Black Keys SALE ending, Fat White Family join FP, tour dates, videos, more

BLACK KEYS SALE ENDING 6/1 RUBBER FACTORY, THICKFREAKNESS, CHULAHOMA CDs AND LPs for only $10      grab 'em on FATPOSSUM.COM    Click the pic to see them on Colbert: FAT WHITE FAMILY SIGN TO FAT POSSUM Sharp as knives, thick as thieves, completely moral when it counts, completely immoral when it doesn’t. They’re the best young rock band in the world. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

THE DISTRICTS // S/T NEW VIDEO FOR "ROCKING CHAIR," CLICK PIC: ON TOUR: May 31 - Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY Jun 5 - Cain’s Ballroom - Tulsa, OK Jun 7 - The Blue Note - Columbia, MO w/ Dr. Dog Jun 8 - Vogue Theatre - Indianapolis, IN w/ Dr. Dog Jun 10 - Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Dr. Dog Jun 11 - Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC w/ Dr. Dog Jun 21 - Make Music Philly Jul 8 - Ottawa Bluesfest - Ottawa Jul 18 - Forecastle Fest - Louisville, KY Jul 25 - Camden Waterfront - Camden, NJ Jul 27 - Susquehanna Bank Center XPN Fest - Camden, NJ Aug 2 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL Aug 6 - OYA Fest - Norway Aug 7 - Haldern Pop Festival - Haldern, Germany Aug 8-10 - Outside Lands Festival - San Francisco, CA Aug 15-17 - MusicFest NW - Portland, OR Aug 22 - Reading Festival - Reading Aug 23 - Leeds Festival - Leeds Aug 29 - End of The Road Festival - Dorset Aug 31 - Electric Picnic Festival - Stradbally Sep 6-7 - Loufest - St. Louis, MO Oct 3 - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX   BUY THE CD/LP/MP3s FROM FATPOSSUM.COM BUY THE EP FROM iTUNES BUY THE EP FROM AMAZON BUY THE EP FROM INSOUND   FRENCH FOR RABBITS  DEBUT NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE 7” OUT TODAY ON LEFSE. “GOAT” / “THE OTHER SIDE” TOUR DATES: May 28 – Voliere - Lucerne, Switzerland  May 29 – Badeschiff - Vienna, Austria  May 30 – Klub Mocvara - Zagreb, Croatia  June 5 – De Peissnitzhaus - Halle, Germany  June 7 – Habrovka - Prague, Czech Republic    Pick up the limited release at lefserecords.com.

TOUR DATES TEMPLES // Sun Structures BUY THE ALBUM FROM FATPOSSUM.COM TOUR: August 1 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza August 2 – Toronto, Canada - Lee’s Place August 3 - Montreal, Canada - Osheaga August 6 - Philadelphia, PA - Morgan’s Pier August 7 - New York, NY - Pier 84 August 8 - Ashbury Park - Ashbury Lanes   MUTUAL BENEFIT // Love's Crushing Diamond BUY THE ALBUM FROM FATPOSSUM.COM TOUR DATES: June 14 - Dogfish Head Brewery - Rehoboth Beach, DE June 16 - Waterstreet Music Hall  - Rochester, NY June 17 - Casbah  - Hamilton, ON June 19 - Iron Works - Buffalo, NY June 21 - Iron Music Hall (Late Show)  - Northhampton, MA June 22 - Columbus Theatre  - Providence, RI July 10 - Pier 84 (w/ Wild Beasts) - New York, NY July 11 - Union Transfer (w/ Wild Beasts) - Philadelphia, PA July 12 - 9:30 Club (w/ Wild Beasts) - Washington, DC July 14 - The Sinclair (w/ Wild Beasts) - Cambridge, MA July 15 - Corona Theatre (w/ Wild Beasts) - Montreal, QU July 20 - Pitchfork Music Festival  - Chicago, IL August 7 - Oya Nights - Cafe Mono - Oslo, Norway August 8 - Way Out West - Stay Out West - Gothenburg, Sweden August 10 - Wilderness Festival - Main Stage     - Charlbury, UK August 15 - Jabberwocky Festival - London, UK August 16 - Greenman Festival - Walled Garden Stage - Brecon Beacons, UK August 17 - Proud Cabaret - Brighton, UK September 4 - Hopscotch Festival - Raleigh, NC September 28 - Pygmalion Music Festival - Champaign-Urbana, IL NEW VIDEO FOR "LET'S PLAY" / STATUE OF A MAN: PURE X // Angel BUY THE ALBUM FROM FATPOSSUM.COM TOUR DATES: June 24- Last Exit Live - Phoenix, AZ June 25 - The Hideout - San Diego, CA June 26 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA June 28 - Brick & Mortar Music Hall - San Francisco, CA July 1 - Bunk Bar - Portland, OR July 2 - The Media Club - Vancouver, BC July 3 - Barboza - Seattle, WA JIMBO MATHUS // Dark Night of the Soul BUY THE ALBUM FROM FATPOSSUM.COM NEW TOUR DATES: June 18 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ June 19 - The Raven - Prescott, AZ June 20 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA June 21 - AMSDconcerts - San Diego, CA June 22 - SLO Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA June 23 - Fulton 55 - Fresno, CA June 25 - Hotel Utah Saloon - San Francisco, CA June 26 - The Crepe Place - Santa Cruz, CA June 27 - Peppermill Resort Spa Casino - Reno, NV June 28 - Peppermill Resort Spa Casino - Reno, NV July 10 - The Hopkins Center - Hanover, NH w/ Andrew Bird July 11 - The Klein - Bridgeport, CT w/ Andrew Bird July 12 - Lowell Summer Music Series - Lowell, MA w/ Andrew Bird August 30 - High Country Beer Fest - Boone, NC

