Lil' Bit and the Customatics are based out of San Antonio and have been playing around the past few years on the U.S. rockabilly circuit. I first heard their diminutive singer, Lil' Bit, a few years ago, sitting in with San Antonio rockabilly teen kings Cave Catt Sammy. From 'sitting in' to constant touring, this four-piece act has been hard at work crafting a spontaneous acoustic set that celebrates the rollicking feel of true hayseed-spittin' hillbilly, to the moodiest of country blues (sometimes with a swingin' jazz feel). "Headin' On" features twelve songs, most of which are written by Lil' Bit and upright bass player "Tomcat" Miller. Miller's songs, in particular, have interesting melodic changes, in a genre that can sometimes seem uninventive.

Lil' Bit's got a nifty vocal style, too...sometimes just a little weak, but then when she hits it, MAN, does she hit it! Amazing. I guess it's just that some of the songs suit her better than others, which is the case for all singers. My favorite tracks on here are "Careful What You're Wishin' For", the rousing "Headin' On," and "Drink You Off My Mind,", which features Tomcat on vocals...speaking of, I'll be damned if this fellow doesn't sound just like Johnny Horton, both in timbre and spirit. Watch out for this guy, for he's a powerhouse in his own right.

The only problem I have with this band is that while all the instruments sound great and the vocals and arrangements are snappy, I still feel they could benefit from having a drummer on the majority of their songs. It's really difficult for a bass player to carry the entire rhythm of a song, and while Miller does a dandy job on the upright, the snap in the band's arrangements seem to beg for the crack of a snare. With that having been said however, not all the songs show this necessity...and overall this CD is a fantastic example of a newer rockabilly band paying admirable homage to an older genre.