Oh Sweet Margarita of Cascia, Patron Saint of Lost Causes, we beseech thee! Make the world safe for instrumental music once again! Is there no room for swank little numbers uncluttered by the human voice? Time was when the radio waves were littered with songs that eschewed the crutch of vocals: Tequila, Sleepwalk, Popcorn, Green Onions, The Rumble, Walk-Don’t Run. Hell, even the themes to The Rockford Files and Taxi cracked the pop charts. Why then? Why not now?

Jon Rauhouse, god love ‘em, is not one to give up this quixotic quest so easily. The pedal steel/Hawaiian wizard, who has contributed his alternately swashbuckling and swoony stylings to recordings by-among others– Calexico, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Giant Sand, Sally Timms and the Waco Brothers, lets fly his third CD, Steel Guitar Heart Attack. Hitting all the hotspots and g-spots between Harlingen and Honolulu, Jon and his band (featuring Calexico and Jon’s longtime guitarist/ co-conspirator Tommy Connell) swing, sigh, giggle and charm their way into even those with hearts of tar.

As a concession to the whims of those in need of a human voice every now and again, there are performances by a few of the top notch singers of our day: Neko Case (“East of the Sun”), Kelly Hogan (“Big Iron”), Rachel Flotard of Visqueen (“Harbor Lights”) and Sally Timms (“I’ll Be Seeing You”). These ladies’ll melt the ice in anyone’s punchbowl. Jon even steps to the mic for one (the theme to the Andy Griffith Show “The Fishing Hole”—betcha didn’t know it had lyrics, didya?)

The rest of the album is pure instrumental magic. Woozy, dreamy songs that’ll set your mind to sailing into the sunset, happy hour, or the arms of your Polynesian princess. Beguiling melodies that take us to “Idaho,” the “Hood Canal,” and the “Girls of Pajama Hill” (who hasn’t wanted to go there?) or provide the perfect wordless soundtrack when you want to wet your line or wet your whistle. Everything from country classics to the theme song from Mannix. That’s called versatility, my friends. There’s even a banjo number that shows Jon can play stuff standing up, too (note: we cannot absolutely confirm that he was standing when this was recorded). And with some songs clocking it at a 1:50, Jon can bring it with Ramones-like brevity, but with class.

Steel Guitar Heart Attack is Jon’s third solo CD, following Steel Guitar Air Show (2002) and Steel Guitar Rodeo (2004). Why “Heart Attack?” Well, Jon started noticing chest pains when carrying his amp. Seems he had something known as a Widowmaker Lesion and critical blockages in major arteries from his heart. Emergency procedures, angiograms, catheterizations and stents followed. We are happy to report that all is well now; with his heart fixed, he can re-focus on saving the instrumental.

Jon Rauhouse’s Steel Guitar Heart Attack shows us all that you don’t need words, man, you just need a good rhythm while you’ve got the gin in the shaker.

Bloodshot Press Release

Track List

1. Idaho
2. Bongo Ride
3. I’ll Be Seeing You
4. 5 After 5
5. Drinkin’ & Smokin’
6. Harbor Lights
7. Mannix
8. Grief
9. Everybody Loves the Sun
10. Ballad of the Black Chihuahua
11. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)
12. Begin the Beguine
13. Holiday for Strings
14. Hood Canal
15. Girls of Pajama Hill
16. Big Iron
17. Red Pollard
18. The Fishin’ Hole

So check it out in the Riffs section.

The first two of these dates, in Tucson & Phoenix, will see the full 11 piece Jon Rauhouse Orchestra. The last, in Prescott, will “only” be the Jon Rauhouse Quintet.

Details and links for tickets are up in the “On Tour” section of the site, get along and be able to say you saw this must see event

…when Jon Rauhouse steps out solo, he has a timeless sound that beguiles anyone who hears it…Whether he’s conjuring some epochal style or offering a faithful rendition of steel guitar music, Rauhouse transcends boundaries and generations to be the new king of Margaritaville. – Wade Coggeshall at Nuvo

Neko Case’s pedal steel player stretches out over a gauntlet of genres…buy it for its own merits, then sit back and enjoy. – Grant Britt at Creative Loafing

You are invited to celebrate the release of Jon Rauhouse’s Steel Guitar Heart Attack featuring Tommy Connell and some of the best musicians on the planet on Tuesday, March 13th at 6PM @ Stinkweeds. Jon, Tommy and others will play, there will be lots of presents, food and drink and we’ll preview the new album!! And best of all, its Free!!!

Stinkweeds – 12 W. Camelback (NW corner of Central and Camelback), Phoenix, AZ 85013

Included are the playing credits, who played on each track and the production details.

Remember it’s on on March 13th, so not long now to wait and it’s well worth the wait.

Here’s what they say…

Those of you who associate the pedal steel guitar solely with cry-in-yer-beer country weepers are in for either an unpleasant shock or a delightful surprise. Jon Rauhouse plays pedal steel guitar the way John Zorn plays the saxophone. That is, he thoroughly messes with your head as he takes you on a schizophrenic musical journey. On Heart Attack Rauhouse covers western swing, Hawaiian music, Big Band standards, ’60s easy listening schlock, Bing Crosby crooners, the TV themes to Mannix and the Andy Griffith Show, and gunfighter ballads. Along the way, he’s helped out by members of Calexico, Giant Sand, The Mekons, Kelly Hogan, and the incomparable Neko Case, who lends her pipes to the old Sinatra chestnut “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon).” Best of all is Rauhouse’s take on Cole Porter’s “Begin the Beguine” where the pedal steel does a Broadway turn. It’s great, uncompromising, wildly eclectic music. - Andy Whitman

Along with an full track MP3 download taster of the new disc in the form of “Ballad of the Black Chihuahua” to whet your appetite, for March 13th when it’s released.

Also up are some more tour dates for parts of March & April.

More details to come…