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This Saturday.

For several years, the group known as Sour Mash has been considered as one of the most entertaining acts on the local music scene. However, the band has never had what it considered to be an official product to offer fans and potential fans until now.
Sour Mash will hold its long awaited CD release party starting at 9 p.m., Saturday, at the Star Bar on Crockett Street in downtown Beaumont. Admission is $5 at the door and each person will receive a free copy of the band’s new album, “Fine Aged Spirits,” with paid entry. All ages are welcome.
Trevor Batson, vocalist and guitarist in Sour Mash, said the delay has actually been a blessing and has only serve to improve the disc.
“Altogether, it has taken us probably two years to make this record,” Batson said in a telephone interview. “But if it hadn’t taken as long as it did, then it wouldn’t be as good as it is. The delay in recording really let Joey (Lynn) and Ryan (Gist) grow into the band.”
Batson, along with drummer George Brown, are founding members of Sour Mash. The group went through a minor transformation in early 2009 and added second guitarist Ryan Gist, along with new bassist Joey Lynn III. The change in personnel “fattened” the band’s sound and added a new dimension of versatility to Sour Mash.
“Our style of music is very different from just about all of the bands in Southeast Texas,” Batson added. “I think a lot of that is the ‘jam band’ thing we have going on now. It has also been better for us because we’ve had been able to play shows with bands of other styles, whereas some bands couldn’t do that.”
Batson said there is no hidden meaning behind the album title “Fine Aged Spirits.” In fact, he considers it a tribute to the band’s persistence and longevity.
“We got the name of the disc for the fact that everyone in the band has been in or around the music scene for many years,” Batson explained. “And that experience shows on this recording. It’s really going to surprise some people considering how long it has taken.”
The 10-song disc is all original material and was recorded in the home of area music engineer, Chad McGillvreay. The CD was mixed by Dontel and mastered at Walt’s Audio.
Although Sour Mash has some on the road experience, with shows in the Houston and San Antonio-areas under its collective belt, Batson believes all of that is about to change.
“Now, with this product available for us to promote our shows and market to fans, we will definitely be hitting the road,” he continued. “We really want to get out and push this CD.”
At 27-years-old, Batson is the youngest member of Sour Mash. Although he knows this disc is only the beginning, he wants to make the most of every performance and expand his band’s presence. The recent cancer-related death of well-known local musician Karl Prien, founding member of Malayden, has only served to reinforce those thoughts.
“Everybody in our band had so much respect for Karl,” Batson said. “All of the good guitarists in the area viewed him as a teacher, but he was really a lot more to so many people.
“Music is really the only thing that makes sense for all of us in this band. We want to do it permanently. I think being able to travel and meet knew people and play music every night is what it’s all about.”
Since late 2008, the area’s rock music scene has been decimated by club closures and only a handful remain. Of those still open, fewer accept all original music bands.
“Losing The Vortex and the Scout Bar really hurt the scene, but, thanks to Joe Deshotel and the people at Connect the Dots, they are helping keep a couple of clubs booked with area rock bands and groups from Austin. It’s been a very cool thing.”
Sour Mash will perform its next show on Sunday, March 7 at the Hole in the Wall as part of the Connect the Dots event, “South by Southeast,” before traveling to Austin for a showcase on March 20 as part of the well known South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival.
Visit My Space.com/SourMashrockstexas for more information about the band or CtheDs.com about upcoming events.