The Mollys Return To Their Country Roots for One Last Musica
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 11/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Trouble" was the last official album ever released by The Mollys, featuring a new lineup that included acclaimed country guitarist Danny Krieger and drummer Marx Loeb, replacing the band's co-founder, guitarist Catherine Zavala and drummer Gary Mackender; both of whom left the band sometime early in 2000. On a personal note, this was the band's lineup when it made its last visit to New York City's Rodeo Bar back in the summer of 2000, giving yet another riveting performance rivaling those I was familiar with when I had lived in Tucson back in the early to mid 1990s (It also gave me a chance to be reunited briefly with drummer Marx Loeb, for whom I will always be grateful to for introducing me to the work of - then unknown - American author Jonathan Lethem, while working at his "day" job as a bookstore clerk in a central Tucson shopping mall.). Krieger helped infused more of a country flavor to the band, changing its chemistry from its original Celtic and Mexican influences to one that was more oriented towards roots country. McCallion's songwriting became more introspective - and some would say more polished than ever before - focusing upon love and loss in marital relationships. Regrettably, within months after this album's debut, the band finally disbanded, though all of its musicians are still quite active in Tucson's dynamic musical landscape that has most recently brought forth critically acclaimed indie country/folk/Mexican band Calexcio. On a more positive note, the band's original lineup, including both Mackender and Zavala have reunited in a series of "reunion" concerts in Tucson over the past few years; those fortunate to be visiting Tucson on New Year's Eve this year will have the splendid opportunity to hear them ring in the new year at The Boondocks. Hopefully this may yet lead to a more permanent revival of the band, and perhaps future return visits to prominent New York City venues such as the Rodeo Bar and Lincoln Center's annual Live-Out-Of-Doors Festival held each August."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1