Shootin' Straight 1994

"Shootin' Straight" captures a live performance of Dan and The Acoustic Warriors at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California. Released in 1994 by Private Music, this wonderful CD is now out of print, but it can still occasionally be found on eBay and through used-music dealers. Although there was a flurry of promotion upon the album's release, with a CNN appearance by Dan, and a tour with full band, it seems that Private Music chose to promote their other artists, like Dan's labelmate Yanni, instead. The band is spot-on and tight. The late Jim Boggio's accordion adds a musette feel to many of the tunes, and Hot Club of San Francisco alumnus Paul Robinson plays tasty Django-flavored licks. "Up! Up! Up!" was briefly featured in the 1990 Gene Hackman film "Class Action" (Dan and a hybrid group of Hot Licks and Acoustic Warriors portray a bar band, and are featured near the beginning of the film). "Hell, I'd Go" has recently been reprised on 2000's 'Beatin' The Heat". Several of the tunes are in Dan's current repertoire, but the bitter folk noir of "Level With Me Laurie", and the resigned longing of "A Magician", are also preserved here, just in case they never again make it to the set list. Personnel Dan Hicks – Vocals & Rhythm Guitar Paul Robinson – Lead Guitar Jim Boggio – Jazz Accordion & Piano Alex Baum – String Bass Stevie Blacke – Lead Mandolin & Fiddle Bob Scott – Drums ("after-the-fact 'sweetening'") The Tunes Up! Up! Up! Shootin' Straight Hell, I'd go! Bottoms Up! Texas Kinda Attitude Willie Savin' My Lovin' 13-D Barstool Boogie A Magician Who Are You? Level With Me Laurie The Rounder $100,000