Marquee Magazine » Monica Banks
Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band Lays down a big pre-war blues sound with tradition
:: Bluebird Theater :: January 4 :: Fox Theatre :: January 5 ::
By Monica Banks
It seems that everything these days is getting smaller, but Reverend Peyton and the Big Damn Band are keeping it large. The Reverend plays with his wife, Washboard Breezy, and his younger brother Jayme on the drums. The trio has been touring the nation and even Europe, keeping pre-war blues alive.
The Reverend is inspired by everyday people, such as Peyton’s father. “[Our music] is about people like my dad, who work their whole lives and don’t have much to show for it,” Peyton said in a recent interview with The Marquee. Peyton’s father was a concrete man and has been the inspiration for several songs, including “Mud” on Big Damn Nation, a song about the construction industry, or “My Old Man Boogie,” a song about the Reverend’s father dancing drunk at a live show.
Marquee Tags: Monica Banks, Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band
No comments
John Butler Trio reaps success and sows seeds of consciousness for the world
:: John Butler Trio :: Ogden Theatre :: November 23 and 24 ::
By Monica Banks
“Yes, I one hundred percent believe music can change the world,” John Butler said. And that is exactly what he and the trio that bears his name are trying to do with refreshing sincerity.
Butler began playing the guitar when he was 16 and by the time he turned 21 showed enough discipline and promise to inherit his grandfather’s 1930s Dobro. Armed with his family’s confidence, he developed an obsession with the guitar. “I always loved songwriting, but it wasn’t until I saw (Australian singer/songwriter) Jeff Lang and (Scottish musician) Tony McManus that I realized what I wanted to do,” Butler said in a recent interview with The Marquee from his Australian home. He began by busking as a street musician at the Fremantle markets in Australia and his performances soon inspired a popular demand to record.
Continue — Read more »
No comments
Wakarusa still growing like a giant weed
By Monica Banks
wakarusa.com
June 7-10
Lawrence, Kansas
Wakarusa is a Native American term meaning “ass-deep,” somewhat unfitting seeing that this festival puts any patron way over their head in music. The Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival is a four-day party in the heart of the Midwest.
Marquee Tags: Festival Guide, WakarusaNo comments
High Sierra awash with Colorado artists
By Monica Banks
highsierramusic.com
July 5-8
Quincy, Calif.
High Sierra began in 1991 with one stage and 20 artists. This grassroots festival has now grown to five stages with over 75 artists. This summer’s promising line-up features the much anticipated Leftover Salmon reunion, along with other hometown acts such as Yonder Mountain String Band, Zilla, Great American Taxi and Phix.
Marquee Tags: Great American Taxi, Leftover Salmon, Phix, Yonder Mountain String BandNo comments
Seepeoples spotlight “the Horror” of today with Apocalypse Cow, Vol. 1
:: SeepeopleS :: Dulcinea’s 100th Monkey :: April 13 ::
:: Finnegan’s Wake :: April 14 ::
By Monica Banks
As far as the eye can see, these peeps are rocking. There is no one word to describe the sound of Massachusetts-spawned SeepeopleS, but its members say they are all about the rock. “We’re definitely a rock band,” said front man Will Bradford in a recent interview with The Marquee.
Each member adds their own flavor. Bradford is a reggae man, while the drummer swears by Zappa and the other two graduated from Berklee College of Music. With influences ranging from Radiohead, The Beta Band, Wilco and more, SeepeopleS has a resulting eclectic sound, firmly planted in rock but ready, willing and able to go beyond that foundation.
Marquee Tags: Apocalypse Cow Vol. 1, Cosmic Dilemma, SeepeopleS, Will BradfordNo comments
Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies staying on the road and hopefully out of jail
:: Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies :: Bender’s Tavern :: March 21 ::
By Monica Banks
Most people use the highway as a means to an end, but Bob Wayne can comfortably call it home. For two years, Wayne has been living on a John Deer bus and ignoring speed limit signs across the country. While Wayne usually tells his story through his songs, he recently took the time to explain a few things to The Marquee in normal words.
Wayne began his music career at the bottom. He started out as a roadie for his friends’ band Zeke. From there, he perfected his roadie talents and went to work for Hank Williams III. One day, Wayne was playing a guitar around the trailer and then things took off. He was told that within a year he would be on stage. “I didn’t really believe it at first,” he said.
