www.CactusRock-Records.com
Ken Andree
Loren Dircks
Biography
Still
playing
with
first
offical
bandmate
and
co-founder
of
Gila
Bend,
James
Blackhall
(bass).
Gila
Bend
was
born
in
on
or
around
1987.
After
a
number
of
dufferent
attempts
to
find
willing
and
able
singers
and
drummers.
Loren
decided
to
fill
the
vacant
vocal
shoes
and
still
hold
down
lead
guitar
duties.
High
school
friend
Bart
Blue
took
over
on
drums
and
the
forging
of
the
country
metal
sound
began
immedialety.
One
of
the
band’s
first
song
“Cantankerous”
became
the
first
single
and
appeared
on
the
debut
CD
“Kim
Chee
Cowboy”
(Still
Sane).
“Cantangerous” became a defining song for the Gila Bend sound.
T
he drum throne was occupied by a number of musicians including Marx Loeb, Ralph
Gilmore
until
Tommy
Larkins
was
added
to
complete
the
Gila
Bend
sound.
Al
Perry
joined
after
the
recording
of
“Kim
Chee
Cowboy”
bringing
the
band
up
to
a
four
piece.
The
band’s
second
CD
“Nature
Burger”`(San
Jacinto)
was
released
in
1997.
Gila
Bend
gained
in
popularity
and
notoriety
over
the
years
including
the
honor
of
being
the
first
recipient
of
Tucson
Music
Awards
(TAMMIES)
for
“Best
Alternative
Band”.
The
band’s
music
was
featured
in
Robert
Loomi’s
film
“Dog
Years”
along
with
some
original
film
score
music
from
me
and
a
bizarre
banjo-heavy
version
of
“Ode
To
Joy”.
Gila
Bend
still
plays
periodically
and
are
rumored
to
have
a future project in the works.
I’m
also
a
member
of
Al
Perry’s
band,
filling
in
on
lead
guitar
duties
for
some
performances
and has playing on a number of Al’s records including 2009’s Three Track Sessions.
The
new
band
is
back
to
the
three
piece
roots
of
vintage
Gila
Bend
with
James
Blackhall
on
bass and Nick Augustine (former bass player for Rainer and Das Combo) on drums.
New
CD
“Killing
The
Magic”
is
coming
out
November,
26
2009
and
a
new
video
of
“Guitar
Hero
Gone”, directed by Jonathan Fedkiw, is due released the first week of December 2009.
I
stepped
back
into
songwriting
in
2006
and
has
written
about
a
hubdred
tunes
since.
The
next
CD
project
is
already
underway
with
a
host
of
guest
stars
lined
up
and
a
new
focus
on
taking
the
country
metal
sound
to
a
new
more
musical
level
while
preserving
the
hard
rocking
integrity
and
catchy
hooks.
I
also
working
on
some
film
music
projects
in
the
near
future
and
having
launched
the
“Oranguitwang
Record
Label”
last
November.
Is
preparing
to
produce
some projects for other artists in 2010.
Loren Dircks selbst umschreibt sich so: Singing, Songwriting und Tele-Slinger aus
Tucson/Arizona.
Loren Dircks mind self about his person: Singing, Songwriting und Tele-Slinger aus
Tucson/Arizona.
Biografie
Diskografie/Discography
2009: Loren Dircks “Killing The Magic” (Label: Oranguitwang; Mailorder: Cactus Rock
Records)
CHEEPNESS
Als
tonlos
(cheep=piepen;
piepsen)
kann
man
das
Erstlings-Werk
von
CHEEPNESS
nun
wahrhaftig
nicht
bezeichnen.
Ganz
im
Gegenteil:
Da
geht
es
rocktechnisch
mächtig
zur
Sache
und
da
wird
nicht
von
ungefähr
ein
kräftiges
Gitarrenbrett
gehobelt.
Den
Insidern
unter
Euch
dürften
mindestens
3
der
4
Bandmitglieder
nicht
ganz
unbekannt
sein.
Bewegen
wir
uns
als
CACTUS
ROCK
RECORDS
doch
auch
ganz
bewusst
im
musikalischen
Orbit
eines
RICH
HOPKINS
und
dem
der
Wüstenstadt
Tucson
in
Arizona.
Randy
McReynolds
und
Ernie
Mendoza
veredelten
zahlreich
Hopkins’sche
Alben
oder
waren
gar
mit
seinen
LUMINARIOS
hierzulande
auf
Tour.
Duane
Hollis
wiederum
kennen
wir
von
Greyhound
Soul
(die
2.
Konzerttour
ging
im
November
2008
hierzulande
über
die
Bühne).
