This six-cut EP features three studio tracks from
Southern Culture on the Skids: a re-recording of "Eight Piece Box" with Jim Spake sitting in on sax, a cover of
Link Wray's "Run Chicken Run," and a new tune, "Kudzu Limbo" (which, while mostly instrumental, does feature the memorable encouragement to dancers, "How low can you GROW?"). The real excitement is in the second half, which features three numbers recorded during one of SCOTS' always-memorable live shows at Chicago's fabled Lounge Ax. This was the second recorded go-round for both "Cicada Rock" and "Daddy Was a Preacher But Mama Was a Go-Go Girl," but "Walleyed" is one of Rick Miller's better guitar showcases. The performances are sweaty and emphatic, leaving no doubt about this band's power to start a party on stage. Given the amount of material that can be found elsewhere,
Peckin' Party is more for fans than anyone else, but if you like
Southern Culture on the Skids at all, you'll want to give it a listen, if only for the live material. ~ Mark Deming