THE HOOTEN HALLERS
Columbia, Missouri trio The Hooten Hallers are a high-energy blues, rock, and soul band known for hard-traveling and wild live shows, with a seemingly endless tour schedule. The myriad of influences in their music range from pre-war blues to rock’n’roll to honky tonk and a hint of jazz, with a thematic penchant for the strange and the unexplained. In the same vein, the Hooten Hallers’ music isn’t quite Americana and it’s not quite punk, but a bit of both, fused together in a drunken tangle. Their live shows take the listener on a seamless ride from unapologetically raucous blues on the lap steel and bass sax, to a sweet three part harmony country ballad, to a romping dance number.
The Hooten Hallers’ new self-titled album, out April 21, 2017 on Big Muddy Records, is the culmination of their experiences from 10 years of performing and traveling together. They’ve injected the album with the stories and characters they’ve been meeting on the road all this time. Produced by Johnny Walker (Soledad Brothers, All Seeing Eyes) and Kristo Baricevic (Big Muddy Records), the Hooten Hallers’ latest effort showcases their evolution as musicians and songwriters. It garnered attention by Noisey – “This album rules”; Rock’N’Reel (UK) – “This is a band that really understands and exudes the history of rock and roll”; Impose Magazine – “another stunner of a music collection”; New Releases Now – “one of the most dynamic live shows around”; AXS – “This album is sheer madness in the best way”; Ground Sounds – “gritty, groovy, and bluesy”; No Depression – “evokes images of Tom Waits tending to a trotline at Lake of the Ozarks”, amongst others.
John Randall’s demonically-tinged vocals and blues-inspired, manic guitar, and Andy Rehm’s screaming falsetto vocals and steady, pounding drum beat keep the band focused on their unique blend of deep blues and country punk. Kellie Everett brings the power with the deep rumble of her baritone and bass saxophones. When The Hooten Hallers come to town, you know it’s gonna be a party!
SIDERUNNERS
Veterans of the Chicago punk music scene, these musicians seamlessly cross genres. To see the Siderunners live is a lesson in grit, determination, and above all stamina. With a healthy respect for tradition, this unconventional lineup remembers what was best about music, and the kind of music that has endured over the years.
WILLY TEA TAYLOR
There is no question that Willy Tea Taylor’s life as a singer/songwriter was predetermined – his role realized the moment he wrote his first song. His inspirations drawn from two separate wells; Living the life of a cattleman’s kid and experiencing true visionaries music like Greg Brown, John Hartford, and Guy Clark. The image of Guy Clark and friends sitting around the kitchen table loaded with ashtrays full of butts, half-smoked cigarettes, food, and booze on one Christmas Eve in 1975 burned into Taylor’s soul. Those guys, swapping songs without pretense, lit Willy Tea’s fire. And ever since, its led purpose with passion – finding a hang by curating relationships through musical friendships that get him closer to his own Clark style kitchen table.
From his early days co-fronting The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, to singing solo in countless cowboy bars, to pitching countless wiffle ball games, Willy Tea has never lost the vision. Now Willy Tea Taylor has taken his vision of the “hero hang” on the road. and his talented traveling band The Fellership is made up of his fantastically talented buds who play Willy’s songs with a brand of reckless abandon and utter humility that spits in the face of pretense. The way The Fellership plays Will’s songs is the way they demand to be played and, in their short time together, they have been awe-ing every audience lucky enough to see them.
THE GREAT WESTERN HANGOVER
The ten-song LP features a sample-size blend of Willy’s musical influences like Tom Petty-esque rock anthems, riders of the storm rattling westerns, and bait’n tackle choir chants, while delivering the masterful songwriting that Taylor’s cult of underground folk followers devour. The Great Western Hangover features other talents like Anna Tivel, Jeffrey Martin, The Rainbow Girls, and members of Fruition, and TK & the Holy Know-Nothings.
Recorded live in a two-and-a-half day session at Our Lady of Perpetual Heat Recording Studio & Spa just outside of Portland, The Great Western Hangover showcases many sides of Willy Tea Taylor’s musical mind and songwriting prowess. Willy Tea Taylor has dedicated his life to constantly crafting the ultimate “hero hang” as an eternal seeker of Guy Clark’s kitchen table. Gathering folks betrothed to music, who ride the wave of the unknown, and strive to experience full-hearted gratitude amidst the chaotic modern world is what built the foundation The Fellership stands upon.
Some might think of it as an expanded supergroup, but in the form of Taylor’s band, The Fellership amplifies good times, supports wandering souls, and acts as defenders of a well-crafted song. Though a constantly shifting outfit, this Fellership iteration pressed in wax features Taylor Kingman (TK & The Holy Know-Nothings), Tyler Thompson (Fruition, TK & The Holy Know-Nothings), Kris Stuart (Wanderlodge, Root Jack), Dylan Nicholson (The Turkey Buzzards), and Eric Patterson (The Turkey Buzzards).
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