Country singer Trent Summar makes no bones about the style of music he plays: "It's not a cutesy look at life outside the city limits or a musical retro time warp. It's muscle car country. ZZ Top on a honky tonk jukebox country. It's ass-shaking, BBQ-eating, waterbed sleeping, above-ground swimming pool country." This is admittedly out of step with the pop-country mainstream of 2000, but that is a trend that this Tennessee native doesn't mind one bit. His first band, Hank Flamingo, recorded one album for Giant Records to positive reviews. They made an appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, had radio airplay and a video in rotation on CMT, but were best known for their riotous live shows. His new act for the year 2000, the New Row Mob, consisted of many session greats; Nashville guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Lucinda Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Kim Richey) and Hank Flamingo alumnus Philip Wallace add six-string edge and energy, while bassist and harmony singer Jared Reynolds (Pumpskully) and drummer David Kennedy (Walk the West) keep rhythm. Adding Jerry Dale McFadden (Mavericks, Sixpence None the Richer) on piano and organ helped fill out the group's sound, and the New Row Mob's self-titled debut was released in late 2000. ~ Zac Johnson, Rovi
