Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys
Big Sandy checks out for a beer or 20 and cuts the Boys loose on this one: "The first waxing all on their lonesome," he says in introduction. Though Sandy's voice and body cuts a huge figure on-stage while the band rips through their unique hillbilly-boogie-jazz-country-swing sizzle, it's obvious the Boys aren't a mere support act. The instrumentals here scintillate; with Sandy out of the way, the boys kick out the jams on "Straight-8 Boogie," "Mary's Mood," "Flyin' Rite," and others. But the Boys ain't no slouches behind the mike, either, especially when bass fiddle whiz Wally Henderson steps up for the rollicking "Booze Party." It's nice to know that if Mr. Sandy's head gets too big for the band and he embarks on a misguided solo career, the Boys can step into his considerably huge shoes.--Tod Nelson