Madison country songstress and band, Nellie Wilson and the Hellbound Honeys, are kicking manners to the curb, along with trashy ex-boyfriends and lots of empty beer cans. Or, as the title of their debut album puts it, they're Taking the "O" Out of Country.
One of the album's tunes, "A Whore Is a Whore," serves as a brash counterpart to Dolly Parton's 1974 hit "Jolene," positioning Wilson as Parton's cheeky cousin. Whereas Parton portrays a housewife who begs a seductress not to steal her husband, Wilson spits fire at a cheating boyfriend and his loose lady friends. While normal folks might spice up their nights with a glass of wine or some day-of-the-week underpants, Wilson's dastardly dude courts a different dame each evening, weekend and then some.
"I wrote the lyrics about a friend's lying, cheating, disgusting asshole of a long-distance boyfriend," Wilson says. "My friend and I were drinking wine on my porch one night, and she said of his many conquests, 'A whore is a whore every night of the week,' and from there the song was born."
Wilson's not just a vulgar vocalist; she's a smutty sage. Combine her nuggets of wisdom with a twangy, diminished-seventh chord and a gently swinging beat and you've got the perfect song for swaying back and forth at the bar, waving a scolding finger at your best friend or your favorite tapster.
"You probably shouldn't come to our shows if you don't like to be in a crowd that is constantly ridiculed by the lead singer," she says.
You'll also see Wilson swear like a sailor and find out how her band mate Dancin' Doc Franklin earned his nickname. However, you won't find these sordid details in "A Whore Is a Whore."
"'It's probably our best and favorite tune. Also, it doesn't really have any swears in it. Keepin' it clean for the babies," Wilson remarks. "But we feel that this song is a good representation of our sound and our shtick."
Listen to an MP3 of "A Whore Is a Whore" in the related files at right. More music by Nellie Wilson and the Hellbound Honeys is available on their MySpace page and Facebook page. Fans can expect Wilson to mock their own shenanigans as well during the band's release party at the High Noon Saloon on Wednesday, January 5.
MadTracks highlights songs performed by local musicians. All content is provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.