GIN PALACE JESTERS:
Honktytonk Fools: CD
This Chicago five piece proudly and deservedly are “too country and proud of it.” Deftly waving the flag of their self-described, hard-hitting hillbilly honky tonk (along with other classic American music styles—county boogie, honky tonk, bluegrass, country waltz, etc.) on this greatly anticipated release, Dave Sisson and crew deliver clever lyrics and upbeat, tight, and masterful musical arrangements as expected. Five-star guest artists like Sean Mencher, Rosie Flores, Colonel JD Wilkes, Jason Carter, and Conway Twitty (posthumously) lend a hand to round out a well-written and well-produced professional quality album that will remain in rotation for years to come. Many stand out tracks, but most notably, “Pomade on My Pillow,” “Drink One for Me,” and “(I’ll Just) Pick Up the Pieces.” Unwrap yer own copy. You’ll be glad you did.

–Jessica Thiringer

Blue Suede News Winter 2004/2005

Gin Palace Jesters/Honkytonk Fools RBR 5616

If I had to pick a CD for a long drive, this would be a top notch contender, one I'll never get tired of. Weird that it took a German label (Rhythm Bomb Records) to put out this excellent album by an American Honky Tonk quartet. Seven of the fifteen songs were produced by Ex-High Noon guitarist/vocalist Sean Mencher in Nashville, the rest was recorded in Illinois. Their brand of honkytonk is first rate, authentic '50's and early '60's style with wonderful pedal steel, fiddle on a handful of tracks, mandolin and harmonica on one. The Gin Palace Jesters share vocal duties and Dave Sisson (voc, gtr.) also wrote 12 of the 15 tracks. The lyrics are catchy and often tongue in cheek. I love lines like "I smelled pomade on my and it was not my brand." That's just one of the many favorites with cool guitar licks a la Junior Brown and harmony vocals. Some songs are reminiscent of Buck Owens like "Drink One For Me", great melody and perfect two-step (and Swing Dance) material too. A beautiful but sad waltz "I'll Just Pick Up The Pieces" with a Bluegrass flavor fits in nicely. "Love, Love, Love" is done Buddy Holly style, "Gone" is a cool Hillbilly Rocker, "Johnny Come Lately" is a slow swinging atmospheric tune. This is an all around superb album, great musicianship, perfect sound - memorable through and through.

-GMB

INTERNATIONAL INDIE ALBUMS
Reviews by Sue McCarthy and Colin H. Blanchard

GIN PALACE JESTERS
Honky Tonk Fools

Naildriver Style; Pomade On My Pillow; Drink One For Me; Up, Down, Over and Through; Lover Not A Fighter; Honkytonk Fool; (I'll Just) Pick Up The Pieces; Love, Love, Love; Johnny Come Lately; Queen of Broken Hearts; Gone; 18 Days and 18 Wheels; Pink Champagne (& a Chevy Caprice; (I've) Drunk All My Troubles away;Nashville Penny
An excellent U.S. band with a fine rockabilly style that will go down well with dance fans everywhere. I very much enjoyed the Bakersfield shuffle style of Drink One For Me and the waltz I'll Just Pick Up The Pieces. I feel this is a band that would go down very well with the Brit fans - in the same way BR549 did. Old style country sung with verve.
The Gin Palace Jesters are from Chicago, and descrbe themselfs as purveyors of the finest in hard hitting Hillbilly Honky-tonk, Country Boogie and Western Swing, and I would agree with them. They are Dave Sisson, electric lead guitar and lead vocals, Kevin 'Buddy' Carter - pedal steel guitar and harmony vocals, Casey Stockdon, upright bass and harmony vocals, Rick Murawski, drums and harmony vocals, Ken Mottet, acoustic rhythm guitar, harmony vocals and Emcee/funny man. They are joined by guests on this album, notably Rosie Flores on track 5 and Conway Twitty on track 15.

(Rhythm Bomb) Honkytonk Fools is the debut release from the Chicago based, Gin Palace Jesters. Making up the band are members Dave Sisson (lead guitar, vocals), Casey Stockdon (doghouse bass, vocals), Rick Murawski (drums, vocals), Buddy Carter (pedal steel, vocals) and Ken Mottet (acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals). The GPJ's sound harkens back to country music's golden age of the 50's and they combine the sounds classic Nashville and Texas honky tonk with Western Swing, rockabilly and country boogie. However, they aren't a retro-cover band who retreads old classics. They boast 3 songwriters in Dave, Buddy and Ken who wrote all of the albums 15 songs. Each member contributes instrumentally and vocally, they swap off lead vocals and often deliver 3 and 4 part harmony.

