by Chris Oglesby
Several years ago, Lubbock native & now-expatriate Andy Eppler was frustrated by the audience reaction to a one-man show (he did have Nic Shute accompany on trumpet) which Eppler had performed in Austin, and which I had co-produced. He asked me if I had any advice for him. I know nothing about the music business but, with that caveat, I offered my impression. “Maybe you should try to perform with a band.” Eppler is a serious songwriter who prides himself on his craft, and he demands an audience’s attention, so he does not like to share the stage, I imagine. However, I explained many great songwriters augment their performances with great bands: Dylan, Springsteen, Ely. He thanked me for the advice but I got the impression he dismissed it as the amateur advice it was, in fact.
Here’s the thing about Andy Eppler, Eppler is a one man band. Listen to his newest self-published CD “Long and Lonesome Way” (2011), which he describes as “fully actualized” re-workings of 12 of his favorite songs from his over 240 song catalog from the past ten years. When you hear this fantastic recording, the first thing you might think, “Damn, this man paid a lot of money for some top-notch session players. This band ROCKS.” Then read the liner-notes (yes, I still buy CDs because I like the liner notes), and you learn that Andy Eppler IS the band. With the exception of a few credits to guests Jessica Eppler (his wife & collaborator), Lubbock saxophonist Don Caldwell and singing legend Kenny Maines who contribute to Andy’s notorious classic song “(Why Don’t You Kiss Me) Lubbock, TX,” otherwise Andy Eppler plays EVERY instrument on this tight and thick, well-tuned collection of great indie-rock and folk-pop songs. Maines adds some hilarious new lyrics with his vocal backing to "Lubbock."
Eppler knows how to craft an excellent song in its entirety and record it with high quality. Eppler never ceases to amaze me with the apparent facility he has with a variety of instruments and with lyric and melody writing. Working alone is nothing new for Eppler. He always plays all the instruments on all his albums (excepting his “Prairie Scholars” side-projects with Jessica), and does his own background vocals. Every song on Eppler’s recent and diverse collection has groove, soul, style, wit, and bad-ass music. The harmonica, electric guitar, drums, organ, bass, they all are sublime and they are all tracks conceived, written, performed, laid down, and mixed by Andy Eppler. This amazes me. I want to compare him to Paul McCartney but that is more than what Andy’s ego needs, so don’t tell Eppler I said that.
Eppler is committed to making quality art, as he calls his work (it is art, in my opinion), that will stand up to critical acclaim and the test of time, and he is notoriously his own best promoter. So Eppler often asks me to write about him for virtualubbock. I am flattered he is a fan of the site. I did interview him a few years back when he was still living in Lubbock (he and Jessica now live in Colorado; listen to “Lubbock, TX” and hear the appropriateness). But I don’t always have the time or inclination to write about Eppler every time he thinks I should. I mean, I don’t get paid for this or anything. I have to really feel it before I can write a story. However, after Eppler sent me “Long and Lonesome Way” and I had the chance to give a listen to these re-worked songs, I felt compelled to give him a few words and some well-deserved credit. I heard a vast improvement to what I previously felt to be excellent Eppler songs in the first place. I like every song on this CD and I like them all better now. Sometimes I have felt Eppler’s songs were a little long but now after listening to these great “fully actualized” versions on the new CD and I don’t want any of these songs to end.
Extremely well-done young man, I say to Eppler. Well done. You are truly one of Lubbock’s musical treasures. Now quit bugging me for awhile. Love you, bro.
