R.I.D.E. (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Keith Burns , Jimmy Panda, Billy Hullet, Michael Spiggs, Michael Spriggs, Larry Baird, Ira Dean (acoustic guitar); Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, dobro); John Willis (electric guitar, banjo); Chris Leuzinger, John Jorgenson, Johnny Hiland, Troy Lancaster, J.T. Corenflos, Bobby Terry (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, lap steel guitar); Mike Johnson (steel guitar); Anthony Smith (banjo); Larry Franklin, Joe Spivey, Audrey Haney (fiddle); Heidi Newfield (harmonica); Gordon Mote (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards); Jim "Moose" Brown (piano, organ, keyboards); Steve Nathan (organ); Chris McHugh, Greg Morrow, Owen Hale, Tommy Hardin, Milton Sledge, Shannon Forrest (drums).

Additional personnel: Darius Rucker (vocals).

Audio Mixers: Bob Campbell-Smith; Ed Seay; Brian Tankersley.

Photographer: Jim Shea.

R.I.D.E., the title of Trick Pony's third album, stands for "Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainment." Of course, in 2000's Nashville, rebelling could often mean playing straight-up old-school country while not taking oneself too seriously, two pursuits at which Trick Pony excels. A slice of good-time barroom country rock, R.I.D.E. manages to sound staunchly traditional while never sticking too close to a formula. Primary lead vocalist Heidi Newfield comes off like a bawdy mix of Tanya Tucker, Loretta Lynn, and Mae West, delivering the pure honky-tonk of "Ain't Wastin' Good Whiskey On You" and the tears-in-your-beer emotion of "When I Fall" with equal panache. It's guitarist Keith Burns, however, who delivers the record's most accessible song with "Sad City," which features a guest vocal from Hootie & The Blowfish's Darius Rucker. A mix of sawdust, sweat, and jumbotron-ready party spirit, this R.I.D.E. is guaranteed to be a wild one. minimize