When I first listened to the full version of “In My Little Town,” not the radio edit, I was a little taken aback by the vinyl-scratched prelude, which sounded reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century vaudeville band, complete with a tinny sound and thin vocals, until it became apparent that it was setting the scene for the old Western mining town the song is about. A quirky and oddly genius setup, leaving one totally unprepared for the hard rock intro assault of muscular, crunching guitar riffs, peppered with heavy drum work and a quick sneak peek of Brian Walton’s blistering fiddle style. Then it’s off to the races, straight into the chorus.
The song is a humorous take on the all-too-common subject of how people act when they’ve had too much to drink and run their mouth at the bar. One day, a drinking buddy told Brian, “You need to write a song about this bullshit,” and that’s just what he did.
Brian never intended the song to be anything more than a novelty meant to poke fun at the local rumor mill in his hometown, as evidenced by the two iconic lines, “Got the sniffles at noon, you’re dead by 9” and “You don’t lose your partner, you lose your place in line”. But what makes the song a chart-topper is its straightforward classic-rock rhythm, with its unique use of the fiddle as a quasi-solo guitar alternative.
The highlight is the solo break, where the song winds down, led by the fiddle, then pops up and punches you in the face with one of the fastest scale-ripping fiddle solos I’ve ever heard, crowned, of course, by Brian’s signature solo guitar prowess. I found myself rewinding to the fiddle solo over and over because I just couldn’t believe my ears.
Released in 2021 as an EP featuring both the full version and a radio-edited version without the prelude, “In My Little Town” was an instant fan favorite. If you’re just now discovering Brian, he blends traditional instruments with rock elements to create his unique style of Americana. Take a listen. I betcha you’ll be impressed. More: In My Little Town
