Craig Kinsey

A Sideshow Tramp goes solo and gives H-town some props

Comments (0) By Dusti Rhodes Thursday, Aug 7 2008

Craig Kinsey references Houston a lot in his first album, The Burdener. “Well, I live in Houston,” says Kinsey. This is true, but it’s not often you hear local, non-rap musicians dropping the names of H-town streets and hot spots in their tunes. “Why is that, you think?” asks Kinsey. We don’t know, but his shout-outs are enough to warm our already-hot-from-the-Houston-heat hearts. Kinsey is better known as The Reverend from the raucous, bluegrass outfit The Sideshow Tramps, and though his solo effort isn’t a far cry from the group’s sound, it’s definitely a calmer cousin.

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“This stuff is different; it’s not designed to bring this orgasmic ending where there’s beer laying everywhere and everyone walks out of the place just wanting to smoke a cigarette and hold onto someone,” he says. “It [has] its grandness with a different sort of way than the Tramps [do].” Kinsey’s folksy tunes have a quiet appeal. If the Tramps’ music is intended to find listeners, grab ‘em by the collar and get them on the dance floor, then Kinsey’s songs are meant to be found in a dark corner of the bar during a moment of reflection. Prepare to settle down — in a good way — after Ryan Scroggins and the Trenchtown Texans and Clouseaux start things off at 9 p.m. The Continental Club, 3700 Main. For information, call 713-529-9899 or visit www.continentalclub.com. $TK
Sat., Aug. 9, 9 p.m., 2008