RT N’ The 44′s photo by Daniel Giberson

The chili was hot and the biscuits were sinful at RT N’ The 44′s record release show, April 1, 2011. Tequila soaked lemons made happy April fools of everyone. The Echo Country Outpost is one of our favorite places. Chris Hajek and Erica Forneret are great hosts that make everyone feel like they’re in a bohemian version of Cheers. It’s that kind of familiarity that makes the Outpost special. And the audience keeps growing! If this keeps up, they’ll have to move to a farm in order to fit all these party animals.

“pour one more stiff drink for me” photo by Daniel Giberson

Echo Country Outpost crowd photo by Echo Country Outpost

RT asked Bloody Death Skull to kick off the night, so at 8 pm, Bloody Death Skull played a song about washing in lamb’s blood, another about whisky, one about bats, and a love song to a prostitute that the audience found sweet.

Bloody Death Skull photos by Chris Hajek

Next came Jenny Luna and wow, was she something! This young singer just received a jazz scholarship award from Pasadena City College, and she somehow creates a vocal effect in her mouth that makes her voice sound like it’s floating off an old record.

Jenny Luna photo by Daniel Giberson

Jenny Luna photo by Daniel Giberson

Jenny Luna photo by Chris Hajek

Then, Outpost regulars Sundays Soundtrack relaxed the audience into romantic dreams, all roses and pearls.

Sundays Soundtrack photos by Chris Hajek

RT N’ The 44′s got the room on its feet, stomping and hooting, as the band played its entire new album of down with the devil sing-alongs. RT N’ The 44′s makes the people dance.

RT N’ The 44s photo by Daniel Giberson

RT N’ The 44s photo by Erica Forneret

RT N’ The 44s photo by Erica Forneret

RT N’ The 44s photo by Chris Hajek

At the end of the evening, the trio was joined by a few fellow members of supergroup Eastside Hayride to play some old time classics. Tonight it was Olentangy John, Matt Taylor, and Lizzie Eggert, but when the collective plays the Echo on April 11 for Amanda Jo Williams’ residency, they will pack the stage with even more members from local bands that are down with the Eastside.

Eastside Hayride photo by Erica Forneret

Eastside Hayride photo by Daniel Giberson

This was also the first event of The New LA Folk Fest’s monthlong fundraiser for Japan tsunami relief and people were super generous. Thanks for that. We’d also like to give a shoutout to RT’s new babies…his goats just gave birth.  This is Waylon.

Waylon photo by RT Valine