Review - Trinity River Whalers - Dancin’ Beggarman
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Artist: Trinity River Whalers
CD: Dancin’ Beggarman
Bonnie Opines - Trad lovers and Texans rejoice! The Trinity River Whalers have an album that’s right up your alley, and it’s Dancin’ Beggerman. I passionately love bands with strong male and female vocals, and the TRW’s fit the bill. There is a bit too much bluegrass influence in some of the songs for my taste, but I imagine partisans of the genre will be charmed.
Strong Women Rule Us All is a beautifully interpreted song with a feminist message. I have heard this sung in a way that sent chills down the back of my neck, but this version didn’t quite do it for me.
Wednesday Mourn, however, delivers a spine tingling nautical story. This is my favorite track on the c.d. The vocals are tight and haunting, and really sell the emotion of the song.
Pub With No Beer made all three of my dogs howl along. I can’t explain that one, you’re going to have to listen to it for yourself.
Dancin’ Beggerman is far from a waste of time, it’s a well put together album by talented artists that just isn’t entirely my cup of tea.
Mike Proclaims - I’m not sure where this Trinity River is, but apparently their whale problem has been solved. All the whalers have put down their harpoons and become Dancin’ Beggarmen. This CD offers a fine mix of traditional and contemporary celtic, with some completely off-the-wall stuff thrown in for spice. Some high-fallutin’ folk might even call it eclectic.
My favorite song on the disc is Fighting Tigers, a tune about Irishmen fighting for Louisiana during the American Civil War. Like many (okay, probably most) Southerners, I grew up on Civil War history, and am drawn to Civil War/Irish connections like an unfortunate and soon to be deceased moth, proverbially speaking.
Tracks like Down Younder/Redwing/Spanish Grass Medley and Rusty Old American Dream may not satisfy the trad purists of the world, but there are plenty of others that will. Besides, who really cares what a bunch of trad nazis want, anyway? Dancin’ beggarmen can’t be choosy beggarmen, can they?
If you want more info you can check out their website at www.trinityriverwhalers.com and you can pick up the CD through CDBaby. 