Honkytonk Fools was recorded at different studios in Chicago and Nashville, with Sean Mencher (of the rockabilly outfit High Noon) producing the Nashville sessions (as well as contributing some lead on "Lover Not A Fighter"). Among others who drop by to help out are Rosie Flores and Jason Carter (The Del McCoury Band).

The album opens with the upbeat "Nail Driver Style," a country hill-boogie tune that encourages people to make the best of life. With a touch of swing, the band creatively approaches the theme of cheatin' in "Pomade On My Pillow" by infusing a bit of off the wall humor into the sad tale of a man who discovers his wife's been unfaithful. They delve into swing territory again on "Lover Not A Fighter," the tongue-in-cheek tale of a chicken-hearted Romeo. GPJ delivers some clever and varied shuffles. "Drink One For Me" is a cleverly written song that finds a fellow 'dumpee' of the same woman, comforting another after stumbling across him attempting to nurse his broken heart by drowning his sorrows. "Pick Up The Pieces" drips with heartache beneath the surface of trying to put up a brave front despite the pain. In classic barroom weeper style, "Queen Of Broken Hearts" oozes with a man's regret over his realization that there's no one but himself to blame for losing the woman he loves, while "Pink Champagne & A Chevy Caprice" wistfully reflects on the memories of a lost love.

The band offers up a pair of honky tonkers with "Up, Down, Over & Through," the story of betrayal- a man being left at the altar by his bride-to-be, and "I've Drunk My Troubles Away," about a man contently drownin' life's sorrows. The title track, "Honkytonk Fool" is a honkabilly two-stepper that finds a guy unhappily haunting the honky tonks to try to keep himself from pining away alone after being dumped. "Gone" is another honkabilly tale of lost love, while "Nashville Penny" offers up an upbeat, optimistic belief that with luck and some determination, success can happen.

"18 Days & 18 Wheels" is an outstanding tale of a truck driver who's thoughts keep turning to the woman waiting for him at home and features some of the album's most gorgeous harmony. GPJ offer up something a little different with the infectious "Love, Love, Love" that has a 50's rock & roll feel to it, combining a slightly Latin beat with a Buddy Holly groove. Another album highlight is the dark, slinky rockabilly "Johnny Come Lately," that warns about the dangers of a love 'em and leave 'em beauty.

With Honkytonk Fool, the Gin Palace Jesters deliver a nice variety of original songs that range from novelty tunes to heartache barroom weepers, and a little bit of just about everything in-between, that's steeped in 50's era tradition. What sets them apart from being 'just another' retro-style band is that while on the one hand they take their music very seriously, on the other, they infuse plenty of humor and 'winks' into their sharp and cleverly written songs that give it a modern edge. All the band's members are crack musicians and strong lead vocalists, but it's their stellar harmony vocals that's their real ace in the hole.

Standout Tracks: "Nail Driver Style," "Pomade On My Pillow," "Drink One For Me," "Honkytonk Fool," "Love, Love, Love," "Johnny Come Lately," "Queen Of Broken Hearts," "18 Days & 18 Wheels," "I've Drunk All My Troubles Away"

On The Net: www.ginpalacejesters.com

www.cdbaby.com/cd/gpj

MattFink- Planet Rockabilly CD review

Gin Palace Jesters – "Honky Tonk Fools" (Rhythm Bomb 2004)
mattfink rates it: 4 stars
7 of 13 readers found this review helpful.

The Gin Palace Jesters are a five piece honky tonk outfit with the goal of putting a tap in your toes and a smile o­n your face. Listening to their first release "Honky Tonk Fools" is sure to both. Lead by Dave Sisson (former Three Blue Teardrops), the Gin Palace Jesters do a mighty fine job of blending 40's, 50's and even a bit of early 60's style country, western swing and hillbilly music in their own style. Hailing from Chicago, you can be sure these boys not o­nly have style, but are some darn fine musicians to boot (I can vouch having seen them play live o­n several occasions)!


