The Piney Gir Country Roadshow - Lucky Me

It’s pretty impossible to actively dislike Piney Gir, what with her pretty prom frocks, feisty attitude and general chirpiness all forming the background to her perky country-tinged pop. To dismiss her would be as mean-spirited as hating a puppy - albeit one that could nip your ankles if the mood took it, for though Piney is undeniably cute you get the feeling she can also pack a mean left hook. Piney creates the soundtrack of someone who if not quite ground into the dust by life’s hard knocks has at least had a little of its dirt kicked in her face (and quickly wiped away, of course).

‘Lucky Me’ - taken from last year’s ‘Jesus Wept’ album - is another perky pop gem, bobbling along on a wave of sweet acoustic guitars, pizzicato strings and blissful close harmony voices. If you’re new to Piney’s delights, don’t be out off by her country overtones - essentially, she blends country harking back to her Kansas childhood into essentially pop tunes rather than being a die hard country traditionalist. If you’ve hitched a ride with the Country Roadshow before, you’ll find nothing to rock the boat here, just another wholesome slice of Piney pie, complete with the fresh-faced innocent pop with a twist that we’ve come to know and love her for.

Included here a version of Billy Idol’s 80s classic ‘White Wedding’ - instead of the menace of Billy’s sneering version where you can just imagine him sweeping the bride away from the altar on the back of his Harley Davidson, here Piney turns the track on its head with the song becoming more of a dire warning for the poor misguided bride.

The world of Piney Gir is anything but rinky dink - she may come across as outwardly sweet but she certainly isn’t twee by any stretch of the imagination. And you’d better beware that left hook if you’re foolish enough to underestimate her.