We review the debut album "Pantomime Villain's" from The Outlaw Orchestra

Formed in 2016 deep down in the South (of England, Southampton to be precise) The Outlaw Orchester are something quite unique on these shores. The quartet of David Roux (Guitars & Lead Vocals), Ryan Smith (Drums/Percussion & Vocals), Alex Barter (Double Bass & Vocals) and Pete Briley (Banjo, Lap Steel & Vocals) play what they have dubbed as “Heavy Grass” which is a glorious mix of Southern Country Rock Bluegrass (think The Dead South), with 70s-style Rock (think Lynyrd Skynyrd) into which they’ve mixed in the likes of Cajun, Dixie & Country influences. For me it also feels like Southern Blues Rock, of the type The Delta Bombers do so well.

“Pantomime Villians” is their debut album release, hot on the tails of their 2019 EP release “God Knows We Tried”, the highlight track for me from that is ‘Burn the House’ – Stunning.

Photo credit: Will Carter @ Two Finger Media

Pantomime Villians is a 10 track album. The album opens with ‘Take a Bow’, which really sets the scene for the album and lets you know just what the Outlaw Orchestra is all about. Duelling banjo and guitar set the scene for what’s to come and there’s a wonderful banjo solo in the middle. It gets your foot tappin’ and hands clapping right from the off.

Next up we have ‘Chicken Fried Snake’……. Wow ! I think I have a new Outlaw Orchestra favourite tune (takes something to beat ‘Burn the House’). It’s about eating alone in a roadside diner, ordering the ‘Chicken Fried Snake’. It mixes heavier guitar riffs from David and drum beats from Ryan with a fantastic underpinning banjo from Pete.

The tempo changes with ‘Hanging Tree’ good old fast pickin’ banjo. Reminds me a lot of the style of The Dead South, evoking images of the wild west. The banjo playing and standing bass playing are particular highlights on this one. This is perfect tobacca chewin’ toe tapping, moonshine drinking heavy grass at it’s best. Despite the subject matter, it’s a fast intricate and lively track.

With ‘Whiskey Drinking Liar’ the tone shifts again (showing off their versatility so effectively) a slower heavily blues influenced country track. About a gun tottin’ father and whiskey drinking who ya daddy warned you not to trust ! There’s a wonderful section with a beautiful mix between slide guitar and organ. The vocals on this one in particular hit the spot. Gritty and deeper, really giving the feel of the main character.

Track #5 is the latest single ‘Arabia’. Here we find the tempo increases again to get those feet tappin’ again with punchy guitar riffs. I wasn’t too sure what it was about, but quite frankly I don’t care. The beat is infectious and the chorus “Where’s my camel when I need one ? ….. Arabia” just screams “sing me out LOUD !!!!” (camel smokes I guess ?) Loved it. Not sure what it was about, but I loved it!

Just when you think things will return to their Bluegrass roots, we’re hit with ‘Jumpin’ Jive’ which, as the name suggests is an upbeat Rockabilly influenced song. Now Rockabilly and Psychobilly are a BIG favourite of mine, and the guys are fantastic on this one. Fast, raucous with elements reflecting the classic Gretsch guitar style of the genre with a wonderful bass pounding throughout the track, this will be a great one to see live. Brilliant.

Next up we have a track that will mean so much to musicians all around the world. “ I had to stop there, as I needed a score”……. Thats right, just what you’d expect those lyrics to be about…. Stopping at the music store and buying another Les Paul guitar, and not being able to pay the bills and making your lady mad ! “Sorry, it’s happened again”. This one really evokes the 70’s style American rock genre perfectly. Humorous and catchy.

Then, as ‘Voodoo Queen’ starts up you’re hit with Spanish flamenco guitar! A slow winding tale held together by deep rhythm work from Alex (standing bass) and Ryan (drums) of a runaway who skips town and goes to New Orleans and runs across a gypsy fortune teller. There’s a wonderful guitar solo that rides you into a crescendo of flamenco beats with shouts, claps and maracas. Have I said this before ? I think this is my favourite track on the album.

The penultimate track is ‘Too Much Willie Nelson’. The guys are back to their best with the “Heavy Grass”. It’s a hippy jam of a track telling the story of a guy downing the whiskey wine and pills, being flash and showing off, smoking Willie Nelson’s stash and trying to play Johnny Cash. Once again beautiful performances all round and wonderful lyrics such as “In the mirror I’m a Wyert Urp, two guns and a moustache. She said you ain’t Willies shadow, no… just a poor mans’ Johnny Cash”

Sadly, we come to the finale with ‘Send Some Whiskey Home’. A wonderful simple guitar only intro leads us in to the lyrics that great us with the opening line “I wish you loved me, like my dog does…”

It goers on “that’d be something, that’d be something. But you took off. I don’t’ know where, and I don’t care… Just send some whiskey home as I’m running low and the dog a bone”.

A tale of breakup and heartache. Backing vocals are provided by the wonderful Trish Burke on this one. It’s a wonderful treat at the end of the album and rounds off the experience perfectly. As the final guitar notes fade away, it leaves you wanting more.

Simply Beautiful.

And that really describes the whole album experience. I honestly don’t think there’s a note out of place on this. The vocals are wonderful throughout. The guitar/banjo/lap steel playing is immaculate, and it’s all held together perfectly by the bass and drums provided by Alex and Ryan. The lyrics and well written, often funny and sometimes sad, but delivered in style throughout.

Quite simply this is a 10 ! It’s an album I’ve been listening to all week and will be for some time to come. Favourite track ? Impossible to say, there really isn’t a weak spot in this…. Anywhere. If this is “Heavy Grass”….. bring it on !

Pantomime Villains is released on May 29, 2020 through Voodoo Queen records and can be pre-ordered on the bands site here: https://www.theoutlaworchestra.com/