, touring constantly and winning fans one stop at a time on the endless road. Still, the members got a jolt of commercial adrenaline when they, and some of their songs, were featured prominently in four episodes of the popular Yellowstone TV series. That boosted 2016s Dave Cobb-produced ‘Mud’ into crossover territory, exposing the band in front of millions of listeners, and viewers, many new to their established Americana.
It arrived at the perfect time.

Whiskey Myers was already a tour hardened unit that boasted, in primary songwriter Cannon, a creative force hitting his peak. He fronts musicians who understand that dynamics and inspired arrangements are as essential to capturing a song’s power as its lyrics and melody.

Early on, the outfit was prescient and astute enough to start the Wiggy Thump record label which houses all their albums. Therefore, they always owned their recordings and never answered to corporate suits. That’s the way to do it.

The last few releases were self-produced with superb results. ‘Tornillo’ from 2022 expanded its audio footprint to pay tribute to their forbearers in Lynryrd Skynyrd, included horns, gospel vocals from Nashville’s famed McCrary Sisters and a more soulful slant. But this, where the band notably works with producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Cage the Elephant), returns to a basic gutsy template, albeit with a few stunning country-tinged ballads to balance the tone.

Of the latter, Cannon ruminates on his once rowdy days for the bittersweet, reflective, acoustic slide driven “Born to Do” (“I’ve climbed the highest mountains/I felt the sharpest falls…and they damn near cost me all” he ponders with self-effacing honesty). That’s also evident on the subtle breeze of “Rowdy Days” where he muses “It’s when you finally figure out about the finer things in life/It’s what you do with the rest of your time.”
But they also adhere to their basics, cranking the volume and sizzle for the Skynyrd/ZZ Top boogie of “Break These Chains.” It’s a smoking slice of tough-skinned Southern rock, baked and basted with churchy sauce and taut six-string fire that even those not aligned with the genre will admit oozes gutsy energy. It’s followed by the sultry “Midnight Woman” which describes the titular character while touching on some Memphis musical roots, name checking “Mustang Sally” and the mythical “mojo hand.”

There won’t be points given for imaginative song names with the clichéd “Rock ‘n Roll.” But once this dramatic treatise unwinds over six minutes, you’ll understand how Cannon’s concepts about the authoritative influence of the musical genre, propelled by the group’s crawling, ever increasing intensity, make it one of their best, most passionate compositions.

Whiskey Myers delivers a variety of vibrant moods throughout the dozen tracks on ‘Whomp Whack Thunder.’ While nothing redefines their direction, the band is as cohesive and sympathetic as Petty’s Heartbreakers. Cody Cannon proves he’s one of Americana’s finest talents. He writes muscular, beautifully conceived material that challenges, edifies and even encourages listeners to ponder larger issues of human existence, supported by music that rocks while its lyrics inspire. Pre-order the album HERE

 

“Midnight Woman”