Roots guitar guru performs at Relix office in NYC!

NEW DAMON FOWLER VIDEO - "TROUBLE" Stripped-down Performance At Relix's NYC Office Last winter when Damon Fowler and his band stopped by the New York City office of roots music magazine Relix for an interview, they also regaled the publication's staff with an acoustic performance of "Trouble," a track from their lastest Blind Pig release entitled Sounds of Home.  Damon co-wrote the original composition with album producer Tab Benoit and Ed Wright.   Relix just released the video, posting in on their website and featuring it in their weekly newsletter.  Accompanied by Chuck Riley on bass and James "Country" McKnight on percussion, Damon movingly demonstrates the musical qualities the magazine praised in its album review: "On Sounds of Home, he showcases his tasty lead work and subtle, soulful singing."  To watch the video, please click HERE. For more info on the CD, please click HERE.

Folkish Festival@Marin Country Mart Presents.. Jeffrey Halford & The Healers

FOLKISH FESTIVAL PRESENTS...A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE BY JEFFREY HALFORD & THE HEALERS At The Marin Country Mart - Sunday, June 8, 12:30-2:30 p.m.        (LARKSPUR, CA) - Acclaimed roots-rock/Americana artist Jeffrey Halford & The Healers perform a special acoustic show (with special guests) at the Folkish Festival Kickoff, taking place at the Marin County Mart, Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, Sunday, June 8. 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Info: www.marincountrymart.com/. The Folkish Festival in the past has included such notable musicians as Ramblin' Jack Elliot (who performed there last year).    Jeffrey Halford and the Healers have just released their long-awaited new album Rainmaker (Shoeless Records). "This album is greasy organic with tube amplifier screaming under a low hum shag carpet, with the walls shakin' behind the words falling down the plaster," states Halford.    Halford is one of the premier purveyors of rootsy, bluesy rock ‘n roll (Americana), with a pop sensibility. RAINMAKER is Halford's seventh full-length album release and is the follow-up to 2008's critically- acclaimed Broken Chord  (which climbed to #7 on the Americana charts in the USA and Europe). On RAINMAKER Jeffrey demonstrates that both he and the band have aged like a fine Northern California wine. The recording showcases the best of Halford’s songwriting and his distinctive guitar, complimented by the crafted rumble of his band.    Long admired as a singer-songwriter-guitarist, Jeffrey Halford shows a new sensitivity on RAINMAKER. There are multi-dimensional character sketches and storytelling revealing the deep urgency of love, heretofore a new territory for Halford. With songwriting that nods as much towards Sam Shephard and Jack Kerouac as it does to the usual songwriting gods, RAINMAKER captures the multi-faceted soul of America past, present, and maybe future as well. This album is a redemptive journey that just happens to be a collection of songs.     RAINMAKER is complemented by an array of notable guest artists, including Bruce Kaphan (Talking Heads, Sheryl Crow, Black Crowes) on guitar and steel, who also co-produced the album. There's a gospel infusion via Pam Delgado and Jeri Jones (Blame Sally), plus noted drummer Trey Sabatelli (Jefferson Starship, The Tubes, Todd Rundgren), and Tom Heyman ({Alejandro Escovedo) on guitar. “This is great rootsy rock music. Halford’s slide playing is raucous, raw and foreboding. His poetry transcends the run-of-the-mill lyrics.”                             