Craig Kinsey references Houston a lot in his first album, The Burdener. ยWell, I live in Houston,ย says Kinsey. This is true, but itยs not often you hear local, non-rap musicians dropping the names of H-town streets and hot spots in their tunes. ยWhy is that, you think?ย asks Kinsey. We donยt 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 isnยt a far cry from the groupยs sound, itยs definitely a calmer cousin.
ยThis stuff is different; itยs not designed to bring this orgasmic ending where thereยs beer laying everywhere and everyone walks out of the place just wanting to smoke a cigarette and hold onto someone,ย he says. ยIt [has] its grandness with a different sort of way than the Tramps [do].ย Kinseyยs folksy tunes have a quiet appeal. If the Trampsย music is intended to find listeners, grab ยem by the collar and get them on the dance floor, then Kinseyยs songs are meant to be found in a dark corner of the bar during a moment of reflection. Prepare to settle down ย in a good way ย 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
This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2008.