Battle Of The Bangers: The Lowdown Drifters vs. Tim McGraw [VOTE]

Week 7 - Battle Of The Bangers

There's a plethora of music being released every single day. As a radio station, we can't play them all. I've put together a collection of some of my favorite tunes that either haven't made it, haven't been discovered, or haven't been heard. There may be artists you know, superstars you love, or names you've never heard of. I'll provide some backstory on the artist and my personal favorite lyrics from the song. You decide which one is the banger of the bunch to move on to next week's battle. In week 7, we have a new winner, yet again, with The Lowdown Drifters, who I've put up against an oldie but a goody from Tim McGraw.

The Lowdown Drifters - This Old House

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, The Lowdown Drifters blends rock with country and Americana. Better yet, they're more commonly referred to as a rock band with a fiddle problem. They got their start on the East Coast, rising to fame in local joints around Seattle from 2015-2017. Opening for acts such as Shane Smith & The Saints, The Randy Rogers Band, Zach Bryan, and Lainey Wilson, the group has continued their rise with grassroots marketing. In 2019, the group self-released their debut album, Last Call For Dreamers, which is where I found the song "This Old House". As if the sultry tone of the lead singer's voice isn't enough to bring tears to your eyes, the lyrics and storytelling of this song are gut-wrenching. We've all had relationships end, and we've all heard the breakup songs. "This Old House" takes the loneliness of a heartbreak and echoes that feeling throughout the emptiness of the house it's left behind.

Lori's Favorite Lyrics:

"Well, you left your wedding ring
In the bathroom, on the sink
That's a fine way to find out you were gone

'Cause love don't live here anymore
When I walk through the door
Your memories come crashing like a stone

And now my heart is breaking, and the bones are shaking in the basement
Of this old house
Well, I burned your pictures and your letters, and I still don't feel better
All that's left is this old house
It's time to burn it down, mmm yeah"

Tim McGraw - Don't Mention Memphis

You're probably wondering why you've never heard of this Tim McGraw song, right? It's ok, you're not crazy, it's just a really old song, but possibly my favorite of Tim McGraw's of all time! Honestly, I would have never known about this song if it weren't for our old cohort, Eric Cornish, who introduced me to it many years ago when we worked together at WKDQ. According to Eric, this song used to be Tim McGraw's vocal warm-up song, or rehearsal song they sing on stage to make sure all the audio levels are where they want them. An artist has to really like a song for it to be a consistent go-to for warm-ups. From his third studio album, All I Want, released in 1995, the song "Don't Mention Memphis" was never released as a radio single, as far as I know, but it is a true hidden gem, in my opinion. McGraw had some of the best storytelling songs of the 90's, and this is no exception.

Lori's Favorite Lyrics:

"And we can talk about your family
Politics, music, and philosophy
Any ol' subject's alright with me
Just don't mention Memphis

Or blue eyes and light brown hair
An angel waving to me from the top of the stairs
The hardest thing I did was leave her standing there
So don't mention Memphis."

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