Brian Capps - Press
PLAYBACK:stl (archived at playbackstl.com December 2005)
Kevin Renick Brian Capps: Healin' and Rockin' (and Walking Through Walls)
Brian Capps, the affable singer/songwriter/guitarist best known as a founding
member of Springfield’s Domino Kings, does not have a license to practice medicine.
Tell him about that weird pain you’ve been having, and he could only hazard a guess
as to the cause. Nevertheless, there’s a good chance Capps can cure what ails you.
His unique brand of vibrant, infectious Americana goes down so smoothly and
consists of such pure ingredients, it could almost qualify as alternative medicine. At
the very least, the music has proven anti-depressant abilities; this phenomenon was
noted at several memorable St. Louis gigs in 2004. When Capps and his band the
True Liars are on stage, you can rest assured that no matter how rotten your day,
you’re sure to feel better after the show.
The soothing balm of Capps’ music, which draws equally from traditional country
and early rock & roll, emanates primarily from two factors. One is an intrinsic duality
in his original compositions arising from his emotional directness and willingness to
document episodes of extreme angst while setting the themes in bracingly up tempo
arrangements. The results are far more than just catchy honky-tonk or rockabilly
songs. Check out “Two Nights Without Sleep,” “Dark Side of Love” and “Don’t Wait
Up” from the Domino Kings’ debut album Lonesome Highway. And on Life & 20, there’
s the memorable “Borrow a Lie” and the kickass barroom rocker “Alice,” a bitter rant
on a spirit-destroying femme fatale of whom the narrator warns, “You couldn’t keep
up with her if you had wings/Alice grows tired of everything…” These songs rock
madly and sincerely, and Capps sings the ever-lovin’ heck outa them. Yet his lyrics
mostly deal with heartbreak, loss and the sort of recurring agitation that anyone who’
s been jilted or disappointed by love could relate to. It’s music you can swing your
partner to on the dance floor or tap your foot to while you down another brew, but
the songs have emotional resonance because you can tell the singer knows
EXACTLY what you’ve been through. You feel at times, in fact, that he’s singing the
song just for you...
The full article can be read at http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/834/162/
No Depression (Sept.-Oct. Issue 2005)
Roy Kasten
The sleeper of the four records is Brian Capps’ concise (ten songs, 34 minutes)
solo debut. After an acrimonious split from the Domino Kings, Capps (who has since
mended his friendship with Newman, and contributes upright bass to the Kings’
album) turned to Whitney and the Morells as a backing band. Opening with a
menacing but still choogling groove, Capps starts out at the bottom of a personal
hell, gets out on the strength of the best guitar work of Thompson’s storied career,
and leaves his man-in-black vocal impressions far behind him. He turns “Dark As A
Dungeon” into a stutter-shuffle, then echoes gospel on Rodney Crowell’s “Standing
On A Rock” and his own
“God Knows Why”, which closes this damned-by-Saturday-night cycle with a
convincing glimpse of a restorative Sunday Morning.”
NPR (August 18, 2005)
Fresh Air: Ken Tucker
Ken Tucker reviewed new CDs by "Big Noise From Springfield" artists The
Domino Kings and Brian Capps on NPR's "Fresh Air." Following a sound clip from
Brian Capps' CD Walk Through Walls, Tucker remarks, That's Brian Capps who's
just released his first solo album since leaving The Domino Kings. I don't want to
know the possibly sad details of his departure, not when the leave-taking has
brought forth such good music as this..."
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16117214)
The Associated Press (July 24, 2005)
Nick Cristiano
Brian Capps is no longer a Domino King, but he still retains an affinity for classic
country. Although his album and the Kings were produced by the Morells’ Lou
Whitney, he establishes his own identity as he delivers strong originals including
“The Bottom” and “I Wouldn’t Say That’s Living,” plus songs by Merle Travis and
Rodney Crowell, in an engaging low tenor.
St. Louis Post Dispatch (July 12, 2005)
Daniel Durchholz
Brian Capps’ “Walk Through Walls” mixes hardcore honky-tonk, rockabilly and
even a little gospel music, resulting in a particularly impressive solo debut. The
former member of Springfield’s Domino Kings has an easy way with classic material,
such as Merle Travis’ “The Devil to Pay” and “Dark as a Dungeon,” both of which
were recorded by Capps’ hero Johnny Cash. Capps is a fine writer as well, as he
proves with original tumes “The Bottom,” the Dwight-worthy “True Liar” and the
devout album closer, “God Knows Why.” Capps has what it takes to be a breakout
talent.
