I spent eight years working on an island on the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois, so I know a little bit about the Land of Lincoln. East Coast cognoscenti may not realize there are actually TWO very distinct cultures in Illinois. First, there is Chicago – an international, multi-cultural city replete with fine restaurants, museums, and Harry Caray’s grave. Then, you have the Rest Of Illinois (ROI). Once you get about thirty miles southwest of Aurora, you might as well be in Mississippi, with flatter land and less irritating accents.
You won’t confuse Iron Orchard with a bunch of big city pretty boys. These are twang rockers that buy PBR because they can’t afford a premium brand and sing about a man married to his semi-truck. Lots of cool influences from early ‘70s “Blue Sky” era Allman Brothers (“Sometimes”), John Fogerty (some sweet CCR chords lay the foundation for “Change in the Weather), and has the economical music sensibility and humor of the Bottle Rockets throughout. Highlights include “2nd Coming Blues,” about a union carpenter who has some issues with Wall Street, the rumble seat drag race boogie of “Keithsburg 6” with its droll lyrical hook, “Hope you don’t draw the suicide lane,” and the drunkard’s chronicle of “Raymond’s Song,” which has a classic country chorus.
The singing isn’t pretty and the slow jams aren’t their jelly, but if you are in the market for some nimble tire squall, no depression boogie, check out these boys from Macomb. Ain’t nobody fronting in Rock Island County.
(Find out more about these root rockers here