NO DEPRESSION “...Halford’s storytelling talents are obvious, almost a Hemingway armed with a blues guitar.”    DIRTY LINEN   JEFFREY HALFORD & THE HEALERS - LIVE SHOWS ITINERARY   June 8 (Sun.)             FOLKISH FESTIVAL               Larkspur, CA June 20 (Fri.)        CREEKSIDE MUSIC SERIES     Mill Valley, CA June 27 (Fri.)        ARMANDO'S                        Martinez, CA July 10 (Thur.)      KRUSH CONCERT SERIES      Santa Rosa,CA July 26 (Sat.)        CLAREMONT HOTEL             Berkeley, CA Aug. 10 (Sat.)      SONOMA COUNTY FAIR        Sonoma,CA                                       www.jeffreyhalford.com                          https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.w.halford?fref=ts

Delta Groove Music artist: Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Livin' It Up - New release Review

I just received the newest release (June 17, 2014), Livin' It Up, from Andy T - Nick Nixon Band and it really hits the spot. Opening with Baby Right Now, a cool 12 bar number highlights Nick Nixon on vocals and Andy T with some sweet guitar riffs. On Best In Town, a Jimmy Reed like tune, Christian Dozzler steps in with a cool harp solo and Larry Van Loon provides solid piano work in support of Nick and Andy. Delbert McClinton's Livin' It Down, a light Latin twist give this track just the right amount of spice. Bassist Sam Persons adds rhythm guitar on this track and Ron Jones beefs things up a bit on sax. Jim Klinger keep a tight rhythm on drums and Nixon really does a nice job on the vocals on this track. T - Bone Walker's, My Baby Is Now On My Mind, gives Andy a really nice format to play some tasty T-Bone inspired riffs. Dossler takes the piano role on this track pushing Andy just enough to get him swinging. Very nice! Good Man is a deep Texas blues and Andy is diggin in from the first note playing some of the bluest guitar riffs on the release. Nixon has great voice and complimented by Van loon on piano, this track is perfect for highlighting his style. Excellent! One Note Shuffle is a great romp featuring Dana Robbins on sax and Van loon on B3. Andy steps up laying down some really nice riffs for a really cool, easy going instrumental. Back Down South is a low slung blues number with hot vocals from Nixon and stinging guitar riffs from Andy. Ron Jones adds a roundness to the overall track as well as a cool solo with his solid sax work. Boogie rocker, Last To Leave, features Dozzler on slick piano riffs, some hot horn work from Robbins and Andy lays down some tasty guitar riffs supporting Nixon with his powerful vocals. On Let's Say It's For Good, an easy swing track, Van Loon and Andy each lay down some really nice licks. Snake In The Grass has a funky beat and Nixon gets right in the groove. Van Loon on B3 does a really nice job and Andy plays more slashing style riffs on rhythm guitar before laying out a cool funky guitar solo grabbing it up tight. Spiritually infused, Whatever You Had You Ain't Got It No More is a really cool track and not only are Nixons vocals powerful, I really like the effects created by Jones on sax. Andy stands tall with his guitar followed by a really cool sax solo from Robbins. On R&B track, Oh Baby, the band is steppin high and Andy gets right on the top with pure style. This track is particularly well suited for Nixon's vocal style. Robbins puts up a full sax solo adding to the muster on this track. Wrapping the track is Love At First Sight, a soul style ballad, featuring heartfelt vocals by Nixon, gospel style piano work from Van loon and nice sax soloing from Dana Robbins. This is a solid release which is quite soothing.