The Philadelphia Daily News (July 12, 2005)
Jonathan Takiff Big Noise From Springfield
"But best of the bunch is honky-tonk cowboy Brian Capps' smart, punchy and
image-rich set of twang rock, "Walk Through Walls."
www.philly.com
The Country Standard Time (July 2005)
By Andy Turner
"...Capps can write and sing songs that come off like classic country anthems. "I
Wouldn't Say That's Living," with D. Clinton Thompson's searing guitar work leading
the way, should come with a patch of hardwood floor it's so deleriously danceable.
"Next Time," the title track and "When We Learn" are all keepers, and Capps offers
fresh takes on Merle Travis' "Dark as a Dungeon" and "The Devil To Pay" as well as
Rodney Crowell's "Standing On a Rock."
www.countrystandardtimes.com
Riverfront Times (June 22, 2005)
Roy Kasten Brian Capps and the True Liars -- Friday, June 24; Venice Cafe`
"...on his upcoming Walls, the ex-Domino King smashes the barriers between
country, rock, blues and rockabilly with his Cash-like, but entirely unaffected,
baritone. He sings of betrayal, evil and living to tear up the honky tonks another day.
In fact, he's bringing the True Liars (a.k.a. Lou Whitney and the Morells) with him
live. They'll kick the shit and kick out the jams and rock you till your bootheels beg
for mercy."
www. riverfronttimes.com
REAL BLUES MAGAZINE (Issue #30)
A. Grigg
And, I see/hear Brian Capps as an antidote of Truth/REAL to what's been taking
over in Nashville. We generally don't delve into genres outside of the norm unless
there is a strong link and Brian Capps' "Walk Through Walls" is outstanding enough
to warrant inclusion in REAL BLUES just as Willie Nelson or Hank Williams would be
covered for their Blues-of-another-color.
Capps can sing like-the-dickens (very distinct voice-scores large there!) and he
writes killer tunes. He also plays upright bass (Whitney handles electric bass parts),
while D. Clinton Thompson is the amazing twang-master on all these cuts.
Thompson is so good (and tasteful) it's scary and pickers of all kinds will just love
this album. "The Bottom" kicks off the CD with chuggin' guitar and a great
groove. Hit song potential if Nashville goes on Pure Talent, and it's also Shag Hit
potential, as they love funky Country grinders like this. With its Simplicity perfection
guitar solo from Thompson, one hopes that Hightones will push this one. And then
we get a stormin', and Yahooin' "Next Time" that is also killer-diller Hit Potential.
Wonderful guitar in truckloads as D. Clinton Thompson rocks out.
Merle Travis' "The Devil To Pay" gets a really fine reworking as Brian takes us into
C&W Purity. "True Liar" has an almost Cajun feel to it and again his song-writing
shines. The title tune "Walk Through Walls" is one of those "cut-above" songs that
packs a powerful punch and lingers in your mind. Very memorable and again the
band work is stellar (Les Gallier, Bobby Lloyd Hicks and Ron Gremp share drums
throughout but it's Gallier here). "I Wouldn't Say That's Living" is another gem
(damn this guy can write: "my heart's drier than desert sand"). "Dark As A
Dungeon", another Travis classic, gets the ultimate rendition as Capps lowers his
voice in this Miner's Blues and Thompson and Hicks prove their worth as Ace
players. Really fine spiritual message in "When We Learn" a tune
about relationships that are based on other things besides Love. Rodney Crowell's
"Standing On A Rock" is delivered with Gospel fervor and with a rockabilly pulse that
cries out for a major C&W video exposure. Rockabilly Gospel! Can't go wrong with
that! "God Knows Why" is a Masterpiece. It's about loss, falling down, redemption
and transformation delivered on a very Bluesy, old-time Gospel Foundation. This is
an incredible song and equally incredible production and musical support make it a
song that you'll play over and over again, not wanting it to end and the 3 minutes 25
seconds pass too quickly. I've never come across an album like this before. It's
Country (Pure Country), it's Rockabilly, it's retro-R' n R and it's also Gospel and
there are at least 4 tracks that one could see at the Top of the Country Charts. I'm
not too hip when it comes to White Gospel markets but "God Knows Why" should be
on the Radio SOMEWHERE! So, for all of our readers, who appreciate Excellent
American Roots Music, this disc is a "must". You can shit-kick with it on Saturday
night and then "take-it-to-church" on Sunday morning. Brian Capps should be a Big-
Time Country Star. 6 Bottles for this proof that Real Music still lives. Stick a feather
in Lou Whitney"s hat.