"Shootin' Straight" captures a live performance at McCabe's Guitar Shop by Dan and the Acoustic Warriors. Released in 1994 by Private Music, this gem is sadly out of print at this time. Although there was a flurry of promotion at the album's release, with an CNN appearance by Dan, and a tour with full band, it seems that Private Music chose to put its muscle behind artists like labelmate Yanni instead.

The band is spot-on and tight, as Dan unleashes a lot of the stuff he's been working on since the 70s. The late Jim Boggio's accordion adds a musette feel to many of the tunes, and Hot Club of San Francisco alumnus Paul Robinson plays tasty Django-flavored licks.

The songs range from sublimely ridiculous, to simply sublime. "Up! Up! Up!" was mildly featured in the film "Class Action", starring Gene Hackman, where Dan and a hybrid group of Hot Licks and Acoustic Warriors played a bar band working at San Francisco's Beach Chalet. "Hell, I'd go" has recently been reprised on 2000's 'Beatin' The Heat". Several of the tunes are in Dan's current repertoire, but the bitter folk noir of "Level With Me Laurie", and the resigned longing of "A Magician", are also preserved here, just in case they never again make it to the set list.

Personnel
Dan Hicks – Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Paul Robinson – Lead Guitar
Jim Boggio – Jazz Accordion & Piano
Alex Baum – String Bass
Stevie Blacke – Lead Mandolin & Fiddle
Bob Scott – Drums ("after-the-fact 'sweetening'")

The Tunes
Up! Up! Up!
Shootin' Straight
Hell, I'd go!
Bottoms Up!
Texas Kinda Attitude
Willie
Savin' My Lovin'
13-D
Barstool Boogie
A Magician
Who Are You?
Level With Me Laurie
The Rounder
$100,000