Review: Saints Eleven – ‘I Told You’

“It’s just a big ole melting pot of great genres of music. To keep it simple , we just call it Texas country down here.” – Jeff Grossman

By Walter Price

SAINTS ELEVEN – ‘I Told You’ (11 February)

Growing up I spent a good portion of my nights in Texas honky tonks, barrooms, dancehalls and backroom booze fests watching my father perform his songs. I had the chance to meet a varying roster of Rock N’ Rollers, hippies, rednecks and everything in-between characters that made up my youthful memories. A true melting pot, if you will…

My appreciation and all out love of music came from these nights.

Out of Burleson, TX comes a country rock band called Saints Eleven and listening to their coming sophomore release I Told You (Winding Road Music) I find it takes me straight back into all those smokey, noisy and stale beer and cigarette stained walls. Dig it.

Produced by Bart Rose (The Toadies, Ray Benson), the collection travels through an addictive mix of country tinged rock, bluegrass and a bit o’ blues goodness. The opening track ‘Turn to Rust’ starts things off in sawdusted dance floor toe-tappin’ fashion and tracks ‘I Don’t’, ‘A Little Time With You, ‘How Long’ and ‘Old Friend’ showcase the pretty remarkable, wide ranging talents and influences of this Texas outfit.

Where things get super tasty are ‘Hungover’, ‘Stone Free’ and ‘Down the Road’. These tracks are surefire radio hits. Well, in a world where tracks like this would get rotation. Good thing Jeff Grossman and gang are from a state that loves their Red Dirt artists as much as they like their Shiner, college football (HOOK ‘EM HORNS!) and Texas women. So I bet these good ole country rockin’ boys will burn up the Texas Charts soon enough.

The near downside, ‘Delta Dawn’ takes a bit of getting used to. This is the first song I ever learned on an instrument and I’ve studied it for years and Tanya Tucker’s version has deep roots. But that said, it does grow on you. Grossman’s earnest voice has that ability.

The other thing that doesn’t set well with me is I doubt I’ll get to see this album performed live anytime soon. I’ll say it again, Europe needs more honky tonks and more bands like Saints Eleven in ’em.

Check the debut of Saints Eleven’s ‘Hungover’

Saint Eleven: Facebook / Website / Twitter

Jeff Grossman – Vocals/Rythm/Lead/LapSteel guitar
Jeffrey Mosley – Bass guitar
Chris Bradley – Drums
Michael Poole – Fiddle

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