CRITIC'S PICK: THE OLD 97'S
By Barry
Gilbert
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 5, 2005
With Grey DeLisle, at 9 p.m. Friday at Mississippi Nights, 914 North First Street. Old 97's $17.50 in advance, $20 day of show, $2 minor surcharge. 314-534-1111 or www.metrotix.com
Sometimes a CD, no matter how good it is, just can't do a band justice. Such is the case with the Old 97's, a Dallas-based band that has to be seen live to be truly appreciated. Front man Rhett Miller, bassist Murry Hammond, guitarist Ken Bethea and drummer Philip Peeples return to St. Louis on Friday night for a show at Mississippi Nights. The band played the same venue last July and ripped it up behind tunes from its most recent CD, "Drag It Up." That disc plays to the band's strengths, ranging from the British Invasion sound of "The New Kid" to the Tex-Mex rhythms of "Coahuila." Rock, country, even surfin' sounds are likely to be heard during the concert, which is sure to feature old favorites like "House That Used to Be," "Streets of Where I'm From" and "Barrier Reef" from the album "Too Far to Care," "Big Brown Eyes" and "Dressing Room Walls" from "Wreck Your Life," "Jagged" and "Nineteen" from "Fight Songs" and any number of tunes from "Satellite Rides." Miller might even bring out some new tunes from his next solo CD, which is planned for release this fall.