Showmanship before song legitimacy. That’s the paradox facing Trailer Choir.
Signed by Toby Keith’s Show Dog Records label in 2007, Trailer Choir received some national publicity when their first single and music video “Off The Hillbilly Hook” was featured on CMT and in Keith’s 2008 movie “Beer For My Horses.” With members with stage names of Crystal, Butter, and Big Vinny - the 400 pound man who is known to dance the worm in the middle of their shows- the single was a major country-themed fratboy party anthem with rapping and more non-traditional country themes. And while it may have gotten them in front of viewers, the single never cracked any of the charts. If they are first introduced to the public as a novelty act, what happens when the novelty wears off?
Now a year later, their second single, "What Would You Say", peaked at #43 in May 2009 and their second chart single "Rockin' the Beer Gut" has just debuted at #60 on the charts. (Both are on the group’s first album, Off the Hillbilly Hook that was released on June 9th).
This new single has followed each of their previous two singles into that dark and dangerous oblivion that is known whimsy comical songs. It’s a simple country tune, with a little simple electric guitar and a simple-minded topic- a pretty little girl’s beer gut.
“She had everything going on / The first thing that caught my eye / She was rockin’ the beer gut / And I loved the way she was not ashamed / Rockin’ the beer gut / Just a little extra love around her waist.”
At best, the song has a very little amount of comedy to its lyrics. At its worst, it’s an insulting and exploitative attempt to making a buck on our heavier country fans. It’s not cute, not particularly funny, and risks pigeonholing the band into novelty hell.
In an interview with the9513.com’s Jim Malec last summer, band member Butter said, “We’re built from songwriting. We know the depth. We’d stand in the same room with Craig Wiseman or Jeffrey Steele all day long and write songs and be competitive. When you get past “Beer Gut” and some of the fun stuff–which I think will always be a part of what we do–there’s a very serious side, and a very compassionate side.” It’s unfortunate that they didn’t show that side here on their third release.
Novelty songs are not new- modern tunes like Brad Paisley’s “Ticks” and Trace Adkins’ “Marry For Money” are fun and inspired tunes that connected with the listener with a story. While not being serious, they serve a lighter purpose in a more well-rounded offering of a long list of songs. Joe Diffie and Jerry Reed made long successful careers on balancing the two sides of the coin.
What happens to a novelty act when the novelty wears off? It just becomes an act- a tired one at that.
Signed by Toby Keith’s Show Dog Records label in 2007, Trailer Choir received some national publicity when their first single and music video “Off The Hillbilly Hook” was featured on CMT and in Keith’s 2008 movie “Beer For My Horses.” With members with stage names of Crystal, Butter, and Big Vinny - the 400 pound man who is known to dance the worm in the middle of their shows- the single was a major country-themed fratboy party anthem with rapping and more non-traditional country themes. And while it may have gotten them in front of viewers, the single never cracked any of the charts. If they are first introduced to the public as a novelty act, what happens when the novelty wears off?
Now a year later, their second single, "What Would You Say", peaked at #43 in May 2009 and their second chart single "Rockin' the Beer Gut" has just debuted at #60 on the charts. (Both are on the group’s first album, Off the Hillbilly Hook that was released on June 9th).
This new single has followed each of their previous two singles into that dark and dangerous oblivion that is known whimsy comical songs. It’s a simple country tune, with a little simple electric guitar and a simple-minded topic- a pretty little girl’s beer gut.
“She had everything going on / The first thing that caught my eye / She was rockin’ the beer gut / And I loved the way she was not ashamed / Rockin’ the beer gut / Just a little extra love around her waist.”
At best, the song has a very little amount of comedy to its lyrics. At its worst, it’s an insulting and exploitative attempt to making a buck on our heavier country fans. It’s not cute, not particularly funny, and risks pigeonholing the band into novelty hell.
In an interview with the9513.com’s Jim Malec last summer, band member Butter said, “We’re built from songwriting. We know the depth. We’d stand in the same room with Craig Wiseman or Jeffrey Steele all day long and write songs and be competitive. When you get past “Beer Gut” and some of the fun stuff–which I think will always be a part of what we do–there’s a very serious side, and a very compassionate side.” It’s unfortunate that they didn’t show that side here on their third release.
Novelty songs are not new- modern tunes like Brad Paisley’s “Ticks” and Trace Adkins’ “Marry For Money” are fun and inspired tunes that connected with the listener with a story. While not being serious, they serve a lighter purpose in a more well-rounded offering of a long list of songs. Joe Diffie and Jerry Reed made long successful careers on balancing the two sides of the coin.
What happens to a novelty act when the novelty wears off? It just becomes an act- a tired one at that.
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