(photo by Angela Betancourt)
The Golden Boys – Better Than Good Times (12XU 099-1) preorder from 12XU or Bandcamp
Once upon a time in Spring Branch, TX five legends went back to the future and formed THE GOLDEN BOYS. Created after a long drive in a pickup truck with a 12 pack of beer, founding members James Arthur (Fireworks, Necessary Evils, Feast Of Snakes) and Matt Hoopengardner (White Heat) sat on the edge of a cliff staring at the sunset. Soon after, extreme super hobo John Wesley Coleman III rode up on a wild coyote named FIRE DEMON. The group quickly formed a solid nexus and foundation for the Texas psyche blues texas rock texas jam texas pop ETC
After much whiskey on the basement floor, Nay Nay (Kackacka Butt Bomb) and Bryan Schmitz (Manhunt, Feast Of Snakes) appeared in a powdery puff, followed shortly after by the verdant recruit, Philly Pat Troxell (Creepoid, Plaque Marks). After multiple years toiling in obscurity alongside the Spider Bags and Strange Boys, the Golden Boys were saved by international playboy and The Gospel Truth’s founding member, Patrick Travis.
Coming 5 years after the acclaimed, ‘Dirty Fingernails’, this is the band’s 6th album. No one thought it could be done (and no one cared) until Gerard Cosloy asked, “Hey, are you guys making another record?”, to which The Golden Boys replied, “will you buy us some Texas Chili Parlor?” He said, “yes” (EDITOR’S NOTE : I do not remember this conversation)
Stuart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, Manhunt, A Giant Dog, Grifters) presided over the remarkable recordings. So here we are, with our newest and our best. Better than ever. Better than good times.
The Golden Boys are :
Nay Nay Arbeitman
Matt Hoopengardner
Patrick Travis
John Wesley Coleman III
Bryan Schmitz
Recorded and mixed by Stuart Sikes at Iggy’s Putt Putt Palace
Mastered by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering Service
prior praise for ‘Dirty Fingernails’ :
“a brilliant ability to suss out that ineffable quality that makes no-bullshit rock & roll so fun and so vital, and in the process they hold up garage-this and punk-that for the meaningless terms that they ultimately are.’ – Nate Knabel, Agitreader
“played with a swollen heart and clenched-fist determination…a killer group at the height of their powers.” – Doug Mosurock, Still Single
“anthemic hits that are guaranteed to stick in your head for days..an instant classic.” – Mark Twistworthy, Razorcake
“Punk in spirit, rifling through dirty R&B, outlaw country, and vintage pop, Austin’s the Golden Boys embody every great idiom of rock & roll” – Austin Powell, Austin
