Somebody's Darling @ Granada Theater

Note from the editor: I'd like to welcome both Michael Smith and Anna Vernon to the staff here at Breakfast On Tour. Michael and Anna will be bringing future coverage from the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Michael is a great wordsmith, while Anna has developed an instant knack for concert photography. They are both incredible assets, and I'd like to personally welcome them to the team. And don't worry, their breakfast names will come shortly... -Eggs

Somebody's Darling served up a healthy plate of deep-fried Texas Country at their CD release on Saturday Night. As the band took the stage at the Granada Theater on hip Lower Greenville Ave. in Dallas, a Buddy-Holly-bespectacled kid donning skinny jeans (and undoubtedly the author of his own blog) snapped a photo on his iPhone. But as he stood shoulder to shoulder with a stout man sporting a crossbones skullcap and a handlebar mustache, the room was indistinguishable from any gritty, Texas honky-tonk sitting off I-20 between Ft. Worth and Midland.
Keep reading after the jump

Words by Michael Smith
Photos by Anna Vernon

I've never believed that Carrie Underwood actually shoots any sort of liquor. But, Amber Farris belted out slow, bluesy ballads – such as "Easy" and "Give Me Time" – with enough whiskey-cured soul in her voice to make you believe she could drink you under the table, and then probably kick your ass in a game of 8-ball. David Ponder channeled the likes of Duane Allman and Eric Clapton, ripping a solo in "Too Cold" in front of drummer Nate Wedan and Bassist Mike Talley, who held the band together wonderfully all night. The crowd did their part; they were audible even over the PA on songs such as "Horses" and "Put Out Your Fire."

Somebody's Darling belongs to a brand of Texas Country that hasn't been stripped of its character by clean shaven, slick-haired Hollywood producers. The genre gets back to the roots of rock and roll. It's not a parody of the bus-traveling, guitar-slinging rockers of the 70's; it's the real deal. Each member of Somebody's Darling would have been perfect in the cast of Almost Famous, but I got the feeling after a few minutes of talking to them that they were what Cameron Crowe shot that film about - the embodiment of rock and roll, raised on gospel music and grain whiskey. 100% Authentic.

After two years of playing together and one EP, Somebody's Darling released their Debut LP on Shiner Records, recorded in Nashville with producer Dan Baird (Guitarist - Georgia Satellites, Producer - Will Hoge, Chris Night). Their single, "Horses," can be heard on Dallas' 95.3 The Range.

View more photos from the show on Anna's Flickr page.