SILVER SHOES

Music Duo Making Rounds

Silver Shoes-named for a line out of the old Gram Parsons tune-is a duo that has been playing Taos recently.

John Finnigan and Maureen Finlon comprise the group. Since being in Taos, they said they were impressed such a small community has such a plethora of great musicians. For example, on their new CD, there are musical appearances from Mike Hearne, Carmen Acciaioli and Jim Bradley from South by Southwest.

You might have caught them at their recent performances at the Kachina Lodge or the Sagebrush Inn.

If not, it is well worth the effort to show up at one of their shows. They blend cover tunes with original music to make for a tasty evening of music and dance.

The vocals are clear and crisp, as are the harmonies. The sound overall is very clean and readable.

One of their musical and songwriting influences is Shake Russell, and two of the songs off the Silver Shoes CD are co-written with Shake, who also adds vocals on the tracks.

Finnigan and Finlon said their music falls somewhere between folk, country and rock, with a heavy emphasis on ballads.

As musicians and writers, their influences include the Beatles, Ray Davies (the Kinks), Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Rodney Crowell and Kelly Willis.

"You and Me" is an upbeat, catchy tune that shows off Finlon's excellent vocal capabilities, as well as the precise harmonies at which Silver Shoes excels.

The lead breaks and the back up are well done, too. "The Ballad of Clay Hardin," co-written by band members and Russell, is reminiscent of the songs produced in the '60s by artists such as Marty Robbins-a la "El Paso"-complete with trumpets and a Spanish-flavored guitar.

"Genuine Man" is a '50s influenced rocker which pays tribute to some early influences. The song is great, especially the hot lead guitar and Finnigan's vocals.

"All That's Left Is Your Name" features Finlon in an excellent country song. This song competes with some of the best female country songs on the market today. The arrangement is subtle yet complex. It flows, developing a finely intricate chord progression.

The real gem on this CD is the last cut, "What We Don't Have," co-written by Finnigan, Finlon, Russell and Bob Zemenick (also co-producer of the album). This is a dreamy, strong pop ballad-a showcase of the talents of Silver Shoes.

The whole tone of this song is unique. The guitars, percussion, vocals and lyrics are top drawer.

What stands out on this CD is the impeccable production, great back up musicianship, the excellent clarity and quality of the vocals and the lyrical and musical content.

The CD was recorded in seven studios across the country and was mastered and mixed in Nashville. It is competitive with some of the better commercial efforts on the market.

As for future touring plans, Silver Shoes is booked in various venues in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. One of the hotbeds for this style of music, now, is Europe. Their agency is working on some European bookings, as well as some outlets for the CD via a large distributor. Their CD and tape are available in Taos at Que Pasa Music.

Mark Moody - THE TAOS NEWS