On a Mission (CD - 2002)

Additional personnel includes: Willie Nelson (vocals, acoustic guitar).

Personnel: Keith Burns (vocals, acoustic guitar); Heidi Newfield (vocals, harmonica); Michael Spriggs, Willie Nelson (acoustic guitar); Ira Dean (electric guitar, electric bass); John Jorgenson, Pat Buchanan (electric guitar); Randy Kohrs (dobro); Jonathan Yudkin (violin); Andy Leftwich, Rob Hajacos (fiddle); John Hobbs (keyboards); Kenny Aronoff, Shannon Forrest, Brian Nelson (drums).

Audio Mixer: Bob Campbell-Smith.

Recording information: River Row Studios.

Photographer: Stephen Stickler.

ON A MISSION offers a second helping of the same barroom-ready Southern rock that Trick Pony cooked up on its debut. Luckily, everything still tastes good: the band is kickin' and vocalist Heidi Newfield's gloriously bourbon and cigarette soaked voice has lost none of its classic edge. Often sounding like a fantasy meeting between the Charlie Daniels Band and TNT-era Tanya Tucker, Trick Pony manages to keep the sass level appropriately high for all 12 songs. Fortunately, the group's stock in trade themes of wild drinkin' and wild lovin' have been mined so successfully with a heavy influence from David Allen Coe and Molly Hatchet. That said, ON A MISSION is packed with radio ready hooks and spirited performances, so fans of the first album, or raucous '70s style country rock in general, will find plenty to love. minimize