Recent reviews: OUTSIDE LEFT MAGAZINE Review of live performance supporting Dwight Yoakam, 11-16-05 @ The Varisty Theatre, Baton Rouge The opening act, Monty Russell, was my kind of roots rock, a brace of 50+ fat guys with a pleasant demeanor and great stories and chops that could Ginsu any upstart to shreds. His guitarist, introduced as General (Keith Patterson) alone was worth the price of admission, with his years of road work layered like summer hot asphalt on the stretched of Highway 61 the band sings about. Everyone in the place exclaimed to the person next to them, "That guitar player is awesome!" OFFBEAT Louisiana and New Orleans' Music Resource Magazine Album Review, January 2006, The Fool Monty Russell Decked out in baggy pants, drab black jacket and Buddy Holly glasses, Monty Russell looks every bit the antithesis of the slick, polished, Nashville-groomed country star. Perhaps that's a reflection of his style which is also antithetical to the sounds being cranked out today along "Music Row." But what this grandson of Leon Russell from Ruston, Louisiana has going for him is the same thing the pioneers of the genre had going for them: pure, raw talent. Russell's guitar and vocal style is reminiscent of his musical forefathers. For fans of roots C&W it's a refreshing change of pace from all the sound-alike male country performers on today's scene. This Nashville-recorded CD is well-crafted, complete with the requisite roots C&W components pedal steel guitar, fiddles, and accordion. Twelve of the thirteen tracks feature original lyrics that demonstrate great creativity and imagination. With strains of Cajun and blues influence sprinkled throughout, Monty Russell has turned out a great effort. SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS John Godspeed June 2005 Column promoting performance with the Ace In the Hole Band, New Braunfels, TX Then there's honky tonk filtered through Louisiana bayous in the form of Monty Russell and the Hardcore Troubadours. Russell, a former Ruston, LA, police officer and a singing-songwriting road dog in that neck of the woods is touring in support of his sophomore release, The Fool Monty Russell, a stick- to-your-ribs stew of country, swing, blues, cajun, and even a dash of Dixieland and Tex-Mex. Try a taste. EL DORADO ARKANSAS NEWS TIMES Roderick Harrington July 1, 2005 Review of LA Peach Festival performance supporting Marcia Ball Equally impressive as Marcia Ball was Monty Russell and the Hardcore Troubadours, who opened for Ball. Russell and the three guys who back him (especially the wonderful talent of The General on guitar) are wonderful live. Russell's originals are exactly that, original. They don't sound like anyone else's and each one is different form the others. He's a wonderful songwriter, performer, and vocalist. MONROE LA NEWS STAR Fred Phillips May 26, 2005 album review of "The Fool Monty Russell" The album opens with the boogie-woogie sounds of "Slammin' Doors,'" which is exactly the kind of country I'm talking about. Over the course of the 13 songs on the album I found myself tapping my toes and humming along more than a few times. It could be just my bias toward the faster numbers, but Russell seems to me best when he's singing about having a good time. The Jerry Lee Lewis flavored "Picasso" is a perfect example. That said, he can score on more heartfelt, but still rocking, "Lovin' On." Like all good country music, Russell's songs are based in real life. This is never more apparent than on my favorite track on the album "Peter Filed Chapter 13." When I first popped this cd in my truck player, I'd had a rough day at work and was looking at the prospect of paying bills that night. When Russell sang "I've robbed Peter to pay Paul so many times, Peter filed Chapter 13," it gave me a much needed laugh. Russell also shows off some tasty blues stylings on the album closer "The Next Hurricane." If you've seen Russell live around the area, the album delivers exactly what you expect. It's very traditional country, yet mixes a variety of styles, and most importantly, it's a lot of fun.
