Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-tonks
Earwig Music
Publicity: Blind Raccoon
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © June 2025
Having been at this since the late fifties, saying Rusty Ends has been around the block more than a few times would be grossly understated. Across the decades, Rusty has played more than his share of Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-tonks, so there couldn’t have been a more appropriate title for his latest release. For the project, Rusty Ends – on vocals and electric guitar – is joined by: Dave Zirnheld on vocals and electric bass; Gene Wickliffe on drums; Roosevelt Purifoy on piano and organ; and Wayne Young on second guitar.
As Rusty explains, the music on Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-tonks, “Is a combination of our Kentucky roots and the hoodoo beat of New Orleans, and greasy kind of swamp stuff”. Of the disc’s fifteen tracks, twelve are originals.
Sometimes I listen to songs that make some of the strangest things go through my mind, and for me, that’s a real fun part of doing these reviews. You’ve got to make them fun to write and fun to read. The title of this track made me think of those two school yard tough guys (okay, maybe I was one of them) staring each other down in the school yard with each of them saying “I’m bad”, “Well I’m badder”, back and forth and over and over to each other, with absolutely no outcome. Now I can’t help but wonder what might have happened had one said “Well, I’m bad like Billy The Kid”. That very well could have ended the standoff much sooner. Putting nonsense aside, in Rusty’s case, it’s cranking up the sound on his guitar that makes him feel “Bad Like Billy The Kid”. Go for it, Rusty!
If you’re going to do an album that refers to them you might as well do a song about them, right? With Roosevelt’s piano romps giving the song the barrelhouse vibe it needs, Rusty and the guys put on a killer performance of “Honky Tonk Man” (Troy Seals & Max D. Barnes). Additionally, with Dave and Gene laying down a driving rhythm behind him, Rusty is sounding, and once again, feeling bad on that guitar.
Going old school on this wistful fifty style blues ballad, Rusty is absolutely masterful both vocally and instrumentally. Not knowing where he’s going, or where he’s been, Rusty appears to be “Lost In The Blues”. From my point of view, the longer he stays there, the more I’m enjoying it. Adding in the sullen rhythm groove, led by fabulous organ work from Roosevelt, definitely makes this one reply worthy.
Although I’ve never done it by train, the opening line on this one reminded me of the times I went “Screaming out of Memphis like a bat out of hell”. It’s a track titled “Rockabilly Train” and being a rocker that’s as fast as a locomotive, definitely makes it the disc’s dance floor filler.
Just shy of twenty years ago I did a review of an album by the late Alvin Jett, of Alvin Jett and the Phat NoiZ Band, and my favorite song off of that release was titled “Angels Sing The Blues”. With history repeating itself, Rusty has a different song with the same title on this disc, and it also happens to be my favorite of the lot. As Rusty believes, “We each have an angel to guide us through the night” yet so much of what we put those angels through even give them reasons to sing the blues. Just a few of those are:
“For the drunk out on the corner who wants a few dollars for some wine, says he’s drowning his sorrows but he’s really just marking time”;”For the young girl who sells her soul to feed the monster inside, jabs the needle in her arm but the beast won’t be satisfied”;”For the mother with four kids and she can’t pay her rent”;”For the man living on the street, has a blanket for a tent”,”For the old folks left alone, Lord they need a helping hand”, “For the soldier returning home to a place he no longer understands”.
With the band in a perfectly edgeless groove behind him, Rusty – with a commanding presentation of the song’s lyrics – absolutely shines. This one has “Song of the Year” written all over it.
”Midnight Screams” is another slow blues masterpiece. As the title indicates, this one is about someone going through some troubling and painful times – both of which will be quite evident from Rusty’s emotional and sorrowful vocals and his guitar gently weeping.
One of the more whimsical tracks is “When A Geezer Plays The Blues”, which is unquestionably an autobiographical composition. That said, I have this message for Rusty – Don’t worry about a thing my friend, most of us listeners are geezers, as well.
The disc closes with a cover of a song by an artist who has probably played even more roadhouses, juke joints and honky-tonks than Rusty himself – the great Willie Nelson. The song is “Night Life” and Rusty and the guys are crushing it with an absolutely beautiful rendition: Rusty’s vocals, as they have been throughout, are so attention commanding, and his guitar work is so clean and precise; Dave and Gene, who have been masterful together on the bass and drums, are once again being just that; and Roosevelt is demonstrating why listening to a B3 organ can be mesmerizing. I honestly think that you couldn’t count the number of recording artists who have covered this song, and I also honestly think you might agree with me that this is one of the best.
Other tracks on Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-tonks, an album I’m thinking may just get Rusty some well-deserved mainstream recognition, include: “The Same Thing”; “A Little Mixed Up” (Betty James & Edwards Johnson); “The Worm’s Turned”; “Linda Lu” (Ray Sharpe); “Lie To Me”; “Thing Called Love”; and “Bourbon Moon”.
Should like to find out more about Rusty Ends & Hillbilly HooDoo, just go to – www.rustyends.com. Remember, wherever you go and whomever you speak with, please tell them their friend the Blewzzman sent you.
“The Blues Is My Passion And Therapy”
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
2011 “Keeping The Blues Alive” Award Recipient
