Tav Falco and the Panther Burns are back: both on record and in town. This debonair outfit provides a latin and country influenced take on swing music and has a long history of producing unseemly and exotic rock. As such, this band should appeal to both the afficianado of the current lounge/cocktail revival as well as fans of the seedier side of the rock n' roll world.

The latest release by Tav Falco and the Panther Burns, "Shadow Dancer," is a slow, rolling approach to some twisted tangos. While the band's history includes a variety of aggressive rockabilly-blues and 60's punk productions, the last few years have shown Falco's pursuit of the constrained, yet expressive, musical styles of the 1940s and 50s. This combo provides a course rythm for swaying latin beats which brings to mind a vision far more congruent with alcoholic stupors, sad lives, and brokendown bars than the highbrow zoot suit and cigar-style of the modern swing revival. In this respect, the Panther Burns seem to present listeners with a little less of the schtick and retro-revival which devastates bands such as the Royal Crown Revue, and presents instead a sense of melodrama which can effectively present substance as well as style. Nine of the thirteen cuts on the record are covers, with the three originals being penned by Tav Falco and arranged by drummer Jim Sclavunos. The songs rarely speed above a gentle sway and unfortunately don't approach the furor of some of their previous work, but nonetheless present a restrained ferocity which can declare lust and anguish just as clearly.

Tav Falco and the Panther Burns will be appearing live at the Club Congress on Wednesday, June 5 as special guests of Chick Cashman and the Countripolitans. If previous performances are any indicator, Tav Falco and the Panther Burns have riled up some ire in town in the past with very aggressive shows, as well as charmed fans with swinging nights of latin love. Chick and his band provide a similarly seedy take on soulful swing every Wednesday at the Club Congress, and they are know for bringing top-notch live acts on stage with them: from burlesque shows to The Demolition Doll Rods, and from dancing dogs to last week's suprise appearance by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. This should be a fine night of live entertainment, and with the prospect of original Panther Burns member Alex Chilton joining Tav on stage (rumor has it that Chilton has appeared on the East Coast leg of the tour) this could be a dynamite show.