The Western Express - Lunatics, Lovers & Poets (2022)

While not entirely as engaging (yet) as The Mavericks, The Western Express is molded in the same potent style as The Mavericks along with generous touches of Tex-Mex & old-style country deliberation. I’m 4 songs deep in this 9-song CD & each tune is a delightful romp.

Phill Brush (upright bass on “Last Apology”) & Stephen Castillo (songwriter/vocalist) are the mainstays of this duo & they have a pure vocal approach with a touch of Raul Malo’s character. It isn’t so much country music as Texas pop music with ass-kicking leathery arrangements. The entire showcase is well-crafted.

Produced by John Evans (electric guitar/bass) the 30-minute CD Lunatics, Lovers & Poets (Drops Aug 9–Independent) is rich with fast songs & haunting Texas-balladry — “Leyenda,” is a beauty.

There’s enough commerciality to attract a mainstream audience, yet their musical approach is far deeper than prevailing tastes in music. They skate across styles explored by Los Lobos & the Tex-Mex of the Texas Tornados.

The Western Expresses’ excellent accordion & electric guitar-driven “Lovin’ You For A While,” has an essential sweetness. They continue with the Tex-Mex recipe on their humorous “Quesadilla Mamacita,” which tetters on novelty but safely negotiates the showcase fence with a performance that’s tight & focused.

"Honky Tonk Saints" – "this song is for the honky tonk heroes that have gone before us. When I first wrote it in 2018, I thought of people like Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, and Lefty Frizzell. When James White and James Hand died in 2020, I realized they were the ones I’d truly written the song for. It’s dedicated in their honor." ~ S. Castillo