Brian Whelan

charmingly crowded, noisy little room in Culver City known

as “The World’s Smallest Honky Tonk,” he was an

alarmingly boyish presence. At first he stood out because he

didn’t look old enough to legally consume the beer he was

holding. But he soon distinguished himself as a young lion

behind the roots-rock sages – Randy Weeks, Mike Stinson,

Tony Gilkyson – whose shows packed out the tiny joint. It

became quickly apparent that Brian could play just about

anything, and brilliantly; his formidable chops later found

him a primo spot in Dwight Yoakam’s band. But he

displayed other musical dimensions: He also played in a

tough little pop-rock band, known variously as the

Brokedown and the Broken West, which recorded a couple

of fine records before lamentably breaking up too soon. He

fronted another rockin’ unit, Wheelhouse, as a prelude for

the album you’re listening to now. It shows off splendidly

the many things – singing, playing, writing -- that Brian does

so exquisitely well. And it cuts across the broad swatch of

stylistic turf that he occupies effortlessly, from the rootsy

inventions of Gilkyson’s “Mojave High” and Stinson’s

“Brand New Love Song” to a group of originals (two of

them co-authored by Broken West cohort Ross Flournoy)

that to my ears bear favorable comparison to the best of Nick

Lowe or the Plimsouls.

Yeah, he’s still the Kid to me. But Brian Whelan’s work is

thoroughly mature and emotionally wise, and many another

grown-up musician will envy its excellence.

Chris Morris

Los Angles, California

http://www.brianwhelanmusic.com/