On All Hat And No Cattle, Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants showcase an aptitude for Traditional Country classics not often showcased by bands from the mainstream these days. The Foo Fighters lead guitarist is also a member of punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies and No Use For A Name. The prolific musician formed the band in 2010 and released a self-titled album of original tracks via RCA Records. Shiflett returns in 2013 with The Dead Peasants' sophomore album, All Hat And No Cattle via SideOneDummy Records.
The albums' 11 tracks are mostly a collection of covers from The Buckeroo's "Guitar Pickin' Man" to Haggard's "Skid Row" ; and from Buck Owens' "King Of Fools" to Waylon's "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?." Each cover fits the band and while Shifflett isn't as good a vocalist as any of the original singers of these songs, he's far from incompetent and instead has an interesting voice that is steeped in Bakersfield Country music and country music that's not exactly remembered all that much these days (in the days of rhythmic crossover-like music).
Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants All Hat and No Cattle is a perfect tandem record for Vince Gill and Paul Franklin's Bakersfield album an album which also is a lovingly-made tribute to Bakersfield's brand of Country music and for anyone looking to dip their toes deeper into the Bakersfield sound, one could do worse than this collection of not-so-obvious covers tunes.
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