Orlando quartet The Country Slashers refuse to maintain one formula, surveying melodic punk, honky-tonk balladry and rockabilly with equal skill. On loud numbers like "Stone Fox," the rhythm section sprints forward, and we're faced with a torrent of guitar fury over which singer Jason Smith growls, "Too many drinks make me lose my head/ But not enough to stay in bed." On "Black Summer" the four-piece offers an Old 97's-style ballad that finds Smith lending his gravelly voice to a tender lost-love lament. The band's ability to shine at both speeds and pen lyrics that stick to classic themes without succumbing to cliché makes this outfit a must-see for alt-country enthusiasts.
The Country Slashers w/Brahm Bones, 9 p.m. Sat., April 12, New World Brewery, Ybor City, $6.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2008.