Und
vielfach
fällt
sogar
der
Begriff
Supergroup,
wenn
sich
herausragende
Musiker
unterschiedlicher
Bands
zu
einer
neuen
zusammenschließen. CHEEPNESS jedenfalls werden diesem Attribut vollauf gerecht!
Biografie
Biography
IN
THE
BEGINNING:
Some
notorious
Tucson
rock
‘n
roll
animals
had
some
songs
that
needed
to
be
played.
These
were
songs
chomping
at
the
bit
to
be
blasted
to
an
unsuspecting
world
dying
for
heavy
action.
These
were
songs
to
let
you
make
it
through
the
crazy
nights
and
hazy
days.
All
these
tunes
needed
were
the
musicians
who
created
them
to
come
together
and
make
them
rock,
the
kind
of
rock
that
recalled
a
time
when
cranking
guitar
extravaganza
were
the
highest
order
of
the
day
and
rock
fans
were
damn
glad
of
it.
Connections
were
utilized,
favors
called
in,
wheels
turned,
and
phone
calls
made,
amplifiers
were
turned
up
and
so
it
began-the
seeds
of
CHEEPNESS
were
planted.
Two
years
later
the
harvest
of
killerness
known
as
"Shakin’
Hands
With
The
King"
was
sown
and
is
now
available
for
public
consumption.
LADIES
AND
GENTLEMEN:
CHEEPNESS!
If
you
stood
on
a
stage
and
looked
out
at
a
crowd
of
Tucson
musicians,
you’d
see
some
very
heavy
hitters
standing
there-the
Old
Pueblo
has
turned
out
some
mighty
players
over
the
years.
Among
that
crowd
would
be
members
of
Greyhound
Soul,
Sand
Rubies,
Creosote,
Looseleaf,
Rich
Hopkins
&
Luminarios,
Big
Bug
etc.
all
who
have
made
significant
marks
on
the
music
world
both
near
and
far,
and
all
now
the
men
we
call
CHEEPNESS.
If
you
tossed
four
beer
bottles
off
that
same
stage
and
decided
the
first
four
dudes
to
grab
them
would
be
CHEEPNESS,
you’d
be
out
four
beers,
but
you
couldn’t
get any finer players than the personnel that cause the havoc for this band.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND:
Randy
McReynolds
:
the
face
of
it
all
with
his
lead
vocals,
rhythm
and
slide
guitar
playing,
Randy
brings
life
to
the
party
with
silky/gritty
vocals
and
sinewy
chord
work.
He’s
the
man
who puts it all together.
Mike
Sydloski
:
If
Mike
didn’t
exist,
you’d
have
to
invent
him.
He
is
the
kind
of
guitar
hero
where
if
you
play
guitar
you’ll
wonder
why
you
bother
after
he
cranks
a
few
solos
in
your
face. He is the future of air guitar in bedrooms around the world.
Duane
Hollis
:
When
people
say
Duane
is
a
low
down,
dirty
mutha
they
are
talking
about
the
bottom
end
he
brings
to
the
CHEEPNESS
sound
with
his
muscular
bass
playing.
Really,
Duane
Hollis is a one man Friday night in Birmingham.
E.E.
Mendoza
:
One
of
those
rare
drummers
who
doesn’t
just
keep
time
but
owns
time
and
space with the history of the big beat emerging from his hands and feet.
Diskografie/Discography
2009: Cheepness “Shakin’ Hands With The King (Isabellene Records; Mailorder: Cactus Rock
Records)
Ken
Andree
-geboren
1962-
kommt
ursprünglich
aus
El
Paso/Texas-
und
ist
ebenfalls
ein
ganz
bezeichnendes
Beispiel
dafür,
was
aus
dem
Umfeld
des
“Godfather
Of
Desert
Rock”
RICH
HOPKINS
musikalisch
so
alles
hervorbricht.
Liegt
die
Veröffentlichung
seines
Albums
“Beatitude”
auch
schon
6
Jahre
zurück,
so
hat
es
an
Dynamik
und
Kraft
keineswegs
eingebüßt.
Ganz
im
Gegenteil!
Dieses
Solowerk
strotzt
nur
so
vor
Energie,
Leidenschaft
und
sorgfältig
struktuierten
Lyrics.
Ken
Andree
-selbst
ein
begnadeter
Sänger,
Bassist
und
Gitarrist-
gelang
es
für
seine
eigene
musikalische
Visitenkarte
weitere
Könner
ins
Studio
zu
holen.
An
erster
Stelle
seien
da
Jacob
Valenzuela
und
Martin
Wenk
-beides
ausgezeichnete
Bläser-
von
CALEXICO
genannt.
