A who's who of the Portland Urban Country Folk Scene--- Fishermen's Ball- Steven"Pearly" Hettum An all-star ensemble gathers to back up Hettum, longtime member of the local music community, dating back to his days as manager for Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods, through subsequent years as an erstwhile songwriter and troubadour. Billy Kennedy, Neil Gilpin, Lew Jones, Michael Kearsey, Robbie Laws, Mike Danner, Jon Lindahl (Fresh Tracks,) Dave Diaz, Lex Browning (Freak Mountain Ramblers) and Dennis Elmer join in on the dozen songs, making of each a tiny gem. Hettum's is an easy, homespun demeanor. His songs sound entirely familiar, many of them are derived from traditional sources, as well as from other influences such as Hank Williams country, Texas swing, Carl Perkins rock and Garth Brooks/Clint Black-style cornpone. The title track is a rousing ration of crawfish pie and filet gumbo. Slide guitars, violin and accordian vie with several acoustic and electric guitars. A foot stomping hoe-down."Billy Lives In A Barn" is a beautiful story expressed in a country waltz. Steve vibrates like Johnny Cash on"Bar Girls," a song he co-wrote with Rancher way back when."Sweet Messalina" echoes of Ray Wylie Hubbard's"Red Neck Mother," the Rolling Stones'"Honky Tonk Women" and Merle Haggard's"Okie From Muskogee" while sounding like a Jimmy Buffet tale of some sort."Fishin' with Gene" is exactly what one would expect a song with that title to be. Combining elements of the Kingston Trio's"Tom Dooley" and the traditional instrumental"Wildwood Flower," Lookin' Out My Window" sounds as authentic as its models."Travelin' Song" shares a few things in common with the King's"That's Alright Mama.""Food For Love" is a sideways version of Williams"Hey, Good Lookin." Hettum's rendition of"The Clouds May Hide The Moon," receives a sparse arrangement of acoustic guitar, piano and vocal, but produces a palpable tension all the same. Very nice."That Shining Star" is a curious song of self realization, and"Saving My Honey For the Honeymoon Honey" flourishes with rollicking guitars and fiddle, an offshoot of the traditional"Frog Went A Courtin'." Steve Hettum is probably not going to win any award for originality. But the musicianship is so superb and the intentions are so good, that in some strange way the record is even more appealing for its utter and complete familiarity. It's the kind of album you'd want to play on a rainy Sunday afternoon, with a fire blazing in the fireplace and a snifter of brandy warming on the coffee table.---------------------See also Steven Pearly Hettum's CD baby release"The Jangler/ Middle Age Man."