Casey James Prestwood

December 11, 3:32 PMDenver Live Music ExaminerWilliam Jiles

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Casey James Prestwood

So, I have pretty limited connections, mainly because I refuse to hang out with anyone when there is more than one episode of Jon & Kate Plus Eight on and I have the innate inability to never respond to a text message promptly enough. However, by some miracle I’ve managed to get my text-less, dirty little hands on a copy of Denver sextet The Casey James Prestwood Band’s albumThe Hurtin’ Kind . Now I, like most people who were ever in middle school, went through my “rap sucks”, “country’s lame” phase, fueled by countless burned, scratched copies of This Distillers, RAP = CRAP t-shirts, and the abundance of Hot Topic stores. I’m growing now and after a day of listening to Dolly Pardon’s “Jolene” on a loop, I’ve come to really enjoy a lot of country music for the brilliance that it is. It seems incorporating bluegrass techniques, steel guitar and some twangy twang has become rather popular throughout innumerable genres of music.

Now I didn’t really know what to expect from this record. I’ve never listened to these guys before, I’ve been meaning to meet them for months and a friend of a friend of a friend gave me their CD, hesitantly saying, “Please don’t screw this up.” After vetoing a trip The Wrangler Store for a pair of boot cut jeans, mostly because I didn’t have the time to find the perfect pair that cupped my crotch in the most responsive way, I decided to stay home. I grabbed a bag of stale pork rinds, a can of Bud Light, sprayed an offensive amount of Bod Man body spray in the air, and turned on some muted NASCAR. You know, just to get into the mood.

My reaction was less offended than I had anticipated. In fact, I found myself a-foot-tappin’ and a-booty-shakin’. The way The Casey James Prestwood Band weaves some modern swing into traditional-style country rhythm creates an almost humbling atmosphere. Disturbed, yet intrigued by my reaction, the music caused me develop a strange bond with certain songs. Take “Whiskey, Peroxide and Smoke” for example. Now, the government knows better than anyone that I have an undeniable attraction to whiskey and Grey Goose, but I never knew that mixed with peroxide and smoke it could create such a catchy little diddy. I don’t want to insult anyone with, well, talent, especially Casey, but his voice and vocal techniques resonate that of Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie; of course less whiney, and after being plowed down by The Dixie Chicks’ entire collection of TJ MAXX clearance items.

The way the band reacts together is awkwardly harmonious. Awkward meaning … unexpected. Something that I wouldn’t have seen coming. The background vocals compliment the foreground, all the while leading the simple, yet very effective bass lines. I’ve never really been a fan of the fiddle and I have to admit that even after listening to this CD over and over, I still get a little itchy when I hear it. Maybe it’s just me, but all fiddles always sound out of tune. Obviously, I assumed there would be a fiddle somewhere, hiding until I was really enjoying the song before it hopped out and sliced tiny little paper cuts behind my ears with its bow.

Although the fiddle, and not necessarily just this one, often irked me, the CD was thoroughly enjoyable overall. The sounds created by Casey and his bandits rub me in just the right way and bring out a different side of independent country. Reminiscent of classic Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, Casey assists the revival of my memories, replaying days of four wheeling through the rural countryside of downtown Boulder, weaving through dreadlocks, gigantic earlobes and Chacos. Hand me a glass of Cristal with a plate of pate because I no longer need my Big Gulp Dr. Pepper and Doritos to listen to country. Next time I’m eyeing a plaid shirt with an obnoxious amount of fringe and mother of pearl buttons, I won’t be afraid to try it on.

Currently Casey has no live performances planned, but you can catch him hootenanny-ing at a myriad of Whole Foods-Glendale community events. Check out their website for new shows and be sure to read the blogs if you need a little kick in the pants!