"Honky Tonk Fools" was recorded down in Nashville and had the magic hands of Sean Mencher at the dials producing the album. 14 out of the 15 tracks are original numbers that harken back to the golden age of country music. The musicianship o­n the album is outstanding and the vocal harmonies are sure to please! My favorites picks are "Pomade o­n My Pillow", "Honkytonk Fool" and "Nashville Penny" (written by the my friend and yours, Ken Mottet). Be sure to pick this o­ne up and check them out live. The Gin Palace Jesters will be appearing at the Scream Festival in Barcelona , Spain in 2005.

http://www.angelfire.com/sd/scountry/International_Indie_Reviews.html

GIN PALACE JESTERS
Honky Tonk Fools

Naildriver Style; Pomade On My Pillow; Drink One For Me; Up, Down, Over and Through; Lover Not A Fighter; Honkytonk Fool; (I'll Just) Pick Up The Pieces; Love, Love, Love; Johnny Come Lately; Queen of Broken Hearts; Gone; 18 Days and 18 Wheels; Pink Champagne (& a Chevy Caprice; (I've) Drunk All My Troubles away;Nashville Penny
An excellent U.S. band with a fine rockabilly style that will go down well with dance fans everywhere. I very much enjoyed the Bakersfield shuffle style of Drink One For Me and the waltz I'll Just Pick Up The Pieces. I feel this is a band that would go down very well with the Brit fans - in the same way BR549 did. Old style country sung with verve.
The Gin Palace Jesters are from Chicago, and descrbe themselfs as purveyors of the finest in hard hitting Hillbilly Honky-tonk, Country Boogie and Western Swing, and I would agree with them. They are Dave Sisson, electric lead guitar and lead vocals, Kevin 'Buddy' Carter - pedal steel guitar and harmony vocals, Casey Stockdon, upright bass and harmony vocals, Rick Murawski, drums and harmony vocals, Ken Mottet, acoustic rhythm guitar, harmony vocals and Emcee/funny man. They are joined by guests on this album, notably Rosie Flores on track 5 and Conway Twitty on track 15.
Website: Gin Palace Jesters

Gin Palace Jesters “Honkytonk Fools” (Rhythm Bomb 2004)
Available: Now. Review by Jeremy Searle
Classic and classy honkytonk and swing from kings-in-waiting. The Gin Palace Jesters debut album is something of a find. The band consists of five pretty experienced musicians (allegedly 100+ years of performance between them), and it shows in the effortless skill and musical blending on display. Their sound is authentic honkytonk, with upright bass and pedal steel overlaid with three part harmonies. The subject material, though largely new, also covers the classic ground of booze, brawling and broken relationships. They have a sense of humour too, particularly in leader Dave Sisson’s songs, witness the cuckold who discovers the truth as “I smelt pomade on my pillow/and it was not my brand”, the serial lover whose being “arrested for indecency/was what spared my life”, and the man who avows “It ain’t like I need money/but the people I owe sure do” (and who amongst us hasn’t been there?). In less skilled hands this music would be just so much retro revivalist trash, but these guys bring genuine heart and soul to their playing and their songs, and it shows. It would be a hard heart indeed that didn’t warm to them. A lot of bands working in this idiom are fine in a bar after a few beers, but the album bought in a fit of post-gig enthusiasm rarely survives its first play in the cold light of morning. Not so here, “Honkytonk Fools” holds it’s own on merit, and just whets the appetite for a live show. With self-appointed keeper of the flame Dale Watson a touch too reverent for his own good, and BR-549 not the band they were, these guys could, and indeed should, if there’s any justice, fill the gap. Recommended. www.ginpalacejesters.com

http://www.americana-uk.com/html/reviews.html

CD Review from Country Standard Time

Gin Palace Jesters Honkytonk Fools, 2004
Rhythm Bomb (German import)
Used to be, way back before there were videos, CMT and arena tours, the best way - and for many, the only way - to experience live country music was the roadhouse out beyond the edge of town, a one-room dive with chicken wire strung in front of the stage and surrounded by an acre or three of gravel parking lot. The Chicago-based Gin Palace Jesters are almost literally a throwback to that era of four-piece (guitar, steel, acoustic bass and drums), honky tonk bands that a generation danced and fought to.
Though some of these bands were content to be "cover" bands, the Jesters feature a couple of writers in guitarist Dave Sissons and steel player Buddy Carter who have the genre down so stone-cold that Hank Thompson might wonder aloud why they weren't around 50 years ago to write a few for him.
A check through a few of the 15 titles on this debut give a pretty clear idea where they're coming from: "Pink Champagne (& a Chevy Caprice)," "Drunk All My Troubles Away," "Drink One For Me," "18 Days & 18 Wheels."
Enough fun to listen to, you may think you're back in the front row of your favorite "gin palace," up against the chicken wire - just don't forget to duck. (Rhythm Bomb, Box 730922, D-22129 Hamburg, Germany, Gin Palace Jesters)
- John Lupton

