The Silver Spring Penguin

There ain’t enough chicken wire in this town to contain the big country sound of Ruthie and The Wranglers.

The Takoma Park-based band serves country music with a thick slice of honky tonk and a tall, cool glass of fun (served in an old jelly jar, of course). While the band’s musical menu ranges from roots rock to surf tunes, that ole Hank Williams sway anchors their combined talents.

The tune “Someday” starts with a slide guitar riff that would make Chet Atkins proud, and lead vocals that would charm the soot off a coal miner’s daughter. Soon enough, the song flies down the track at full hootenanny speed.

“I Say Tomato” (below) hits with honky-tonk swagger worthy of a line dance. Its easy-going swing conjures images of truck-stop diners and long, lonely hauls through the American heartland, where a friend is only a CB radio call away.

[audio:RuthieandWranglers_ISayTomato.mp3]

Click “play” to hear “I Say Tomato”.

The song “If a Heart Breaks” is also tear-in-your-beer country, though it’s less Loretta Lynn and more Lurleen Lumpkin. The band finds redemption with the ballad “Dirty Secret” and the upbeat “I Don’t Wanna Know”, in which vocalist Ruthie Logsdon shows off her gentle Allison Krauss side.

Learn more about Ruthie and The Wranglers from the band’s website and get a taste from their CDBaby.com page. Then get the full dose at the Quarry House (8401 Georgia Ave) on Thursday, Oct 11, at 8:30 p.m.

Music and photo courtesy of Ruthie and The Wranglers.