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July 30 - Aug. 1, 2008 @ Hogsbreath (Destin, FL) — The Coal Men The Coal Men are Flawless in Destin, FL and Looking Toward the Future Last week in Destin, FL The Coal Men weren't wearing shades because of the sun. No, it was all about the future. Listen! Nashville had the pleasure of hanging out with Nashville-based alt-country rock trio The Coal Men for a solid three days in beautiful Destin, FL last week (July 30 - Aug. 2, 2008), as the band was booked at Hogsbreath for a 5-night run, three of which were attended by this writer. The Coal Men have been performing together for some ten years, and although they have consistently put out good Americana/Alt-country music, they are now (still in their 20s) coming into their own as mature songwriters and musicians. The Hogsbreath performances were an opportunity for Listen! Nashville to see these guys outside of a sometimes tense Music City in more relaxed climes, and to drink in not only countless Coronas but also the overall vibe of The Coal Men, who have seen their share of struggles. To be sure, along with a few recent difficult experiences in their personal lives, the band was recently signed to the short-lived Circle Back Music. The Circle Back Music group closed their doors less than one year after its launch, which after speaking to many involved appears to have been the result of poor money management. Earlier this year when singer/guitarist Dave Coleman spoke to Listen! Nashville about the collapse of Circle Back, he was remarkably upbeat about the situation stating, "Most of the musicians I admire and respect in Nashville have been through something similar." Indeed, this sort of thing is all-too common, and weathering these kinds of ups and downs seems to be the true test of any band's spine. The first night in Destin, after having driven eight hours from Nashville, loaded in their gear, set up and sound-checked, The Coal Men delivered a blistering 2-hour first set consisting mostly of originals but also mixing in a few choice covers performed in a style that is becoming a signature Coal Men sound—part Webb Wilder, part Crash Test Dummies, and part BoDeans. Indeed, the run of Destin shows proved that their catalog is deep, as they seamlessly weaved together old-school lower-Broad style rock-a-billy with rockin' alt-country versions of more contemporary songs from the likes of Tom Petty, Traveling Wilburys, and The Band. Over the three nights, The Coal Men never performed the same set twice—they mixed it up, adding songs not played the previous night, making each night just as fresh as the one before. For a band like The Coal Men who write their own music and already have a few records out, performing covers is a tricky endeavor. But like many other great bands who pay homage to their influences, The Coal Men take a song and make it their own. As for the band, Dave Coleman's guitar playing continues to soar while his vocals are developing into a very unique Brad Roberts-esque bassy alt-country tone. Coleman can take Jimmy Page to school on the most rocking version of Zep's "Rock 'n' Roll" while delivering old-school rock-a-billy riffs as deftly as James Burton (this is not overstated)—all while staring straight into the crowd a singing pitch perfect vocals. Drummer Dave Ray and Bassist "Hitch" Hitchcock are emerging as one of the tightest rhythm sections in Nashville who also happen to sing like birds. If just listening to these guys play for three nights straight wasn't enough, we all shared a glorious pile of boiled shrimp together one afternoon in the cozy beach cottage where the band was staying. The conversation was entirely focused on the future, and the Circle Back experience was never mentioned. Indeed, The Coal Men have much to look forward to, as they've been in the studio the past couple months recording songs for a new record that is tentatively scheduled to be released in February 2009. Dave Coleman generously handed me an advance copy of 7 new tracks, and it's clear from these new tracks that all of the potential every Nashville music critic has seen in these guys is now being fully realized. That's all that needs to be said about the forthcoming record for now, but rest assured, this one promises to be a gem and indeed, the future is bright for The Coal Men. Nashvillians can see The Coal Men perform at Windows Off the Cumberland on August 19th, then the guys are off to Key West for another run of shows at Hogsbreath. Don't miss 'em—they're the real deal and it won't be long before everyone knows. —Vincent Wynne |
