Lone Star Shootout
Sometimes guitar showdowns work, and sometimes they don't.Lone Star Shootoutdefinitely does, as three veteran Gulf Coast bluesmen band together for 15 killer tracks, with a little help from their friends.Lonnie Brooks,Phillip Walker, andLong John Hunterplay with all the confidence one would expect of musicians who honed their skills in venues that make that country bar fromThe Blues Brotherslook tame.Shootoutis an appealing mix of Texas, Chicago (Brooks in particular has spent a lot of time there), and Cajun country (check out "Bon Ton Roulet," and recall that both Brooks and Walker did a stint with zydeco masterClifton Chenier), with nice touches of tenderness ("This Should Go On Forever") and humor ("It's Mighty Crazy"). Overall, a good time is had by all. --Genevieve Williams