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The Meat Purveyors’ final full show ever was about everything you’d expect from the group – foul mouthed banter, drunken shenanigans and, of course, a kick-ass set of string band send-ups and rawkus bluegrass tunes. And as if the promise of the Meat Purveyors’ throwing down one final time here in their hometown stompin’ grounds of the Continental Club weren’t enough, the group added the help of Kansas City’s (from the Missouri side) the Afterparty and the hottest damn strings this side of TMP of the Weary Boys.
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The Afterparty opened the evening adding some swagger and sway to their country tunes. The group was riveting with the sexy and saucy swing of the back up singers – the dauntingly gorgeous Amie Nelson and Sonya Andrews, who also look like they could also kick your ass in a bar fight. Nelson and Andrews magnificently complimented Danny Fischer’s vocals on all the songs as the group rolled through tunes off of their latest and second album Under the Rainbow. The highlight though might have been when bass player Chris DeVictor took center stage with a deep baritone and chorus of screaming voices gathered round the microphones. The Afterparty apparently don’t play many shows, even in their hometown, so if they ever roll back through Austin they’re definitely worth catching.
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By the time the Weary Boys took the stage, the Continental Club was packed with a long line of folks still waiting outside to get in. And the show brought out more than a few local artists to catch TMP’s final sendoff, including Scott Biram and Pink Nasty.
The Weary Boys could have easily stolen the show though if it hadn’t been such a rabid Meat Purveyors crowd. The group tore through old time numbers, both traditional and their own, as Mario Matteoli kicked his way around the stage and pumped the crowd. After an opening instrumental jam, the group kicked in with Cruel Corrine off of 2003’s Good Times. They rolled through the songs off of their latest Jumpin’ Jolie, which included Hank’s “Jambalaya” and a cover of Biram’s “Baby Have No Fun,” which they turned into a rollickin’ jug band tune. Meanwhile, “Drink On It” had folks two-steppin down front of the packed house. Nothing, however, beat they’re bottle-raisin’ version of Dixie.
The Meat Purveyors took the stage to a glorious drunken applause and started off with their classic version of “Like a Virgin.” Soon-to-be-wed Cherilyn had her future
step children in attendance with some of their friends, but that didn’t curb the bawdy banter from the group at all as Jo just encouraged the pre-teen girls to operate in “earmuff” mode. Between the new “Burr Under My Saddle” and favorites like “TMP Smackdown” and “Pain By Numbers,” the ladies debated which Weary Boy was cuter and Jo, as usual, propositioned the entire audience in one way or another. All the while, the shots and beers kept flying up to the stage.
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Off of the most recent album, the group hit “Liquor Store,” “Plates a’ Spinnin’” and “Look on Your Face,” but the crowd was clearly more excited to hear their old favorites one last time and the singing along at times threatened to outdo the band. Among the crowd favorites were “Tall Boy,” “Hey Little Sister” and the in-your-face put down of “More Man Than You’ll Ever Be (And More Woman Than You’ll Ever Get).” “Lady Muleskinner” was absolutely awesome, while “Little White Pills,” “Hanged Man,” and “Car Crash” rounded out the setlist.
TMP finished the set with “Go Out Smokin’,” though there was no doubt of an encore. After a lengthy and well
deserved applause, they returned for the brilliantly belted version of Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down,” and closed out with Jo headbanging and Pete and Bill going back to back to tear up their strings in a fury of “Round and Round.” And then just like that they were done, leaving the stage strewn in a wreck and the crowd screaming for more. But then that’s how a band’s supposed to go out.
