Beer for Breakfast

It's hard to believe that only three short years ago, JB Patterson had a job in an advertising firm. He'd dreamed of being a songwriter for a long time and soon realized the best way to get his songs heard was to start a band. He held an open audition and only three musicians showed up — a drummer, guitarist, and bass man — but the minute they started playing, they knew they had something special. They played every gig they could find in East Texas, and landing an opening spot for Colt Ford in 2010 got them a deal with Ford's Average Joes label. Their debut, Ain't Goin' Back to Jail, was a mix of hardcore honky tonk, love ballads, and songs that showed their down-home sense of humor. The album was a regional hit and they didn't mess with the formula on Beer for Breakfast, a generous 14-song, 50-minute romp that puts most new acts to shame with its sharp songwriting and fine musicianship. "Beer for Breakfast," the album's opening track, is an energetic salute to the only sure cure for a hangover, and it's played with an out-of-control energy that fits the subject matter. "No Better Than This" is an ode to the perfect woman, a gal who wears shades and sings Waylon songs, drinks beer and loves her man. "More Like My Dog" is a tongue-in-cheek power ballad that presents an oblivious guy who wants a woman who'll love his gut and his truck, and who'll come when he calls. "Smith County Line" is a poignant plea to a lost love, promising her a better life if she leaves her current beau. They break some promising new ground on "I'm Down," a blend of bluegrass and hip-hop that would sound at home on the soundtrack of the FX series Justified. Every song here sounds like an AM radio hit from the golden age of country radio; JB and the boys should be superstars in no time. ~ j. poet, Rovi