Walter Trout June 10 Event in NYC / Walter Recovering From Surgery

MASCOT LABEL GROUP AND IRIDIUM ANNOUNCE EVENING IN

CELEBRATION OF WALTER TROUT ON JUNE 10TH

Documentary The Blues Came Callin' - The Walter Trout Story Will Be Premiered

Followed by Performances from Special Guests Joe Louis Walker, Jon Paris and

Jim Weider Joining House Band Assembled By Elmore's Arnie Goodman

Featuring Rocky Athas, Scott Holt, and Jeff Simon

TROUT UNDERGOES SURGERY FOR LIVER TRANSPLANT MAY 26

New York --- Legendary New York venue Iridium in association with Mascot Label Group have announced a special evening planned to celebrate Walter Trout on June 10.  Trout's THE BLUES CAME CALLIN' will be released that morning by Provogue / Mascot Label Group.  The accompanying documentary The Blues Came Callin' - THE WALTER TROUT STORY will be premiered at the venue, followed by performances of Trout repertoire by esteemed, special guests Joe Louis Walker, Jon Paris and Jim Weider joining a house band assembled by Elmore's Arnie Goodman featuring Rocky Athas (John Mayall), Scott Holt (Buddy Guy) and original member of George Thorogood and The Destroyers Jeff Simon.  There are two sittings planned for 8:00PM and 10:30PM, with a door charge of $25.00.  Tickets can be purchased here: http://theiridium.com/events/2296/walter-trout/

For this special evening, Rocky Athas, Scott Holt and Jeff Simon all are appearing to support Trout as he recuperates at the Nebraska Medical Center following a long-awaited liver transplant.  On May 26, the donor came through, and Trout is now recuperating from surgery.  Scott Holt shares, "I've respected and admired Walter's playing since his days with John Mayall.  He's an incredible, fiery guitarist, a great entertainer and a tremendous talent."  Jan Paris offers, "Walter Trout's heartfelt tribute to the late-great Luther Allison is just one example of Trout's musical virtuosity.  Wishing Walter a fast and full recovery, so he can get back to doing what he does so well, play The Blues."  Rocky Athas adds, "Not just a great musician...but a man of real character"  The emcee for the evening will be Brian Cadey, a veteran radio correspondent with a rich history in the Blues from tenures at CBS Radio and BMP's House of Blues Radio.

Walter Trout's THE BLUES CAME CALLIN' captured Trout looking back at an almost 50-year commitment to playing and singing the blues.  The album was recorded throughout 2013, and the songs reflect Walter's thoughts about mortality and his renewed appreciation for being alive.  Amongst the twelve new songs, ten are originals.  One is written by John Mayall for the occasion, and the other is a J.B. Lenoir cover. Trout searches his soul on this album and lays it bare allowing the celebration of his career to be infused with new appreciation for life.  THE BLUES CAME CALLIN'  was produced by Walter Trout and Eric Corne.  An EPK can be screened here (with an embedded link provided below): http://youtu.be/btiS6ijncMk.

The upcoming official biography Rescued From Reality - The Life and Times of Walter Trout is co-written with British music journalist, Henry Yates.  The manuscript will be released simultaneously with the new album. The book features previously untold stories, and is packed with rare photographs from the musician's personal archive. It documents an initially blissful childhood, shattered by divorce, abuse, and violence.  As the story unfolds, it leads us through Walter’s life of heartache, poverty, living on the street and being “the only white guy” struggling in famous blues bands in LA in the late 1970’s.  Walter reflects on his time in the 1980’s when nobody cared to hear the blues, to being “discovered” and having long-time gigs as a hard-playing and hard-drinking and drugging globetrotting sideman with Canned Heat and John Mayall.  The book chronicles how Walter eventually became drug-free, broke out on his own and embarked on a solo career in 1989.

Trout recently offered, "To play my music for people has become even more important to me.  When I think about looking out into the crowds of people and connecting with everyone on a soul level, and sharing the experience of music with them, this is what keeps me fighting to get back: My family and my music is my lifeline.  These days, it means more to me than ever before."

