Honky
Balls Out Inn (CD) 2005 Small Stone
Honky is a band of intelligent, sleazed-out, crazed practitioners of 70s-inspired, southern scabies rock, the kind that sings of weed, booze, and demented sex, punctuated with bucketloads of riffs and lovely distortion. They come by that 70s inspiration honestly; far be it from them to crib from CD reissues or worn vinyl records from their parent's collection, nossir! These dudes are old enough to remember the real thing, back when cigarette lighters were raised in salute through clouds of sweet smoke to applaud the original Skynyrd lineup on another rendition of 'Free Bird.'

Well, a couple of them are old enough anyway. The band is led by ex-Butthole Surfer J.D. Pinkus, complemented by Bobby Ed Landgraf and tub-beater Kenny Wagner, late of southern-fried stoners Halfway to Gone and 60 Watt Shaman. Their music is a twisted update on classic southern tuneage such as ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker, and (gasp!) early 90s Butts. You'll hear more contemporary sounds as well, including...uh...ZZ Top, Iron Boss, Raging Slab, and Taildragger. This is big, brawling, straightforward music for women to shake their butts to while their boyfriends down another draw. Album highlights include the ZZ Top-ish 'Good Pipe, the old school - and demented - Texas blues of 'I Like the Way you Have Fun,' and the album's best tune, 'Walkin' on Moonshine,' also included as a video. Guests such as Big Sugar's slide guitarist Gordie Johnson provide lots of musical spice.

It's easy to picture these guys as perpetually hung over, crusty and grinning. Fortunately, there's enough experience and chops between 'em to elevate this disc above the level of musical booze and poo jokes to which it could so easily sink. They've got the experience and know-how to serve up a mess of solid tuneage, and they don't hesitate to do so. Imagine if Led Zeppelin had a sense of humor about themselves!

Now you've got a pawty!!
Album Cover

1. Love to Smoke Your Weed
2. Gettin' It
3. Balls Out Inn
4. Trespassin'
5. Good Pipe
6. Walkin' on Moonshine
7. Broken Days and Endless Nights
8. Undertaker
9. Lookin' Green
10. Plugs, Mugs and Jugs
11. Bucklebunny
12. White Knuckle Pass
13. I Like the Way you Have Fun
14. Walkin' on Moonshine (video)
15. Love to Smoke Your Weed (video)

Approx. 38 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh