Reviews of AmericaNA, by West End (STR721)
The following review by Michael Haifl appeared in Saiten Kult magazine on 4 April 2024.
Cover of AmericaNA
Once upon a time there were a couple of tough guys in the Wild West who played music day in, day out. Kirk Beasley was one of them and at the end of a long day he wanted to find his fortune in Nashville. He even found some good friends there and recorded a few nice songs with them. Together with Bobby Ogdin, Jon Goin and David Humphreys, Kirk Beasley founded the group WEST END at the end of another long day.
Since life is hard and the life of a musician is even harder, he founded the label "Spare Time Records" with other dear partners on the side. 40 years and many days later, Kirk Beasley and Bobby Ogdin remembered WEST END and looked for new friends like Bruce Dees and Tom Shinny. They had their fun back, they had their rock and roll back at the end of the day.
With some influences from West Coast and country rock, they produced their self-titled debut album and even followed it up with a Christmas album at the end of the year. Now WEST END were together in the studio for the third time. Kirk Beasley (bass, guitar, vocals), Bobby Ogdin (keyboards), Jason Duffy (drums), Bruce Dees (guitars) and Tom Shinny (guitars) recorded 'AmericaNA'.
They enjoy their folk music in the spirit of THE BYRDS, THE BAND and GRATEFUL DEAD. With 'Listen To The Rain Falling', they begin with folk and country rock, but increase the power of the title track 'America NA' with fiddle by Billy Contreras from the SPARE TIME PICKERS. ThunderBünny also deserves credit for his slide guitar work. 'Best Bad Time', on the other hand, impresses with more use of keys, but also extensive guitar soloing, and 'Down Up South' heightens the honky-tonk atmosphere.
They give a spot in the limelight to singer-songwriter Steve Zachar, who performs his 'Survival Skills' with them. Even the legendary American rhythm and blues singer Buzz Cason does the honors on 'Put The Love Down' and 'Keep Your Distance I Don't Like You That Much'. WEST END spread some melancholy in the last few minutes at the end of the day with 'You Were Not Made To Last'. So the old boys are still pretty wild.