Live at Exit/In - Out Now

LIVE AT EXIT/IN - OUT NOW Today is the day. Live at Exit/In, our new album recorded over two sold-out nights at Nashville's historic Exit/In is now available! Buy it on iTunes, stream it on Spotify, or grab a physical CD at a show or on the online store. Enjoy it and spread the good word! Much love - The Delta Saints

Black Hen Music artist: Colleen Rennison - See The Sky About To Rain - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (June 17, 2014), See The Sky About To Rain, from Colleen Rennison. Opening with Robbie Robertson's All La Glory, Rennison comes straight at you with a crystal clear voice backed by a great horn section, Jim Hoke (sax), Steve Herrman (trumpet) and Bill Huber trombone). Super guitar man Steve Dawson rips a cool guitar solo on this track adding a pinch of hot sauce. Townes Van Zandt's White Freightliner is up next with a real bluegrass feel. Rennison's voice is perfect for this type of travel and Dawson on resonator is joined by Tim O'Brien who really knows how to punch it up with fiddle and banjo. Whiskey, Whiskey has a classic 50's country ballad style and shows a richness in Dennison's vocal styling and execution. Daswon lays down some clean slide work and Darryl Havers adds some key organ work. Geoff Hicks (drums) and Jeremy Holmes (bass) play it straight and Sarah Dugas does a nice job on backing vocals. Oleander has a warm spiritual feel and of course has the McCrary sisters as backup singers. Cool. Leonard Cohen's Why Don't You Try is up next done gently in show fashion featuring some of the nicest acoustic slide work on the release. Bobby Gentry track Fancy, is next and it actually preserves a lot of the sass originally delivered by Gentry. Tom Russell's Blue Wing is really a nice song to feature the best of Rennison's voice. Dawson even adds some pedal steel on this track giving it more of a country ballad feel. Another Robbie Robertson composition, Stage Fright, gets a modest makeover with the addition of horns. Joni Mitchell's Coyote brings out yet some other features in Rennison's voice which seemed unique to Mitchell. Primarily using Mitchell's phrasing but with a slight country twist in her voice, this is a pleasant track with some particularly cool atmospheric sounds produced by Dawson on the pedal steel guitar. Billy Cowsill's The Fool Is The Last One To Know, done straight down the country highway is possibly my favorite entry on the release. Dawson takes the steel deep in country style and Havers definitely gets the country roll on piano. Booker T. Jones' My Crew stays with the pure country feel and is a soothing track with the McCrary sisters adding an additional dimension. Wrapping the release is the title track, Neil Young's See The Sky About To Rain. A good solid track to hit the airwaves, Dennison is smooth in every way and Dawson pulls out a number of stringed textures to well compliment the track.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

This track is not from the release but does give the reader a good impression of the artist's work.

