Vincent Neil Emerson: Fried Chicken and Evil Women
Vincent Neil Emerson has been playing in the Honky Tonks and bars of Fort Worth since he was 20 years old. Born in the pines of East Texas, Emerson was raised in Van Zandt County, by a part Native American single mother, of the Choctaw-Apache tribe of Ebarb, in Northern Louisiana. He left home at 16, and traveled his home state, picking up odd jobs along the way. Eventually he picked up a guitar at 18 and started writing songs, unexpectedly making a career for himself as a gigging musician and songwriter. His musical influences range from the Texas Folk music of Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, and Guy Clark to the classic Honky Tonk and Blues songs of Webb Pierce, Ray Price, and Hank Williams. With deep respect for both genres, Vincent blends these two musical styles into a repertoire of original material that can make you laugh, cry, and dance all in the same song. ~ VNE biography, Red 11 Music
VNE has shared the stage with artists like Billy Joe Shaver, Charley Crockett, Colter Wall, Gary P. Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Justin Townes Earle, J.D. McPherson, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Shooter Jennings, Turnpike Troubadours, American Aquarium, and Jason Boland. Emerson even makes an appearance in a video filmed in January of this year at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he was the supporting act for a sold out Colter Wall performance. The video was that of Jason Momoa who was shooting a mini documentary-style vlog series of his travels.
Photo Courtesy of Ben Porter
Fried Chicken and Evil Women, the follow up album to East Texas Blues by Vincent Neil Emerson is a solid, classic, country album in EVERY sense of the word. His old-style country sound is a refreshing throwback to the country music I was raised on. VNE’s songwriting stands as an homage to those who have gone before while, also, setting him apart from many of his peers.
His new album Fried Chicken and Evil Women truly showcases his amazing songwriting and storytelling that makes any lover of country standards take notice. The album has 10 original tracks and starts with the fun, upbeat and danceable song “25 and Wasting Time.” A song about not going anywhere in your life and being in no hurry to get there. The song is dominated by piano, guitar, and pedal steel (which I am a HUGE sucker for).
Next up is “Willie Nelson’s Wall.” Another fun song that will make you smile and highlights his humor that he writes into many of his songs which I find reminiscent of how Jerry Reed used to write. “I’m drunk as an uncle in a Walmart parking lot. Blaring Margaritaville and taking up two spots. Windows down, beer cans on the ground, and I ain’t movin’ if the police come around.” The catchy chorus to this song will get you singing along… “Somebody drive me home. I don’t know if I should be left alone. And if my girlfriend calls, well, tell her that I’m just a fly on the wall.”
“Fried Chicken and Evil Women,” the title track, is a humorous song about a hard luck guy and his misspent life. Lots of drinking, partying, gambling, and the bad decisions that inevitably follow. If this song doesn’t make you laugh…. You may be in need of some self-reflection... just sayin’.
“The Bad Side of Luck” is where he breaks from the fun and partying of the first few tracks and sings about the regrets of living a fast life. This song hits hard and again it’s a place where his lyrics shine through... Many, me included, can relate to this song. “And I was ashamed to say that I’m somebody’s son. It don’t make you a good man, but it might make you feel like one.”
Following along that darker tone is the sixth track, “7 Come 11” which has a Western feel to it. It also makes a great song for two-stepping. When fellow Texas musician and friend, Charley Crockett, first heard “7 Come 11,” he was moved to record it for himself as he felt the song detailed so much of his own life. Last fall GemsOnVHS released a video of Charley performing the song and he also included the song on his own September album release, The Valley. A solo acoustic version of VNE performing the song for La Honda Records was captured by Little Jack Films recently.
Fried Chicken and Evil Women has 10 original, solidly written tracks:
25 and Wasting Time
Willie Nelson’s Wall
Fried Chicken and Evil Women
The Bad Side of Luck
Cactus Blossom Special
7 Come 11
Devil in My Bed
Letters on the Marquee
Dade County Jail
Highway Shine
For me, the big takeaway from this album does two things: First, it makes me melancholy and yearn for the old days when albums like this were the norm. Second, it makes me thankful that there are still artists like Vincent Neil Emerson who are making music like this today. For those of you who are longtime fans of VNE, sadly, “Roadrunner” is not on this album, but it does give us something to be hopeful for the next album. In the meantime, enjoy this delightful gem of an album.
Vincent Neil Emerson:
https://vincentneilemerson.com
https://www.facebook.com/vincentneilemerson/
https://www.instagram.com/vincentneilemerson/
Fried Chicken and Evil Women:
Cover Photo Courtesy of Mike Dunn:
https://www.instagram.com/mikedunnusa/
Press Photos Courtesy of Ben Porter:
https://www.benporterphotography.com
