Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys A Couple of Hard Luck Favorites 7" Bloodshot Records 2001

Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys A Couple of Hard Luck Favorites 7" Bloodshot Records 2001 CAT # BS 075

First, in one of the all time weirdest moments in Kansas music history, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys opened for Fugazi in Olathe, Kansas at Gee Coffee.  Oddly, the fact that the honky tonkers opened for Fugazi isn't the strangest part.  Members of Rex Hobart's Misery Boys (or a member) were in the Homestead Grays in Lawrence, Kansas back in the 80's.  And while the Grays were not a hardcore band by any means (they were rooted in Americana) they released on Lawrence's Fresh Sounds, Inc. label.  The same that released a few hardcore bands, the Embarrassment, and the Micronotz.  The Grays were in that scene of bands and throughout travels and shows, likely crossed paths with Ian MacKaye at some point.  Also, Rex Hobart is Scott Hobart of the band Giant's Chair (the previously discussed band) and I'm pretty sure Giant's Chair would have crossed paths with Fugazi in the 90's.  The strangest part is that it happened in a dump of a venue, years after it was considered cool and relevant, and 30 minutes South of KC, 45 minutes East of Lawrence.  The guy running Gee Coffee at that time was not the original owner and a huge douche.  All the same, it happened, and Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys were accepted and put on a great show and all that.

I believe at the present time, Rex Hobart has hung it up.  When the group entered the Kansas City scene, they were a great honky tonk band.  Members of Rex's Homestead Grays had left for Nashville to become BR-459, a genuine country band, he stayed in Kansas City.  His early stuff showcases a love for honky tonk and classic country.  Later in the band's career, they'd soften the edges in hopes of finding success, but were still rooted in real country sounds.

This 7" may be only thing available from the band on vinyl.  It falls on the later half of their career and features two covers.  Freddy Fender's "Wasted Days, Wasted Nights" and Poison's "Every Rose Has It's Thorn."  The Fender track is a solid pick, great tune, done well.  The Poison track has to represent some hope of a novelty hit, right?  I mean, I guess it's a decent song and yes, it's clearly a "country" song, but that doesn't mean you need to cover it.

Oh, and the best part about the 7", inscribed in the run off are the words "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Fucking Go."  D.L.R.