I’m a long-time fan of Cowpunk originator, Pete Berwick. Now, I thought Pete’s last album, The Island, was supposed to be his last, and honestly, despite the quality songs, it was too mellow and too Nashville, and honestly, I thought he was going out with a whimper. Well, I guess I was wrong as he is back with his seventh full-length release, and out of the gate, he explodes with punk energy and redneck attitude. This is very much a return to form for Pete. Maybe the most intensive album he has ever done. For a reference point, The Damage Is Done, reminds me of Steve Earle when he worked with the Supersuckers, but louder. Peter does manage to sneak on a couple of old-school gritty country ballads and a growling gospel number for balance. Recorded in Nashville, I’m reminded of the old Kris Kristofferson song, To Beat The Devil, about a down-on-his-luck Nashville songwriter who drinks the Devil’s beer and steals his song. Well in Pete’s case, he steals the Devil’s whiskey, his song, and then kicks his ass.

http://www.peteberwick.com/

Too Cow to Punk is a 37 track digital career retrospective from original Nashville cowpunk, Pete Berwick. I’ve reviewed Pete a few times before and I’m a big fan of his stuff – if you like your country to be outlaw with a big dose of punk rock attitude and sound then Pete’s the man. I’ve said before, that Pete Berwick is the soundtrack to a honky-tonk brawl and not only has he brought the sound but he’s packing the big city knuckledusters.

https://peteberwick1.bandcamp.com/album/too-cow-to-punk

January 26, 2019

I’ve been a long time fan of Chicago’s (and formally Nashville’s) Pete Berwick’s bad attitude and cheap beer cowpunk. Island, Berwick’s sixth full length solo album in an almost 40 year career, backed by The Mugshot Saints, to these ears sounds like Pete has mellowed a wee bit. The Island is less cowpunk and more traditional outlaw country – Cash, Jennings and Haggard or even Steve Earle. While Pete’s previous albums could be described as the musical equivalent of a brawl at some rundown rural roadhouse, Island is more the older guy sitting on the porch, drinking that cheap beer and reminiscing of a life well live and battles well fought with not a single damn regret.

July 21, 2015

I was in Nashville recently, a great place to visit, a great party town and genuinely nice inhabitants……..feck I’d even consider moving there (and if I get more then an inch of snow this winter I’m so there). That said, the whole country scene in Nashville is just too rigid and lacking any soul.. Anyone think the entire country music catalog of the last 20 years sounds like a bad Bon Jovi ballad? Maybe that’s why Stephen Tyler is going country – he can do a full albums of country hits by just recycling bad Aerosmith ballads and adding a twang.

That said Pete Berwick ain’t country establishment. When the establishment put Pete on the last train outta Nashville to Chicago they ripped up the train tracks up so the Bastard wouldn’t be back.

We’re long time admirers of cowpunk originator Pete Berwick here at Shite’n’Onions for his Johnny Cash meets Johnny Rotten take on country and while Tyler Doohan is more rooted in traditional outlaw country and honky-tonk then the more punkish previous releases, in someways this makes the album even more subversive. Think the aforementioned Johnny Rotten Cash and Steve Earl at his baddest.
The Legend of Tyler Doohan is one of the finest albums I’ve heard in a long while. A tragic, gritty collect of tales of those who life has dealt a bad hand yet they keep strong. The title track Tyler Doohan is a tragic true story of an eight year boy who died trying to rescue his disabled Granddad from a fire.