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Cowpunk as a movement married a punk sensibility with a love and knowledge of classic country and good ole rock ‘n’ roll. Its greatest exponents were Jason and the Scorchers whose early releases remain the template for all who follow. Power of County have seized on this legacy and produced as fine an album of ass whuppin’ country rock as I’ve heard in a long time. In less than 30 minutes this album covers all the bases with frantic country rockers and booze soaked ballads,. Death, prison and greed all figure... Led by D. Rives Curtright and Matt Stark who co wrote the majority of the songs here Power of County are an impressive bunch. Looking the part of (fairly scary) country rock ‘n’ rollers and with some excellent cover art to the album I’d love to see them in a live setting. The album ends with perhaps the best song here. “Silver and Gold “ has as good a back beat as The Band ever produced and drives along with a Fogerty inspired propulsion. A great way to end a great little album.

Portland’s purveyors of whiskey-dick, dirty-ass, boot-stompin’ country, Power of County drops its third collection of grimy power country, See You in Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven"

See You In Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven by Power of County fires out like a cannon ball with “Ain’t Going Back To Jail.” Lyrically, there’s not a whole lot to the song and the title says it all. This dude ain’t going back to jail. He tells a judge to go fuck himself and he ain’t going back to jail. While the story is simple, the music jams and makes me want to throw empty bourbon bottles against the wall. Power of County are the type of shitkickers that should play behind chicken wire. Other standouts that make me want to swill bourbon from the bottle include “Love Me In Chains” and “Love Machine.” The boys also vary their sound on songs like “The Ballad Of Charlie Sad,” one of those woeful country tales, and just when you think the disc is wrapping up, Power Of County uncork a truly brilliant tune in “Silver and Gold.” Still not sold? What if I told you they wore matching homemade leather vests? That’s tough to resist, isn’t it? If you’re a fan of true country music, not the mainstream manufactured garbage that makes you boycott beermakers, then I would immediately make this part of your collection. This is rockin’ outlaw country at its absolute best.

Power Of Country - See You In Rock And Roll Heaven 2008, Union Records Portland, Oregon's Power Of Country remind me heavily of one of my favorite Alt-Bluegrass bands, Luther Wright And The Wrongs. There is a definite old-time country feel to a lot of their material and a strong rock sensibility as well. 2008 sees the release of Power Of Country's third album, See You In Rock And Roll Heaven. It's a winner. Power Of Country throws down the gauntlet with Ain't Goin' Back To Jail, a punk-country tune with a driving chorus that will have your feet tapping. Love Machine is a humorous country rocker with some great guitar work. Love Me In Chains keeps the mojo rolling as a worthy urgent recollection. Different Seeds is a little more in the popular country realm (but not in the prepackaged, overproduced sense holding sway on Music Row). My personal favorite here is Trashville Rag, which shows off some great guitar action and tight playing as a band. Even in slower moments, Power Of Country is a more than competent band. Songs such as Father, Mother, Son and The Ballad Of Charlie Sad show a little more of the traditional country sound that Power Country does so well. See You In Rock And Roll Heaven is a real treat! The mix of rock and roll/rockabilly with traditional country sounds and occasionally an almost punk rock attitude is a head-turner and definitely worth checking out. Power Of Country don't so much walk the line between genres as stomp all over them and then kick them a few times for good measure. This band is a pleasant surprise. Don't pass them by. Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) To learn more about Power Of Country head on over to http://www.powerofcountry.com/, where you can purchase a copy of See You In Rock And Roll Heaven.

Artist: Band: Power of County Album: See You In Rock and Roll Heaven Label: Union Records Website: http://www.powerofcounty.com Genre: Americana Sounds Like: Gram Parsons, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash Technical Grade: 9/10 Production/Musicianship Grade: 10/10 Overall Talent Level: 9/10 Songwriting Skills: 9/10 Performance Skill: 10/10 Best Songs: Ballad of Charlie Sad, Love Me In Chains, Father Mother Son, Silver and Gold CD Review: When I was a kid, I discovered a stack of my dad’s country/western albums. The two dudes who fascinated me the most were Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Thirty years later, I’m still hooked on outlaw country, and that’s one reason – but not nearly the only one – I dig Power of County’s See You In Rock and Roll Heaven so much. It’s a vibrant blend of traditional country and rockabilly cut with punk swagger and sepia-toned backwoods twang, and it would be on my jukebox if I owned a tavern. “Ain’t Going Back to Jail,” “Love Machine,” and “Love Me In Chains” rock so hard they seem almost on the verge of spinning out of control. I’m reminded of the Pogues, but the Power of County guys are much hotter instrumentalists – bluegrass picking meets metallic thrash. For instance, check out Erik Clampett’s deft pedal steel on “Chains.” Any time I hear shades of Gram Parsons or the Stones’ ironic take on country, I get excited, and that’s what I get from “The Ballad of Charlie Sad” and “Nothing To Prove.” On “Prove,” D. Rives Curtwright nails his guitar spots (he fires off acoustic and electric riffs throughout the disc), and the vocal harmonizing is raggedly sweet. “Father Mother Son” is a pretty, gritty drinking tale in a similar vein. “Different Seeds” moves between the sinister, old-timey blues feel of Bob Dylan’s recent efforts and urgent minor-key rock and roll, with a nifty jam at the end. The album’s raucous closer, the stomping “Silver and Gold,” reminds me of Dylan’s classic bandmates The Band. I’ll close by paying one of my highest compliments: I really want to see and hear these guys perform – See You In Rock and Roll Heaven has a live, crisp, immediate feel to it. I can just picture these guys strolling onstage, plugging in, and ripping through the instrumental “Trashville Rag” to get the crowd fired up, with Dad Thad Stark’s piano solo getting a huge roar. So if I ever get that tavern, Power of County is welcome to play there any time.

Power of County - See You in Rock & Roll Heaven Label - Union Records This month we feature Power Of County's latest album "See you in Rock & Roll Heaven". Our own Mr Doo-Wop, Peter Merritt, who also doubles as Music Manager at PBS was more than impressed with the album. So much so that he provided the band with a quote to use on their website. Here it is again: "This is an exceptional in ya face take no prisoners Country album full of the licks and kicks that most contemporary Country music lacks. It is absolutely ornery with tobacco spitting arrangements with great tempo changes that call out for the listener to keep up. How could you not like this album, it calls out for a party, so pass the bottle of whiskey and lets dance! You have won us over with this cd, yes definitely impressed us all." Peter Merritt, PBS Australia. This is Power of County's (P.O.C.) third album. The band members are Matthew Stark: Vocals, Guitar & Banjo. D Rives Curtright: Vocals & Guitar. Mike D: Bass. Andy Bacon: Drums. Dan Baldwin: Percussion. Erik Clampitt: Pedal Steel & Harmonica. Sean Buck: Mandolin & Fiddle. The band come from Portland Oregon & started in 2002 when Cutwright & Stark took off for an extended tour of the US West Coast. Growing to the full band not long after they released Dream Destroyer in 2006 and followed this with Dirt Western in 2007. "Cowpunk as a movement married a punk sensibility with a love and knowledge of classic country and good ole rock ‘n’ roll" This quote perfectly describes P.O.C sound as they continue the good work stared by the like of Jason & the Scorchers et al. I will be playing three tracks per show throughtout August.