Like the dusty locales of which Jay Farrar sings, not much about Son Volt seems to change. Ever since Farrar split from Uncle Tupelo in 1994, his troupe has been churning out album after album of consistent, by-the-books, contemporary alt-country. Sure, Farrar garnered quite the following that former Uncle Tupelo bandmate Jeff Tweedy has—perhaps you’ve heard of his band—but Son Volt know what they do well, and they’ve stayed at it with the unflagging commitment of old pros. July’s American Central Dust is a steady collection of mid-tempo, country-tinged folk-rock songs that, though not especially earth-shattering in their ingenuity, serve as the ideal casual departure into Americana for the rock enthusiast. Songs like “Down to the Wire” and “Strength and Doubt” feature some wonderfully full instrumentation, and it’s always nice to know that, when you’re looking for a slow-moving, tastefully arranged helping of familiarity, Son Volt will be there. Sera Cohoone opens.
Thu., Sept. 10, 9 p.m., 2009
Thu., Sept. 10, 9 p.m., 2009
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