Beth Garner — ‘Snake Farm’

(Release date: 2/24/17)

Don’t let the title scare you away; this album is a very good time. Nashville-based roots singer/guitarist Beth Garner’s new album, Snake Farm, features mostly original songs written or co-written by Garner, with the exception of the title track, authored by Texas country legend Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s great to know that there are songs being recorded about my favorite snake farm (located in Texas, just north of San Antonio on I-35), especially if the one doing the singing and playing is as inviting as Beth Garner. If there was ever a CD that suggested an artist might be a hoot to  see and hear live and in person, this is it. (For a list of Beth Garner’s upcoming gigs, click here).

On the album, Garner delivers a brand of soulful singing that sounds like a rock ‘n roll upbringing having encountered the blues along the way and been sensible enough to find elements of gospel before too late. If that previous sentence doesn’t make grammatical sense, well then listen to these tracks and you’ll discover that it makes aural sense. She has developed a playfulness with the material that comes from her relaxed authority with her music.

Snake Farm was produced by Garner and Randy Kohrs. The backing band features Rory Hoffman (sax, keyboards and rhythm guitar), Wes Little (drums), Steve Forrest (bass) and Angela Primm and Gale Mayes (background vocals). Enjoy.

Essential Downloads: “Alright by Me (Mr. Fisher),” “Wish I Was.”

To preview or purchase this album on iTunes, click here.