Singer and guitarist Shawna Virago is back with Blood In Her Dreams, the long overdue follow-up to her Heaven Sent Delinquent album. Once again, she taps into the well of punk, rock, rockabilly and country to give Americana a few pointers about her life as a transgender woman. She takes on boozing, travel, love affairs and plans that go South are told with a mix of bravado, swagger and regret. Getting accepted in C & W circles was an uphill battle, but she persisted. And won.
With a ton of catchy guitar riffs up her sleeve and the knack lay down swinging bass lines Virago commandeers the spotlights. Her vocal delivery is pretty relaxed, but also packs a punch. There might be mention of a "rhinestone suit" in Suzie Texas (Take Her/Break Her), but that is all that adds some color in her bleak life. Ghosts Cross State Lines is a semi-autobiographical song transwoman trying to get away from her past. The Barman’s Daughter does not shed a tear after her lover dies from a heart attack after he helped himself to some cash from the till. She pulls the veil of the romantic notion anyone might have about working girls in Last Girl, Chapter 1.
Blood In Her Dreams honours the art of storytelling and she wrapped her tales in a cloak of heartfelt country rock that will go down well with fans of Roseanne Cash and Lucinda Williams. It is a mix of broad strokes and intricate details, a musical quilt that fits her like a glove.
Shawna Virago: vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica
Lien Do: drums, percussion
Grace Coleman: additional percussion, background vocals
Blood In Her Dreams is a self-released album. Buy it from her website. Release date: May 31.
Tracks:- Climb To The Bottom
- Bright Green Ideas
- Ghosts Cross State Lines
- Blood In Her Dreams
- Somewhere On The Border
- Suzie Texas (Take Her/Break Her)
- This Girl Felt Hounded
- Last Girl, Chapter 1
- Eternity Street
- Highroad No.6
- The Barman's Daughter
» shawnavirago.com
HCTF review of Heaven Sent Delinquent.