CD review: The Texas Sapphires, "As He Wanders"

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

Country

The Texas Sapphires “As He Wanders” (Ike Records)

With creative songcraft and two distinctive vocalists, The Texas Sapphires glitter a little brighter than many among the burgeoning cache of honky tonk groups on the Texas music scene.

The Austin band will celebrate the release of its new album, “As He Wanders,” with a show at 8 p.m. Saturday at Route 66 Bowl’s Silver Dollar Saloon, 3810 NW 39 Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, call 946-2717 or go to www.66bowl.com.

If you go, get ready to shuck the bowling shoes for your dancing shoes, as “Teardrops or Rain” and “190” are ideal old-fashioned two-stepping songs. “Riddled Days” gracefully waltzes with poetic lyrics like “Time was I’d drink/The river like the sun/Burn those wheat fields/To desert for fun.”