"Medicine Show" Rolls Into Town
04/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Shakin' Apostles are an Austin, Texas band with influences as diverse as The Byrds, Moby Grape, and 13th Floor Elevator. "Medicine Show" is the Shakin' Apostles' third album, and it's their best so far. The CD features tight vocal harmonies, strong songwriting from band leader Freddie Krc, and fine musicianship from the 4-piece band, with a little help from some of Austin's finest musicians. The album's one cover tune, "Fall On You," was originally recorded by Moby Grape. Hearing it here, it's hard to believe it was never a hit for the Grape. The highlight of the album is "Hotspur," a 6 minute ballad about a British gunman who has arrived in the Old West to escape some problems he left behind in England. All in all, a great album by a long-time staple of the Austin scene. For fans of Jerry Jeff Walker, the band's leader, Freddie Krc, is also Jerry Jeff's longtime drummer as a member of his band, the Gonzo Compadres."