Bawcomville

Saturday, March 30th, 2013 – The Music Enthusiast’s Local Rock Showcase
It had been over a month in the making, but this night was finally the night of the WhiskeyBoy Radio, RYA Entertainment and The Music Enthusiast presented show at Reno’s Chop Shop in Dallas.

It had been a while since we had put together a show (actually last August when WBR did their benefit show to raise money to help the fight against breast cancer), so this was long overdue.

Five great bands had agreed to play the show for us, and after one dropped of just a week before, Bawcomville was kind enough to fill the vacant spot for us.

About a year or so ago the band’s singer, Jeycin Fincher, had done a hilarious interview on an episode of WhiskeyBoy Radio, which was how I was introduced to the band, bust since their shows are very few and far between, I had never really had an opportunity to see them.

The band released a solid EP almost a year and a half ago, but near as I could tell they didn’t do anything from it, unleashing a slew of new songs on the small crowd that had gotten there by 8:30 to see them play.

I knew they were a rock band, but what I had listened to gave the impression that they were more of a softer rock band, so when they busted out of the gates with a killer, loud rock song, I was pleasantly surprised. They didn’t let up, either, tearing through three more songs and upping the energy level more with each one. They got back to their music, rocking out four more songs in their 34-minute long set. Jeycin mentioned they had two more songs than they would “stop bothering everybody”, but it turned out that drummer, Ryan Pogue, had really gotten into it, and broke his kick drum pedal. That almost forced them to cut their set short, but luckily Doug of Long Sword Spectacular was nice enough to loan them his pedal, allowing them to properly finish out their set.

Part of it is probably because I was expecting something different, but the guys of Bawcomville were out of this world. Jeycin has a killer voice and he owned it on the guitar. Aside from that, he added some funny moments to the set, saying thanks after almost every song, but saying it in a high-pitched voice that sounded like it could have been well suited for a cartoon character. Both bassist, Chris Nutt, and guitarist, Derek Bennett, put on just as mean of a live show, moving all about the stage and shredding on their respective instruments, while Ryan solidified the rhythm section with some flawless drumming.

Catch the band on Saturday, May 4th at the Tentacle House in Plano (see their FB page for info). Also, pick up a copy of their self-titled debut EP, and hopefully soon they can get some of these newer songs laid down and released. - TheMusicEnthusiast.com

Saturday, March 30th, 2013 – The Music Enthusiast’s Local Rock Showcase
It had been over a month in the making, but this night was finally the night of the WhiskeyBoy Radio, RYA Entertainment and The Music Enthusiast presented show at Reno’s Chop Shop in Dallas.

It had been a while since we had put together a show (actually last August when WBR did their benefit show to raise money to help the fight against breast cancer), so this was long overdue.

Five great bands had agreed to play the show for us, and after one dropped of just a week before, Bawcomville was kind enough to fill the vacant spot for us.

About a year or so ago the band’s singer, Jeycin Fincher, had done a hilarious interview on an episode of WhiskeyBoy Radio, which was how I was introduced to the band, bust since their shows are very few and far between, I had never really had an opportunity to see them.

The band released a solid EP almost a year and a half ago, but near as I could tell they didn’t do anything from it, unleashing a slew of new songs on the small crowd that had gotten there by 8:30 to see them play.

I knew they were a rock band, but what I had listened to gave the impression that they were more of a softer rock band, so when they busted out of the gates with a killer, loud rock song, I was pleasantly surprised. They didn’t let up, either, tearing through three more songs and upping the energy level more with each one. They got back to their music, rocking out four more songs in their 34-minute long set. Jeycin mentioned they had two more songs than they would “stop bothering everybody”, but it turned out that drummer, Ryan Pogue, had really gotten into it, and broke his kick drum pedal. That almost forced them to cut their set short, but luckily Doug of Long Sword Spectacular was nice enough to loan them his pedal, allowing them to properly finish out their set.

Part of it is probably because I was expecting something different, but the guys of Bawcomville were out of this world. Jeycin has a killer voice and he owned it on the guitar. Aside from that, he added some funny moments to the set, saying thanks after almost every song, but saying it in a high-pitched voice that sounded like it could have been well suited for a cartoon character. Both bassist, Chris Nutt, and guitarist, Derek Bennett, put on just as mean of a live show, moving all about the stage and shredding on their respective instruments, while Ryan solidified the rhythm section with some flawless drumming. - TheMusicEnthusiast.com

Some town names bring to mind a podunk locale in a far corner of some desolate state where time’s stood still since the early ’90s. One can imagine radio dominated by classic rock, country stations and a local channel famous for its midday farm report. Said station is likely near the lone traffic light or railroad crossing.

Largely secluded from modern day culture (perhaps broadband Internet access is not yet available here), a group of like-minded friends are huddled away in a basement listening to some mix tape received from a cousin or departed friend who now resides in a metropolitan area. Said mix tape contains random songs from left-of-the-dial acts such as XTC, The Replacements, Archers of Loaf, Hüsker Dü (Grant Hart songs), Luna, Sebadoh et al. Drawing inspiration from these seemingly foreign sources, a band is formed.

Welcome to Bawcomville!

Named after the town located in Louisiana (pop. 7,616 according to 2000 Census records), this four-piece band from Dallas, Texas distill the essence of the aforementioned bands into a flurry of melodic, guitar-drenched rock unvarnished by time on their debut LP, Tranny.

From the focused aggression of opener, “Diminished Returns,” to the closing “Cormiers (and the Maze),” Bawcomville balance punk, pop and prog elements across the 12 songs of Tranny. In between resides a clear musical sensibility: a mix of guitar, bass and drums are melded with organ, piano, pedal steel and strings to temper the raw angst that bubbles through. Melody is not sacrificed at any point, highlighted by Petra Kelly’s backing vocals and violin on the album’s softer moments (“Spanish Moon” and “Learn to Care”) which counterbalance the screams and howls of vocalist Jeycin Fincher.

Bawcomville harness a warmth from their influences, from the familiar bass line of “Aggressive 7’s” and power pop of “Six Ways to Sunday” to the pogo-gallop of “Novice Center,” without any hint of irony. As with any teenage male, attitude is omnipresent on Tranny. Its sound — and that of Bawcomville — is best represented in “Cormiers (and the Maze)” where the protagonist gets the final word:

Stop talking to me, please shut up
Stop talking to me, please shut up
Stop talking to me, please shut up
Stop talking!

How can one ask for anything more of rock and roll! - Bucket full of Nails

No matter how much studio gloss Bawcomville slathers over its dismissive new single “Aluminum Hands,” the Dallas band’s punk roots show through.

With apathetic melodies and skronking guitars, “Aluminum Hands” is paired with cerebral b-side “Dissolve” and its warbling synths and bass lines provided by Mark Hedman (Centro-matic/South San Gabriel). - Bucket full of Nails