Martin Zellar & The Hardways – Live: Two Guitars, Bass & Drums

The bulk of the songs on the three albums Martin Zellar has released after the demise of his beloved garagey-tonk outfit the Gear Daddies suggests that his characters’ two main hobbies remain despairing and regretting. But although the mood is the same, Zellar takes more risks these days and, consequently, is a more interesting songwriter. He also frequently employs what’s best described as a dramatic rock sound, with shades of Jimmy Webb and Neil Diamond giving sonic depth to the rootsiness. (There’s also a little Spam-fed Springsteen around the edges, especially when Zellar’s growl kicks in.)

On this new live collection, three prime examples vie for center stage: “Blown Kisses”, “George And Tammy”, and the revealing monologue “Ten-Year Coin”. However, this is beer-saturated O’Gara’s Garage in St. Paul, Minnesota, not Broadway, so good ol’ fond memories upstage drama. Thus, the crowd’s most enthusiastic reactions are saved for “Wear Your Crown”, “She’s Happy”, and “Drank So Much”, the three Gear Daddies tunes dusted off for the occasion.

Additional dusting is required when the party is crashed midway through by three nugget-variety covers — “Mystery Train,” “The Way I Walk,” and “Let It Roll” — each given a solid if flash-free reading. And sure, the closing “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” duet, rendered by Zellar and a falsetto-flaunting partner, makes a giddy nightcap, but there are a dozen other Diamond tunes I’d rather hear Zellar tackle. What could be more appropriate than hearing this ex-Gear Dad, who continues to test the solo waters, deliver “Solitary Man”?