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Honky Tonk Train plays a brand of music that is a freewheeling blend of atmospheric country and western, rockabilly rave-ups and great original songs. The band includes Bill Maresh on vocals, pedal steel guitar and electric guitar. Jane Allingham, on vocals and rhythm guitar, adds her distinctive and roots informed singing style as a real trademark of Honky Tonk Train's unique style.

 Reviews:                                  

 

Part One - The History

    One cold wet night,  in a sexier time, there existed a honky-tonk called the Golden bear.  Two underage teenagers, Jane Allingham and Bill Maresh, snuck in this forbidden palace of jilted lovers and jaded royalty to catch a glimpse of a shooting star, a mythical figure straight out of their waking dreams. In his pink Nudie suit, Gram Parsons took the stage and never left.  Their young minds blown wide open, they knew right then, they would play music and never stop.  What transpired is nothing sort of a miracle; in the audience that night there were eleven other people,  What's so odd about this auspicious beginning of the formation of Honky-Tonk Train was neither Bill or Jane knew each other at the time of their epiphany.  Some months later drawn by the spirit of Gram, Jane picked up a lone hitchhiker on the road to nowhere - it  was Bill, the local high school prodigy, skilled in the arts of guitar, banjo and other musical instruments taught to him by the gods.  He was just trying to get some inspiration, man.  They shared each other's side of the fire that hung the moon that night and the rest is history.  In the Elysian Fields of mercy, just this side of nowhere, the Honky-Tonk Train combines the east to west from south to north, two new gems shine in the dark all around you.  The compass spins round and round, where it stops nobody knows.  They go together like sex and TV, one feeds off the other, hungry for the chance.  Everywhere they go, you'll never see them apart.  Music is their magic and the smallest noise will set off an avalanche.  Lay that tie, hit that spike, the Honky-Tonk Train's coming home tonight.
---©2005 Craig Stark, www. thestarkkxperiment.com

Part Two- The Music

    Two diamonds in the rough found in the abandoned minefields of Wyoming are boarding the Honky-Tonk.  On their forthcoming CD release, the Honky-Tonk Train carries a heavy load of originals that will blow your mind and wipe your slate clean.  The band includes Bill  Maresh on vocals , pedal steel , and electric guitar sent by the Gods to take the pain away.  His partner, Jane Allingham, (Calamity Jane to you and me), on vocals and rhythm guitar, robs you of your last breath as she plants her feet steadily on the ground belting out a style that will make you take back stuff you didn't steal.  From major to minor, from Indian Reservation to New York City, from Nashville, Tn. to New Orleans, no train has carried such a precious load.
---©2005 Craig Stark, www. thestarkkxperiment.com

Part Three - Sound Bites

    Bill and Jane, Jane and Bill, they've always been partners in crime since they got kicked off the Amtrak lines back on the Twentith Century Limited. Let's just say now and then, they made some unscheduled stops. Twisting and turning through the copper mountains bearing down on the simple truth, the Honky-Tonk Train is coming to you. "Throw the magic out the window and what have you got?!?, " says new sensation Bill Maresh. "Nothin," Calamity Jane, replies, "nothin at all."
---©2005 Craig Stark, www. thestarkkxperiment.com

Part Four - The Poem

Like Glassed-in sculptures to the stations on the cross,
from Manhattan central there's the Buddha and the bomb,
but no one can save you from this cradle to the grave,
except the heart of America and the Honky-Tonk Train.
"CLIMB ABOARD!!!"
---©2005 Craig Stark, www, thestarkkxperiment.com

Honky Tonk Train:

Honky Tonk music at its finest, portrayed flawlessly, primarily through the great, female vocal presence.  The music is a layered wonderfully with the guitar, rhythm and peddle steel, played to the utmost perfection, with subtle intricacies, and stand out melodies.  The music delivers a certain catchiness, reminiscent of an early, female version of Johnny Cash or Towns Van Zant.  The vocal trade off between Jane and Bill makes for a very diverse and intelligently crafted album. The songs are upbeat, sung with heartfelt lyrics, setting anyone's mindset into the heart of Honky Tonk Train.

  • Railroad Days - Great layered song with an upbeat melody, and wonderful vocal tonality.
  • Tell Me that It isn't True - Fantastic  harmonies, accompanied by multiple layers, and a great addition of drums.
  • You Don't Know Jack - Ambient intro leading you into a very full country rockabilly sound.
---June Cadwell, Bryan Farrish Radio, Santa Monica, California
Honky Tonk Train:

   Honky Tonk Train plays a kind of music, which moves between Country & Western, Rockabilly and great pieces of original.  To volume belongs  to Bill Maresh (singing, (pedal Steel & electric guitar) and Jane Allingham (singing and rhythm guitar). Bill already put its talent to the Sun Studio artist Jack Clement with sessions at the disposal. It has the "Mystery of Live One" (Johnny Cash) by harmony singing - album strengthens. But is also with Dwight Yoakam's of new CD "Blame the Vain" (strictly speaking with the song "I'll Pretend).  It's Bill's pedal Guitar, which rings out. Produced the album Honky Tonk Train also no smaller than Dwight's Schlagzeuger Mich Navy. Guitar reef contributed Keith Gattis, the upright bass inserts Dave Roe ( former J. Cash Bassist). With These CD remained for me in the proverbial sense the Spuke away.  Unbelievably, Sowas!!! And this volume sells the CD only on the Web Site or sells their work at shows?  You can only in 3 Samplers "clean hear, but "All Over Again" of Johnny Cash  might be enough in order to convince you. Sowas, genuinly!!!  The guitar is point, the lady possesses a strong voice with harmonies site each clay/tone... Himmlisch!!!
---Translated from Country Music Online Magazine.

Dear Honky Tonk Train,

Hope this finds you well.  I am a tremendous fan, and am wondering what's going on with you all.  Are you touring? New recording projects? I have been enjoying your record for the past few years with more enthusiasm than, in all honesty, about any records that's come across my transom in that time.  Now, I should probably explain the use of the word "transom." I'm just a fan of Spinal Tap and it's probably best left at that.

What ever your present state is, I would just like to express how much I've enjoyed the record you all made.  It is a beautiful document, a real masterpiece, and a fitting tribute to the tradition it serves, both past and future.  Anyone with any sense or taste would give their eyeteeth to make a record within a country of this one.

Thanks for the record, and  hopefully, you might be making your way to Cincinnati, OH sometime. If so, I'll be the lunatic screaming "yeah!" after every number.
---Your fan, Tim

Honky Tonk Train Album Cover

 

CD's are available at our live shows ($15.00) or can be ordered for $20.00 - includes shipping & handling, plus CA residents tax). Send us your email to get on our mailing list for future show dates. Email US!

 

Item Name:  Honky Tonk Train CD
Item Number: CD1
Price: $20.00

 

Honky Tonk Train CD

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Honky Tonk Train