A brief discription by Dave Chamberlain-Chicago's New City Weekly

A little closer to flashback country, The Gin Palace Jesters "Honkeytonk Fools" runs along the lines of country revivalists BR5-49 or Ray Condo and the Ricochets. Songs are relatively short (all fifteen of them) and extremely catchy, and hit the nail on the honkeytonk head in that many could be mistaken for very early rock `n' roll. And across the board, the band's vocals (provided by all four members, variously) are first rate...

We include this not so great review below in some sort of odd attempt to have...credibility. Colonel Tom Parker would disapprove but..what the hell? Perhaps we should have used the fancy new fangled "pitch corrector" knob alot more like the big stars do. Naw...that would be unethical! Oh wait....we can't AFFORD a pitch corrector knob. Forget it.

http://www.altcountry.nl
Gin Palace Jesters
You can reward almost every cd a with four stars, but the spoiled listener will not be convinced any longer. It´s getting even worse when the reviewer wants to make good friend with the record industry and bands. Or a reviewer who takes the easy way and write a dull review without any critical note. I read such kind of review somewhere on the net about Gin Palace Jeserst, een sympathic combo from Chicago around singer/guitarplayer Dave Sisson, who plays original honkytonk and hillbillymusic. They mix that style with some western swing. Honkytonk Fools is the appropriate title of their cd. About the music I told you already, the word Fool we can translate into love sorrow, like the old days of Hank Williams it´s still the best inspiration for a catching country song. The problem a bit with Honkytonk Fools is that after a sparkling start, the band starts sounding quite ordinary and you can count the crackling highlights on the fingers of one hand. Irritating is that the pedal steel plays not in key all the time. These minus points make that in the end Gin Palace Jesters can not prove their expectations. (Bart Ebisch)

CD Review from the Dutch Rockabilly magazine Boppin Around.

When you think about the Gin Palace Jesters, examples like: Hank Williams, Faron Young, Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell and Marty Robbins should give you an idea about the sound of the band. Hillbilly, Honky-tonk, Swing, Cowboy-music...great! The Chicago rooted band gets that BR-549 feeling on a couple of songs as well (Johnny Come Lately, Naildriver Style). The four band members (well FIVE NOW...webmaster) take turns on the lead vocals, and the harmony; and backing vocals are real strong which makes a song like "Love, Love, Love" (even the songtitle) have the Beatles-spirit. Except the accent, because that is real gone Honkytonk-Southern. The cd Honkytonk Fools has been recorded in different studios in Chicago and Nashville, the latter on which Sean Mencher was behind the knobs, who also plays some lead on "Lover Not A Figher". Real Mp3

On Fiddle is Jason Carter, who is a member of the famous bluegrass band The Del McCoury Band, from a young age on. The influence of Buck Owens can be heard on songs like "Drink One For Me" Real Mp3 that starts off like..."When...(break)...your...(break)..drinkin..."

The band consists of Dave Sisson, vocals and guitar, Kevin "Buddy" Carter on steel (real gone!!) and vocals, on doghouse bass and vocals Casey Stockdon and Mike Medina, drums, percussion and vocals. A lot of guest musicians (mandolin, mouth organ, fiddle) contribute. All songs are original and have some melancholy in it, they are "drinking songs," cowboy ballads, trucking songs, uptempo swing sounds. It puts down a real laid back atmosphere and there is so much variation-it enables you to just put your cd player on repeat. The cd puts you in a honkytonk in the South of the States where real music governs.

-Sue Vrenken

by Nico Feuerbach 07/23/2004

The Gin Palace Jesters from Chicago, Illinois are a four man troop who play Honky-Tonk music, Western Swing, Country Boogie and some elements of Nashville Country music! Their music is no copycat material, they created their own style and 14, yep you’re right, 14 of 15 songs were written partly by Dave Sisson who plays the guitar and by Kevin Carter who plays the Pedal Steel. A brilliant example of intelligent Country Roots Music with many novelty elements performed by a high -quality and harmonic band. This is definitely music you’d like to listen to if you’re on the highway, maybe on the way to your girl or to your family ....

