Nasty Memories

Authenticity can be a slippery and contested subject in popular music. But it’s really beside the point Jonny Corndawg’s concerned. Does that sound like the stage name of a guy who sweats such things? What you’ll find on Down on the Bikini Line is affection for country’s quirkier figures of previous decades paired with a deliciously skewed perspective on life, self-deprecating humor and a gift for going out on a limb to entertain. A Waylon Jennings-digging group of indie rockers are backing the Virginia-bred, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. And sure, Corndawg has his gimmicky moments – “When a Ford Man Turns to Chevy.” But when he zeroes in on the sort of absurd detail that nobody else would think to write about, he’s unbeatable.