When I was a kid I knew Waycross, Georgia because it had a Burger King and when I was going up to see family we’d stop there. Waycross was also the hometown of the Burt Reynolds character, Stroker Ace. The latest thing to bring the fine town of Waycross to my consciousness is the Shut Eye Records artists, Hayshaker. Hayshaker features the husband and wife duo of CC and Laurie Rider sharing vocal duties with guitarist T.W. Lott and drummer Frank Sikes rounding out the quartet.

Hayshaker made the hour and a half trek down to Jacksonville’s Vision Sound Studios to record their seven track Shut Eye debut, Black Holiday in Mexico City. One thing the cd does not suffer from is repetition. In the matter of seven tracks Hayshaker experiments with the traditional pedal-steel, guitar picking, SCOTS-esque drinking song that is “Lauries Song” to the roots rock sound of Black Holiday to the straight ahead rock stylings of Dirtkick the band is comfortable enough with themselves to just play what comes out instead of sticking to a definitive sound. I’m not suggesting that the album feels disjointed though, CC & Laurie’s distinctive voices and harmonies do plenty to glue the collection together.

Check out the two tracks below. The band mailed me one extra copy of Black Holiday so if you like what you hear below drop me an email with a mailing address. First person to do so will get a free copy. CD Claimed.

Hayshaker - Laurie’s Song
Hayshaker - In the Snow

Hayshaker on myspace, Buy Black Holiday in Mexico City