RON HOUSTON & THE BERRY PICKERS: The Wildcat Sessions

Possessed of an instantly identifiable voice with impressive range, San Diego-by-way-of-Louisana singer Ron Houston and his band, the Berry Pickers, have a new album out that blends country, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, and swamp blues into an alluring mélange.

Houston’s voice has more gravel than most quarries, but it mostly comes to the fore when he’s singing at the baritone end of his register. When he’s in the tenor range, it smooths out considerably. The contrast—or maybe just the differentiation—allows him to provide a nice bit of variety on vocals, often in the same song.

The Berry Pickers—all San Diego born and raised—include Dave Berry Jr. on lead guitar, David Berry Sr. on mandolin, and Jimmy Berry on bass. Jack Hoole holds down the drum seat, and Houston also plays acoustic guitar. They’re all gifted, playing with grit and energy—and are capable of taking lead on melody or providing an improvised solo, and consistently provide just the right fill or riff to frame Houston’s singing. The album is mostly acoustic, but on “I Let You Down,” Dave Jr. is on electric guitar, laying down some fiery fills behind Houston’s vocals.

The song titles are embedded in working-class life, with lyrics to match:

• “No Place I’d Rather Be”
• “Just An Old Empty Bottle”
• “Johnny Drank Jack”
• “That’s My Life”

Stylistically, the music matches that vibe: tales of working hard, living hard, getting yourself back up, and facing the next day.

While a slow shuffle seems to be the band’s default meter, the band significantly picks up the pace on the rocking “Ol’ Saint Peter”—guitars and mandolin in a fierce breakdown, forcing the pace ever forward while Houston’s voice sails over the top of it all. “I Let You Down” has a similar frenetic energy to it.

The band’s website markets them with this phrase: “If you are looking to have a great time dancing and hanging with friends … go see this band.” While the closing, 10½ minute live take of “Back in Mississippi” shows them to be a fine bar band, the other nine tracks show them to be several degrees better than merely a bar band.