As you might guess from the cover and title, this CD is a bit bonkers. A super clean cut Deke is shown clutching his custom made Hallmark guitar with the Hollywood Hills in the background, a pristene white stetson on his head and a smug smile on his face.
He seems blissfully unaware of the anachronistic qualities of his look and music, or, perhaps more accurately, he knows full well but couldn't care less.
In the title track he tells of feeling "free just like a breeze" and happy to enjoy the rambling devil-may-care musician's life :
"I don't have to do no labour I just have to entertain".
DD has recorded songs that have been featured in a variety of movies, TV shows, and radio programs, including the award-winning movie 'Sideways' and the XM satellite radio show Theme Time Radio Hour with Bob Dylan where Deke apparently contributed background guitar music and was also interviewed by His Bobness.
Dickerson's a native of Columbia, Missouri, born in 1968 - too late to have enjoyed the musical styles he plays on this record first hand.
The 15 tracks have a predominantly Rockabilly flavour although it is something of a hotch-potch of genres with some pure Bluegrass(Boone County Blues) a country soul cover of Willie Nelson's 'Make Way For A Better Man' and the Doo-Wop arrangement of 'Ichin' For My Baby'. The common thread is retro with little to acknowledge the arrival of the 21st Century.
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'Bomb Shelter (For My Heart)' and The Western Swing of 'Misshapen Hillbilly Gal'("her body had a pear shape if the pear was upside down") exemplify the light-hearted tone of the songs with tongue fimly in cheek.
Heaven only knows what the target audience is for this stuff is and I doubt that Deke is all that bothered either way. He's in this for kicks and having a blast with his mates.
This is Americana of sorts, country without the 'Alt -'and has a self-consciously novelty feel that very rapidly irritated the hell out of me.
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