Marquee Tags: Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies, Hank Williams III, Johnny Cash, NashvilleNo comments
Glen Phillips steps away from his early fame and into a new comfort zone
:: Glen Phillips :: Soiled Dove Underground :: February 13 ::
By Monica Banks
Phillips is inspired by other musicians and is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to improve or try something different. Last summer he was able to again tap into the muse he shared with his old companions in Toad, as they toured around the country playing 36 shows. However, for Phillips, this tour did not mark a re-launch of his Toad career.
Marquee Tags: Glen Phillips, Mr. Lemons, Mutual Admiration Society, Toad the Wet SprocketNo comments
The Ethereal Plane takes on late-night Nedfest show, looks to studio
:: Ethereal Plane :: NedFest late-night @ Black Forest :: Friday, Aug. 25 ::
By Monica Banks
The Ethereal Plane has brought their funk-rock across the country several times over and now they’re back home again. As the summer season comes to a close the band will be bringing their sonic harmonics to the Nederland Music and Arts Festival along with Dr. John, the Motet, New Monsoon, Great American Taxi, ALO and many more.
The Ethereal Plane has appeared at the festival before, and this year they again have the honor of playing a late-night show at the Black Forest Inn, in Nederland. “It’s the with-no-end-in-sight late night show, where people really get down and party,” said lead guitarist and founder Patrick Latella, in a recent interview with The Marquee. “It’s a great energy to connect with.”
Marquee Tags: Dr. John, Nedfest, Patrick Latella, The Ethereal PlaneNo comments
CD Reviews - August - 2006
Rose Hill Drive peels out off the starting line with a classic, self-titled debut release
Rose Hill Drive - Rose Hill Drive
Megaforce/SCI Fidelity
4 out of 5
Rose Hill Drive’s debut full-length release is like the Oreo cookie of rock and roll albums. It’s got a hard, crunchy rocking outside, with a soft and chewy acoustic inside.
No tag for this post. No commentsRusted Root refocuses after years in relative obscurity and solo projects
:: Rusted Root ::
:: Mishawaka Amphitheatre :: July 7 ::
:: Gothic Theatre :: July 8 ::
:: Fox Theatre :: July 18 ::
By Monica Banks
In the early 1990s Rusted Root exploded into the music world with a neo-hippie vibe and a blend of rock and world music that few had seen before, at least in such a mainstream realm.
Snatching up hits and critical acclaim with songs like “Send Me on My Way,” “Ecstasy” and “Rain,” the band’s second album, 1994’s When I Woke went platinum and there was barely a dormroom in America that didn’t have at least one copy of the album in its collection.
Marquee Tags: Grateful Dead, Liz Berlin, Michael Glabicki, Rusted Root, Rusted Root LiveNo comments
Mon Frere cuts loose with cruel and cartoonish Blood Sweat & Swords
:: Mon Frere :: The Cellar :: June 4 ::
By Monica Banks
Don’t let the fam-friendly name fool you. While the band takes the name Mon Frere, which is the French translation of ‘my brother,’ they also take rock to a new level of death-pop.
“It’s Mon Frere in the most Americanized way,” said guitarist Kyle Swisher in an interview with The Marquee.
Marquee Tags: Blood Sweat & Swords, Kyle Swisher, Mon Frere, Smashing PumpkinsNo comments
CD Reviews - June - 2006
Public Enemy release ‘the most important’ hip-hop album of the year in response to Katrina
Public Enemy featuring Paris
Rebirth of a Nation
Guerrilla Funk Recordings
3.5 out of 5
There’s no denying the fact that over the ages disasters of all kinds have motivated those of an artistic bent to make some astounding art and music in response. In many ways, for good or bad, our entire history is documented through the eyes of those who are inspired, or in some cases enraged enough by an event to create a lasting emotional footnote. That’s the case with Rebirth of a Nation, the new album spearheaded by rap ambassadors Public Enemy and political activist/rapper Paris.
Marquee Tags: Frank Black, Gram Parsons, Jake Schepps, Moistboyz, Paperclip, Public Enemy, Yonder Mountain String BandNo comments