Austin Music Minute

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November 18, 2022

Perfect Middle Hall

By: Laurie Gallardo

You might have heard your AMM host exclaim, “Cactus Lee, what witchery is this?!” over this song. From those opening strums, plain and simple, “Slowly By” is exquisite.

It’s the third track on Perfect Middle Hall, the sixth album by Cactus Lee and the follow-up to Texas Music Forever. Like its predecessors, there’s a Texan anti-folk magic at work, invoking a specific time of the past – think Blaze Foley vibes, or even Van Zandt. Songwriter Kevin Dehan returned to the studio with producer Kyle Crusham to record this six-song LP, an offering of nostalgic reflection, and feelings of longing for something…on the verge of happening.

Don’t miss Cactus Lee tonight, Friday Nov. 18 at Chess Club, 617 Red River. It’s an excellent bill with The Mellows, Future Museums and Ryan Sambol. Doors at 9 p.m.