Who would’ve thought in only a year’s time, Union Specific would accomplish so much? The band's lead singers, Tyler Wallace and Gregg Maher, have created a style reminiscent of alternative country’s early days. If Uncle Tupelo and the Old 97s produced a love child, the result would be Union Specific.
Paid for with a student loan, Union Specific’s debut album Murderlights ranges from hard-walking ballads like "The Beggar and The Loner" to West Texas-inspired slow movers such as "Home Away From Home." The tongue-in-cheek Back to Being Formal reprimands an unfaithful ex-girlfriend, but “Death From Above” digs deeper, confronting universal loneliness.
The band is acquainted with 6th Street, playing steadily in some of Austin's best venues (Momo's, Maggie Mae’s, and Saxon Pub to name a few). With the release of Murderlights on iTunes and Amazon, as well as at Austin’s legendary Waterloo Records (look under U), the sky is the limit for this young but talented group. Perhaps there is no better summary of the band's progress than the opening lines to their title track:
"It was late one Sunday morning, or I guess early some Saturday night.
And not a car could be found under old Texoma's neon murderlights. As they walked down Sherman's main streets, slurring speech but only the truth, well they spoke of reason, they spoke of treason and the prospects of beatitude, they screamed ‘The fireman's coming soon!’"
For Union Specific, the fireman has come.
