1999 Walnut Valley Program
This is the third recording by this fun bunch of singer songwriters. I’m sorry I missed the first two. All the songs were written by band members Gary Gackstatter and/or Tim Durham, with the exception of "Long Come A Viper," which is a Dan Hicks song. This lyrical number goes at a breakneck speed making it difficult to understand at first, but all the other songs keep you listening over and over until the Dan Hicks song congeals in your brain. These folks combine excellent musicianship with witty lyrics that give you a look at life with a twist lemon and your choice of sugar or Sweet ‘n’ Low. The Renters are Gary Gackstatter - vocals, guitar, and fretless bass, Julie Rosseter - viola, and Tim Durham - vocals, lead guitar, mandolin and keyboard.
The flavor is set with the Tim Durham song, "I Need Some Money Real Bad", ("The love of money is hard to break, cause bein’ busted is hard to take.") The flavor is forever altered with Gackstatter’s "Wienie On A Carousel", a song about the pitiful site of a lone wienie, miserating and observing patrons from a convenience store carousel. ("Hello Darlin’, come take me out of here, I been ridin’ in circles year after year.") They slow you down to celebrate the arrival of a cherished new life with "Little One’s Lullaby," one of two Gackstatter-Durham collaborations. The highlight for me is "That’s All Folks," a loony tune about the demise of violent-natured cartoon characters. Gackstatter, a Kansan, goes on to paint vivid and searching images in "Touch Of Gold" and "Around The Bend." Takes me to the land of ahs.