SCOTLAND BARR & THE SLOW DRAGS, JAMES LOW, TONY SMILEY
(Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan) One listen to Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags’ “She’s Happy,” from their upcoming All the Great Aviators Agree, should usher in memories of negligent summer breezes and riverside bonanzas. But two listens yield femme-venomous strikes at wayward relations; both scenarios combine for an awkwardly engaging listen. The Portland-based country/roots-rock quintet incorporates traditional pedal steel bravado to facilitate their power-hungry wail, most notably by way of Barr’s gruff, road-weary storytelling. The real kicker lies in the spot-on chops of the Slow Drags, a band just potent enough to dull the surreal lyrical punch of Barr. Regardless, the group divvies up fun, street-savvy bar room knuckle punches; I’d watch my chin. RYAN J. PRADO

MP3:
Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags - Legionnaires (acoustic)