The Cropdusters prepare to go back in the studio… with Steve Earle’s producer

Brian Azevedo of The Cropdusters

It’s hard to believe, but it has been more than a year since local Southern rock group The Cropdusters released its debut album, Howdy, and far longer since the band shaped the six songs that wound up on that EP. In other words, the band has a lot of new material now and it’s itching to get the tracks laid down and out to the public. They’re closer to accomplishing that than one might think, too: The group lined up Eric Ambel, producer for Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, The Bottlerockets, Joan Jett and more, to man the boards for its next record. (If you’re curious about Ambel’s full list of credentials, click here.) Recording should begin in early summer; there’s no timetable yet for completion. Patience looks like the name of the game, but it could bring a sweet reward.