Hear It First: Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, ‘You Gotta Sell Something’
Ten years ago, the music of Blair Crimmins was extremely different than his cheery modern take on 1920’s Dixieland Jazz. Crimmins, the lead singer and guitarist for Atlanta alternative rock band Bishop Don, suffered a concussion in a skateboarding accident and everything kind of changed from there. He was drawn to swing, jazz and ragtime because it was fun and inclusive in nature. After ten years and two full-length albums, the new release You Gotta Sell Something is a culmination in Crimmins’ careful study and practice of this specialized music. Says Crimmins:
“You Gotta Sell Something is the most focused record I’ve ever done. I had ten songs that I thought were really strong so we didn’t need to develop the album in the studio. There were a few improvised sections but for the most part the band knew exactly what to do when the mic’s were on. I also took more solos than on previous albums. I feel like I got to shine as a songwriter and an instrumentalist while also showcasing a damn tight band. For those reasons I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”
While this music is a throwback to 1920’s nostalgia (all I can see are ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ characters when listening!), there are moments where Crimmins puts his own twist on things. “Beautiful Thang” sounds like he’s channeling a theatrical ragtime Elton John with that amazing piano work and the dramatic song structure. All in all, get your dancing shoes on and slam down an energy drink because you will be itching to move.
To give credit where credit is due, it is not easy to create this style of nostalgic Dixieland jazz and not have it seem inauthentic or uncool. Crimmins, a multi-instrumentalist, has surrounded himself with players who are not only tight, but have a cool swing.
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‘You Gotta Sell Something’ is out on February 17 and is available for pre-order at iTunes and Amazon.com