David Michael Miller - Poisons Sipped - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Poisons Sipped, from David Michael Miller and it's terrific! Opening with Hand Me Downs, a slide guitar boogie with great vocals, Miller cuts a swath that will be hard to follow. With a romping pace and a gritty feel, this track has screaming lap steel slide work by Darick Campbell and backing vocals by Serena Young and Jasmine Neeley as well as driving bass by Daric Bennett and drums by Carlton Campbell. Great start. Edge Of The End Of The World is a pop track with a real nice feel. Miller really does have a cool voice and backing by Young and Neeley add substantially. Jim Ehinger lays out some nice key strokes on this track and Barry Arbogast contributes a cool sax attack. Memphis Belle is a deep track with a real grip. Miller has a great feel for blues vocals and phrasing like you rarely hear in contemporary blues bands. Chuck Campbell really adds nicely with crying pedal steel riffs and Young, Neeley and Ashley Brown are perfectly placed with vocal backing. Excellent! Hope Finds A Way has a cool R&B jazz feel with nicely blended vocals by DM Miller and Jesse Miller and horns by Barry Arbogast and Stephen Jacob McClean Jr. Miller also steps up with a really bluesy guitar solo on this track that will make you sit up and take notice.  Moonshine is a terrific R&B track and Miller's voice really shines. Jason Moynihan adds some sexy sax on top of some slick guitar riffs by DM Miller. Top notch radio track. Spent opens with guitar open into a saturated tube amp.... perfect. With it's funky beat and Chuck Campbell on pedal steel this track moves! Arbogast and Mclean Jr and back on horns and Young, Neeley and Brown on backing vocal but it's the screaming pedal steel that takes this track over the top. Excellent! Carolina Bound demonstrates just how good a song writer Miller is with a beautiful melody, perfectly phrased vocals and excellent lap steel work by Derick Campbell. Careless is a very nicely composed acoustic ballad featuring primarily Miller on vocal and guitar with Ron Davis on accordion. Diggin On Bill is a really cool track with a funky jazz feel. With softly sung and well articulated vocals, Miller is surrounded by well woven instrumentation by Campbell, Bennett, Arbogast, Ehinger and Mclean Jr. Slick guitar riffs by Miller on this track are a nice highlight but this is a very strong track and one of the nicest tracks on the release. Once has a real move to it and makes it difficult not to be dancing in your seat (if not on your feet). The groove factor on this track is really nice and guitar driven with horn backing. Jesse Miller slips in there with some slick organ/piano work adding nicely to the mix. Excellent! Did I mention that this is a cool vocal track... yeah... get the funk out! Movin' On has an unusual time signature adding to the natural tension of the track. Jesse Miller pushes up dynamics of the track with organ and Campbell does a really nice job on drums but I keep coming back to the excellent vocals on this release overall and occasional but hot stinging guitar riffs over the rhythm that are so nicely added. Wrapping the release is Extraordinary, is a great name for this track. How often do you listen to something and think, this reminds me of an early Stevie Wonder composition. This could easily be a SW track from the 70's with it's beautiful melody, orchestration and feeling. I really think that this is a terrific release and one that demands a lot of attention. Miller is an excellent writer/composer/arranger and this guy can sing! Only a natural disaster can hold this guy down. If you only buy one CD this year... this would not be a bad choice!  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

. . . Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

	RAFFLE ENDS SATURDAY MAY 24, 2014  Our raffle for an Epiphone Jack Casady Signature Bass ends this weekend.  Get your tickets now . . . tickets will be available online until 5PM Saturday May 24, 2014.  The drawing will be held on the Fur Peace Station stage before David Lindley begins his second set. Epiphone Guitars, the Athens Area Citizens for the Arts and Fur Peace Ranch are teaming up to raffle off one of the finest instruments to ever feature a "superb balanced electric tone and the response of an acoustic bass" - Epiphone's Jack Casady Signature Bass Guitar, signed by Jack.   Jack with bass at signing event in Psylodelic Gallery The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee worked closely with Epiphone's luthiers, designing an instrument that could fulfill his dream. The hollow, maple body features a single Humbucker pickup that really "packs a wallop," with classic machine heads, and a metallic gold and ebony finish. Casady's devotion to music and desire to encourage other players naturally lead to teaching bass guitar workshops at Fur Peace Ranch, the music-and-art wonderland of his lifelong friend and bandmate, Jorma Kaukonen. "He's been here since the beginning," said Fur Peace Ranch Director Vanessa Kaukonen. "When I decided what I wanted for a bass class, he was the first person I went to. He set the bar for what should be the curriculum." "He's not only one of my dearest friends, he's an integral part of the Fur Peace Ranch structure," she added. "He's one of the greatest living bass guitar players today. Nobody plays like him and that's a fact. Jack wrote the book on that style of playing." Kaukonen, who is also an AACA board member, said raffling off the guitar is a great way to bring in money for events like the upcoming Athens Jazz Festival, April 11-13. "The AACA shows the amount of money that the arts is bringing to this area. It's staggering if you break down the economic impact," said Kaukonen. "I wanted to be a part of that. I have access to a host of artists looking for ways to help organizations. There are people out there who are looking to give back." The drawing will be held Saturday, May 24, at 8 p.m. at Fur Peace Ranch, 39495 St. Clair Road, Pomeroy, Ohio 45769. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at www.furpeaceranch.com; www.athensareaarts.com; Blue Eagle Music, 40 N. Court St., Athens; ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., Athens; the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St.; or through AACA board members or Athens Municipal Arts Commission commissioners. Proceeds benefit the Athens Area Citizens for the Arts, a regional partner of the Ohio Citizens for the Arts.