Aber
auch
ein
Adrian
Esparza
-Gitarrenvirtuose
aus
El
Paso/
Texas-
und
Ernie
E.
Mendoza
-Drummer”legende”
aus
Tucson/
Arizona-
bedürfen
hier
der
unbedingten
Erwähnung.
Interessant
dabei
ist,
dass
das
Album
ursprünglich
unter
dem
Titel
“All
I
Gotta
Say”
mit
den
gleichen
Songs
(aber
in
anderer
Abfolge
und
in
komplett
anderer
Aufmachung)
im
gleichen
Jahr
erschien.
Aus
Promotionzwecken
war
man
dann
wohl
doch
mit
dem
Ergebnis
nicht
ganz
so
zufrieden
und
so
wurde
aus
“All
I
Gotta
Say”
via
Frischzellenkur
eben
“Beatitude”
...
und
“All
I
Wonna
Say”
in
seiner
äußerst
limitierten
Ausgabe
zum
gesuchten Sammlerstück!
Biografie
Biography
Kenneth James Andree ... born on July 6, 1962 in Logansport, Indiana
My
music
is
a
heritage
of
three
generations.
Nestled
between
the
cactus
and
the
coyotes.
My
inspirations
are
the
big
sky,
sunsets
and
sunrises,
mountains,
desert
flowers
and
all
of
the
spirit
creatures
who
visit.
Only
to
be
noticed
by
those
who
can
see.
Arizona
bound.
In
my
heart,
my
life,
my
music
and
the
love
of
a
beautiful
woman.
This
is
my
discography.
The
future is now. Thanks all! Ken Andree.
Diskografie/Discography
Solo
2004: Ken Andree “Beatitude” (2010: Re-Release on CACTUS ROCK RECORDS)
w/ The Texicans/The New Texicans:
2001: The Texicans “Texicans” (Orange),
Producer: Michael Been; Mailorder: Tortilla Records/San Jacinto Records
1998: The New Texicans “Haul O’ Fame” (Tortilla Records)
Producer: Mike Major & The New Texicans
1995: The New Texicans “New Textament” (Tortilla Records)
Producer: Paul LeMond & The New Texicans
1993: The New Texicans “Pipe Dream” (Tortilla Records)
Producer: Ken Andree and Bob Phaup
w/ Sand Rubies:
2010: Sidewinders/Sand Rubies “The Best of Sidewinders and Sand Rubies 1985-2010”
(San Jacinto Records); Producer: Rich Hopkins,
2007: Sand Rubies “Mas Cuacha” (San Jacinto Records/Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Rich Hopkins & David Slutes
2007: Sand Rubies “Live at Blue Rose Christmas Party” (Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Andy Horn
2002: Sand Rubies “Goodbye: Live at Alte Mälzerei” (San Jacinto Records/Blue Rose)
Producer: Rich Hopkins
w/ Rich Hopkins & Luminarios:
2010: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “el otro lado / the other side” (San Jacinto Records/
Blue Rose Records); Producer: Rich Hopkins & Lisa Novak
2004: Los Monstros del Tucson Rock (San Jacinto Records)
Producer: Rich Hopkins
2003: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “Ka-Ju-Tah” (San Jacinto Records/Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Stu Kupers, Craig Schumacher and Ricardo Hopkins
2002: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “Official Blue Rose Bootleg Series, Gaffenberg-
Festival, Heilbronn (Germany) 6.7.2002 (Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Blue Rose Records
2002: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “Official Blue Rose Records Series, Sinkkasten-
Frankfurt (Germany) 7.7.2002 (Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Blue Rose Records
2001: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “Tinitus” (San Jacinto Records)
Producer: Isaac Hopkins
2001: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “My Lucky Stars” (San Jacinto Records/Blue Rose)
Producer: Rich Hopkins
2000: Rich Hopkins and Luminarios “Devolver” (San Jacinto Records/Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Rich Hopkins with Mark Matson
1999: Rich Hopkins and Billy Sedlmayr “The Fifty Percenter” (San Jacinto Records/
Blue Rose Records) Producer: Rich Hopkins, Billy Sedlmayr, Stu Kupers and Randy
McReynolds
1998: Sun Kings/Cool Arrows “Adios” (Blue Rose Records)
Producer: Rich Hopkins and The Sun Kings,
ASTRA KELLY
Biografie
Biography
Astra
Kelly
was
born
in
Marvel,
AR.
and
delivered
by
Dr.
Wise.
Her
early
interest
in
music
was
fueled
by
family
jams,
school
choirs
and
formal
music
studies.