A mixture of sad songs which make you a little melancholic like Pomade On My Pillow, Up Down Over & Through, Queen Of Broken Hearts and (I’ll Just) Pick Up The Pieces and more novelty and up-tempo goodies like Naildriver Style, Love, Love, Love, Gone or 18 Days & 18 Wheels.

Disc Jockeys – this is the proof that there’s a lot more high standard and high-quality music on our planet than most of us can imagine and that there are many more artists like the Gin Palace Jesters, who are NOT under a major contract, but who play good music because they play what they feel without getting any big money or royalties for their work!!! But make your own decision and give them a lot of airplay if you like them and their kind of music!!!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]

Here is a German revue from Country Jukebox. Aside from the fact that it confusingly contains a picture of the legendary singer of "Honkytonkitis" Mr. Carl Butler and not us, it's pretty cool.

Ah...the translation is IN courtesy of Rick Uppling, bull dog slapper for Three Blue Teardrops.

Well dang me ! I don't think I've witnessed such a breath of fresh air since the first BR5-49 album. Hailing from Chicago, the four man Gin Palace Jesters (well five now-webmaster) play a mixture of honky tonk, country boogie, rockabilly and western swing that's as refreshing and authentic as you're ever likely to hear. All 15 tracks on this, their debut album, are original compositions - all of them classy and well-crafted numbers. Familiar themes are their subject matter; love, infidelity and cheating but they have two wonderful songwriters in Dave Sisson and Kevin Carter (well three...let's not forget newest joinee Ken Mottet), both of whom are incredibly gifted and talented when it comes to writing a clever lyric. Go out of your way to get your mitts on a copy of this CD. Its a zillion times more relevant and entertaining than any of the pop pap sludge being churned out by the corporate backed country industry in Nashville right now... This is the real thing!

-Trevor Cajiao-Now Dig This

Gin Palace Jesters - Honkytonk Fools

Gin Palace Jesters spiller honky tonk country, som man gjorde det på 40-, 50- og 60-tallet og de har ofte blitt sammenlignet med BR549. Bandet er 100 prosent tro mot stilen og skriver alle låter selv. Litt lite variasjon er det dog og er det som trekker mest ned. Det handler selvsagt om brustne hjerter med påfølgende flatfyll og med litt lastebilkjøring innimellom. Mange triste historier her; for eksempel "Pomade On My Pillow", om mannen som kommer hjem og hårfettet på puta ikke er av merket han bruker.

Her er fin tostemt vokal og harmonisang som krydres veldig bra av Kevin "Buddy" Carter på steel gitar og mye slapping på bassen varmer et rockabillyhjerte. Alt i alt en fin skive og liker du tradisjonell country vil "Honky Tonk Fools" forsvare en plass i platesamlinga. Pluss for kult cover.

Arild Rønes

Here is the translation done by our "Official Norwegian Translator to the Gin Palace Jesters" Mr. John Milne:

Here's the translation:

"Honkytonk Fools" was not recorded at Rhythm Bomb studios, like many of the company's releases are, but rather at different studios in Nashville and Chicago. The production is good, although it lacks a little punch. The sound is neither modern nor retro, but somewhere in between.

The Gin Palace Jesters play honky-tonk country as it was played in the 40s, 50s and 60s, and they are often compared with BR549. The band is 100% faithful to the style, and write all their own songs. However, there isn't much variation, and that is the main negative aspect. The songs are of course about broken hearts and ensuing drinking binges, with a bit of truck driving in between. There are lots of sad stories here, such as in "Pomade On My Pillow", about a man who comes home to find that the hair grease on the pillow is not his brand.

There are excellent two-part vocals and harmonies that are embellished very well by Kevin "Buddy" Carter on steel guitar, and enough slapping bass to warm any rockabilly heart. The only thing missing is some John Milne tunes. All in all, a fine disk, and if you like traditional country, "Honky Tonk Fools" deserves a place in your collection. An extra plus for the cool cover.

Arild Roenes

Webmaster Note: Uh, what's all this business about our translator John Milne?