"Denver's First Family of the Blues," Hornbuckle, Returns Home For 'Virtue & Vice' Tour

HORNBUCKLE, "DENVER'S FIRST FAMILY OF THE BLUES"

RETURNS HOME FOR 2-MONTH 'VIRTUE & VICE' TOUR

   (DENVER, CO) - Hornbuckle, "Denver's First Family of the Blues" recently celebrating 20 years together as a band, have come home. The brothers - guitarist/vocalist Michael Hornbuckle and brother, bassist/vocalist Brian Hornbuckle - kick off a two-month 'Virtue & Vice' tour of their home state with a show on Friday, May 23 at Dickens Opera House in Longmont (complete itinerary below). Virtue & Vice is the title of their recently-released album to critic's acclaim.

"Hornbuckle's sound is fresh and interesting...on Virtue & Vice these guys have managed to find a way to give the blues a mainstream, pop-driven sound, while at the same time staying true to their bluesy roots. The songs themselves are nothing short of excellent."       

                                     ROCK OVER AMERICA

"Not since ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughn has there been a band that could wind a mean bar room boogie and bring the blues home like the Hornbuckle Brothers. Michael & Brian Hornbuckle take their inherited skill and bring serious fire to the front house in Virtue & Vice, their latest, and what will probably be recognized as one of the best new independently produced albums of the year."

                                                  XOMBIEWOOF MAGAZINE

  In a recent interview Michael Hornbuckle was asked about the difference between the music scenes in Los Angeles (where he has recently settled) and Denver. "The difference is significant. You would think that the huge population and the incredible talent that is in L.A. would equate to packed clubs that pay well, but that is not necessarily the case. There are gems in L.A. where you can see world-class players performing for tips in a small bar.  L.A. is geared for production and that’s what most the serious cats do there. They play live for fun but the paying work is in a studio somewhere. Denver, on the other hand, is geared for live music. If you can play then you can gig.  We have the occasional breakout act, but mostly it’s about building a following and playing the rounds. The Metro Denver area is very spread out, so each city has its own crowd. It’s because of that that there is a circuit a band can do without burning out the area. Denver is not like, say Kansas City, where you are accessible to the whole MidWest to play clubs. Denver is far from any other major market so people here appreciate what they have and support their musicians."

     In discussing their new album, Brian Hornbuckle says, "On “Virtue and Vice” we try and cover a lot of ground; sixteen songs of memories, love, lust, protest and personal discovery. We really tried to infuse as many influences as possible while still keeping continuity from song to song. We did some reggae in “Complicated”, funk in “Slave to the Benjamins,” a Latin feel on “Moment In Time” and a 70’s rock feel in “Ride Away”. All of it injected with the blues since that is still the main language we speak musically."

HORNBUCKLE 'VIRTUE & VICE' TOUR - LIVE SHOWS & SPECIAL EVENTS

May 23 (Fri.)              DICKENS OPERA HOUSE               Longmont, CO

June 1 (Sun.)        ZIGGIES LIVE MUSIC                      Denver, CO

June 7 (Sat.)         ANGELO'S CD (IN-STORE GIG)      Denver, CO

June 14 (Sat.)           ZIGGIES LIVE MUSIC                                Denver, CO

June 27 (Fri.)        STARGAZERS THEATER                 Colorado Springs, CO

July 5 (Sat.)          THE ORIENTAL THEATER               Denver, CO

July 6 (Sun.)         ZIGGIES LIVE MUSIC                      Denver, CO

July 18 (Fri.)             ZOO BAR                                                        Lincoln, NB

July 19 (Sat.)        ZIGGIES LIVE MUSIC                      Denver, CO

July 23 (Wed.)      HERMAN'S HIDEAWAY                   Denver, CO  

July 26 (Sat.)        CONTINENTAL ROOM/LOUNGE     Denver, CO

                                www.hornbucklemusic.com

               https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hornbuckle

Rock Over America - CD Review

All Access Magazine - Interview

Xombiewoof - CD Review