Her
universal
solo
style
has
developed
into
a
sound
she
calls
acoustic
soul.
It
is
a
rich
fusion
of
her
Chicago
roots
in
acid
jazz,
funk
and
blues,
merged
with
rock
and
folk
elements.
Her
lyrics
read
like
poetry,
speaking
of
emotional
transformation
and
personal
freedom.
Many
times
armed
with
only
an
acoustic
guitar,
her
delivery
is
an
intensely
powerful
expression
of
equal
parts
joy
and
pain,
balance
and
struggle.
With
the
electric
trio,
it's
gritty
guitars,
bass
and
drums,
driven
by
impeccable
vocal
wailing.
She
has
toured
extensively
over
the
years,
both
as
a
solo
performer
and
as
a
member
of
various
other
projects.
She’s
also
versed
in
the
art
of
improve.
She
was
a
major
player
in
the
acid
jazz
explosion
in
Chicago
with
the
band
SUMO
who
never
rehearsed
once
in
31/2
years
and
yet
packed
houses
every
single
week.
She
continued
this
tradition
with
the
group
FLY
during
her
time
in
Santa
Fe,
NM.
Her
work
in
the
music
industry
has
included
managing
recording
studios,
graphic
design,
promotions/booking
and
industry
consultation
for
songwriters/bands, and now TV and on air radio personality.
Astra
has
released
four
records
on
her
Rockaway
record
label,
including
the
2004
EP
in
conjunction
with
producer/composer,
Bob
DeMarco
(Primary
writer
for
Paramount
TV).
In
addition,
she
can
be
heard
on
a
number
of
regional
and
national
artist’s
recordings
and
regional
compilations,
most
recently,
WC
Handy
award
winner
Eddie
Turners
“Rise.”
“Rise”
was
produced
by
famed
composer/artist,
Kenny
Passarelli
(Joe
Walsh,
Elton
John)
who
lends
his extraordinary bass stylings to some of Astra’s recent tracks.
Since
moving
to
San
Diego
in
July
of
2006,
Astra
has
appeared
in
the
pages
of
City
Beat,
The
San
Diego
Reader,
The
NC
times,
and
The
SD
Troubadour.
She’s
been
heard
on
Java
Jams
(CTN/Channel
4),
FOX
ROX
(Fox
Channel
6),
KUSI
Good
Morning
San
Diego,
on
the
air
at
94/9
with
Tim
Pyles,
and
on
102.1
KPRI
where
she
DJ’s
their
Saturday
night
local
music
show,
The
KPRI
Homegrown
Hour....plus
she
was
nominated
for
Best
Acoustic
Artist
in
the
San
Diego
Music
Awards.
Her
newest
venture
is
as
guest
host
every
Friday
morning
on
NBC
7/39's
Street
Side
San
Diego
in
conjunction
with
KPRI's
Concerts
on
the
Square.
Tune
in
from
10am-noon.
She
performs
live
freequently,
solo/acoustic,
and
with
her
band.
She
hosts
a
Monday
night
showcase
at
Dublin
Square
in
the
Gaslamp
District
featuring
some
of
San
Diego’s
best
local
bands
and
songwriters,
and
she
books
and
promotes
live
shows
under
the
auspices
of
her
local radio show, "The KPRI Homegrown Hour."
Astra
reached
a
major
turning
point
a
few
years
back
when
she
skidded
on
some
black
ice
on
the
way
to
a
gig
in
Colorado.
Her
tour
van
rolled
and
she
landed
upside
down
on
a
set
of
train
tracks.
In
the
light
of
the
full
moon
with
her
posters
and
CDs
scattered
along
the
highway,
she
grabbed
her
guitar
and
got
to
safety
just
in
time
to
watch
a
train
charge
down
the
tracks
and
crash
into
her
tour
van.
This
symbolic
moment
on
her
musical
path
launched
her
into
a
new
wave of creativity and she has emerged with strong new material for these curious times.
Throughout
the
years,
Astra
has
had
the
privilege
to
open
for
such
acts
as:
Stanley
Jordan,
Meshell
Ndegeocello,
David
Wilcox,
Widespread
Panic,
Johnette
Napolitano,
The
Freddie
Jones
Band,
Leon
Russell,
The
Marshall
Tucker
Band,
Jeff
Healey,
The
Samples,
and
members of Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
1992
-
1995:
Performed
with
Chicago
band,
The
Junction,
on
rhythm
guitar
and
vocals;
played
college
circuits
throughout
the
Midwest
and
east
coast,
as
well
as
Chicago’s
hottest
venues,
including
the
historic
Park
West
and
Vic
theatres;
began
playing
in
the
subways
to
expose
her
new
original
material,
make
a
living,
and
to
strengthen
her
guitar
chops
and
her
solo performance stylings.
