Search - Antsy Mcclain, The Trailer Park Troubadours :: Trailercana

Humorous, intelligent folk-country-soul

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Kentucky bred McClain has made a career out of this trailer-park upbringing, blending clever humor and wry social observations with enticing country soul music. There's a hint of Rodney Crowell's wordiness in these sixteen tracks that combines nicely with a touch of Kinky Friedman's irreverence. McClain's satire can be both whimsical and poignant, which might suggest country antecedents like Sheb Wooley or Cledus T. Judd, but he's more of a humorous musician than a musical humorist, clever like Ben Vaughn and Barnaked ladies, with a fine voice filled with the sly good times of Charlie Robison and Jimmy Buffett.



The rocking opener "Living in Aluminum" states McClain's case for contentment without resorting to materialism, "I don't need a house of vinyl / I don't need a house of wood / There ain't no better way to test your mettle / Than in a semi-precious metal neighborhood." McClain expands on personal responsibility in "The Devil Gets More Credit Than He Deserves" (with guest Lindsey Buckingham providing electric guitar) and considers religious hypocrisy in the true-life folk-gospel "I Was Just Flipped Off by a Silver Haired Old Lady With a 'Honk If You Love Jesus' Sticker on the Bumper of Her Car."



McClain sings of escaping into the perfect world of a billboard, the dire consequences of PMS, and the torment of a post-breakup stay at KOA. His sedated "Prozac Made Me Stay" features a guest appearance from Tommy Smothers, and "Full Moon in Pine View Heights" recalls characters from his childhood, including a date who "had eyebrows plucked thinner than a razor's edge / She smelled like popcorn, Quaker State and Lemon Pledge." His ode to "Ron Howard's Brother" returns to the theme of finding satisfaction in one's circumstance, and plays it straight for the album's closer, an evocative poem of America and young love.



This is a surprisingly sophisticated independent release featuring sixteen originals, self-produced with original artwork and graphic design by the singer himself. McClain is an accomplished songwriter whose work should find favor with both country and pop audiences, reviving the storytelling Jim Croce brought to the top of the charts in the 1970s. His band is powerful and plays country-folk-soul with funky touches of horns, organ and electric slide guitar. Someone in the record industry ought to wake up and sign this guy! [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]"

You laugh at it, then you laugh with it, then you just smile

Jesse Kornbluth | New York | 05/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Where Antsy McClain comes from, a seven-course dinner means road kill and a six pack.



There are two traditional responses to that background: fight or flight.



Antsy found a third: humor. That is, cheerful acceptance of everything that a man who was ashamed of his roots would ordinarily deny. So it's no accident that this CD begins with a song called "Living in Aluminum", which starts something like this:



There's a lot to be said about contentment.

Some folks never get enough.

Let me ask you honey, which is better?

A mansion full of money,

or a trailer full of love?



There's a lot to be said about acceptance,

liking who you are and having peace of mind.

The secret's being happy with your lot in life, baby,

And I'm pretty happy here in lot number nine.



"Trailercana" is a tour of that hardscrabble Southern life and the people Antsy cherishes.



Like Mary Anne Myers, who "put the funk in DysFUNKtional" and is just the woman you want to be around when she forgets she's mentally unstable:



Some folks say what we're doing ain't right.

Some might say it's just exploitation.

But there's a party at her house tonight,

And she hasn't been taking her medication.

It's gonna be good.



Nobody's gorgeous in Ansty-world:



He had a face you can't remember

Even when he'd hang around.



And there's unexpected ugliness to boot --- as this song title attests:



I was just flipped off

by a silver haired old lady,

with a "Honk If You Love Jesus" sticker

on the bumper of her car.



But getting caught up in that? Why, it would be petty. The important thing is there's always good news: love. And in America, you can marry anyone who will have you:



I married up. My life is sweet as a daydream.

I married up. And now we're living in her Airstream.

I married up. I'm all about social status.

I married up. She even knows who her Dad is.



She could do better if her confidence'd let her,

But it led her down the road to me.

Seven years after, I'm still the benefactor

Of the woman's low self esteem.

I married up!



Okay, so he's funny. But are the Troubadours a real band? Is Ansty a singer/songwriter who's got more going for him than shtick?



Yes, and yes. And more: Antsy is a world unto himself. In his leisure suit and pomped hair, with those goofy songs and that country twang, he's an icon for hardcore fans --- they're called Flamingoheads, in honor of those pink birds you find outside the best trailers --- and irony-hungry slackers as well.



Which is not to say this CD should be filed under "comedy." Or played at parties when someone feels like a few laughs at the expense of the Red States. The fact is, Antsy's got a voice that's sweet as James Taylor. His songwriting puts you in mind of John Prine. And his band attracts such guests as Lindsay Buckingham and Bonnie Bramlett.



That said, fun is the reason to seek out this performer. And fun he delivers. Let him give you the tour...



His name: I was born Ronald Joseph McClain, and I am still known as "Ronnie Joe" by my Aunts, Uncles and cousins back home. I was known for having a lot of energy as a kid, and a junior high school football coach observed my over eager nature and aptly called me "Antsy" during a scrimmage game, and the nickname stayed with me, with most folks now just shortening it to the single syllable "Ants."



Childhood: Raised, with one sister, in a small Kentucky trailer park by an Avon-selling mother. More than once, we got anonymous help. Once we got an envelope with five $20 bills and this: "MaryLou, we love you." My mother cried, and kept that envelope all her life.



Marital status: Married, 5 children



Music: Bought a cheap guitar in the 1980s, started carrying it around when working as an interpreter for the Japanese auto industry.



Songwriting philosophy: Don't we already have enough songs that say, "When we're apart, it breaks my heart" or 'I need you more than the trees need the rain"?



Fame: I never wanted to be a 'household name," because I'm already a household name to six people who, I'm happy to say, include me in the center of their world. And that, I'm sure you'll agree, is the most rewarding part of life.



Response to hardship: Established the MaryLou McClain Memorial Fund to honor my mother's with anonymous gifts: groceries, utility bills, house payments. If you wish to join the Flamingoheads with Heart Network, write TheTroubs@unhitched.com



Hair preparation: Half a can of Rave #5 (spray, not pump) does wonders to tame my hair and keep it in place.



Annual Cruise: PolyesterFest, with two kinds of accommodations: Aluminum (ocean view) and Doublewide (mini-suite plus balcony).



What sort of novelty act gets hundreds of people to cruise to Cozumel with him? Get the CD. You'll see."

The Best CD So Far in 2007

"A" is for... | Yorba Linda, CA United States | 05/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a CD for adults that are tired of the product being pushed by the Starmaking Machinery. Antsy McClain's music blends the twangy roots rock of Chris Isaak with the wry, observational humor of Lyle Lovett and John Prine, and adds a dash of the good-natured party mind-set of Jimmy Buffett. This description may only begin to give you a clue as to the clever songwriting and sly, understated performance that await you on this CD. Like the best humorists, McClain understands that it's funnier when you don't laugh at your own jokes. Like the previous reviewer, this CD has been living in my player for the past few weeks. It's a gem that is too good for commercial radio - they wouldn't know where to program him. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy today!"