1995
–
1997:
Played
incessantly
and
developed
a
local
following
as
a
solo
performer;
recorded
her
first
CD
in
her
Chicago
apartment;
played
to
a
devoted
audience
every
Sunday
for
three
and
a
half
years
with
a
ten
piece,
talent
packed
acid
jazz
and
funk
improv
group
called
SUMO;
participated
in
a
worldbeat/
jazz
group,
as
well
as
a
number
of
other
diverse
projects.
Painted
a
6’
high
by
80’
wide
mural
depicting
the
evolutionary
path
of
humanity
at
a
club
called
Pop’s;
painted
a
6’
high
by
80’
wide
mural
depicting
the
evolutionary
path
of
humanity
at
a
club
called
Pop’s.
Took
residency
there
every
Thursday
and
presented
a
menagerie
of
music,
poetry,
art
and
spontaneous
happenings;
took
residency
there
every
Thursday and presented a menagerie of music, poetry, art and spontaneous happenings.
1997
–
1999:
Joined
with
bass
player,
drummer,
and
electric
guitar
player
to
form
her
band,
Astra
Kelly
and
Far
Rockaway;
presented
her
second
CD
to
a
sold
out
release
party
at
Chicago’s
Martyrs
in
December
of
’98;
hit
the
road
in
June
of
’99
booking,
promoting,
and
traveling
solo.
Played
clubs
and
coffeehouses
all
throughout
the
western
United
States
including,
New
Mexico,
Colorado,
Montana,
Washington,
Oregon,
California,
Arizona,
as
well
as
southern states, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
1999
–
2001
:
Continued
with
what
would
become
a
fourteen
month,
85,000
mile
tour,
funded
primarily
by
busking
(performing
on
the
streets
for
cash)
and
selling
CDs
out
of
her
guitar
case.;
released
her
third
record
while
on
the
road,
a
solo/
acoustic
live
album,
capturing
three
shows
surrounding
the
turn
of
the
century.
The
marathon
tour
ended
once
the
tour
van
was totaled.
2001
–
2003:
Settled
in
Santa
Fe,
NM.
to
rest
and
re-group.
Bought
forty
acres
of
land
in
the
mysterious
Valley
and
began
plans
for
an
eco-conscious
music
and
art
festival
entitled;
“The
Far
Rockaway
Fair:
Earthwork
Vol.
1,
THE
WHEEL.”;
was
re-united
with
her
long
lost
sister
who
introduced
her
to
the
new
production
team;
began
work
on
the
new
album
on
Easter
weekend, 2002.
2003
–
2006:
Divides
her
time
between
Santa
Fe
and
Los
Angeles
to
continue
working
on
the
record;
plays
solo
shows
in
both
cities
and
has
initiated
a
new
project
in
Santa
Fe
called,
FLY,
based
on
her
improvisational
experiences
in
Chicago;
after
two
intensely
creative
years,
she
and the production team are celebrating a preliminary EP release.
2006
-
present:
Settled
in
San
Diego,
CA.
Love
it,
love
it,
love
it!!!
See
above...;
formed
her
new band, AK & the 47's, with Sam Johnson on Bass and James Rhinehart on drums
Diskografie/Discography
2009:
Astra
Kelly
“Battling
The
Sun
-
EP”
(Label:
Rockaway
Records;
Mailorder:
Cactus
Rock
Records)
CHRIS
H
OLIMAN
CHRISTIAN & The 2120’s
Biografie
Biography
Christian
Smedström
was
born
in
Gothenburg,
Sweden,
in
a
family
marked
by
music.
He
was
no
exception
and
the
guitar
became
his
first
love.
After
being
fed
with
the
Beatles,
John
Lee
Hooker,
The
Rolling
Stones,
RL
Burnside,
Bob
Dylan,
as
a
teenager
he
turned
to
the
heavier
hard rock and already in high school, he started his first band.
After
several
years,
200
gigs
and
a
lot
of
songwriting
with
the
now
legendary
punk
rock
band
Full
metal
jacketz,
Christian
went
on
to
his
next
project,
The
Awesome
Machine.
The
band
released
four
albums
and
toured
around
Europe
several
times.
From
there,
Christian
went
on
to his project On Parole, which was leading Christian on to his solo career.
Together
with
Pulca
studios
and
producers
Kristoffer
Ragnstam
and
Joel
Lundberg
(Maia
Hirasawa, John Me), formed Christian & The 2120's it´s unique sound.
-
The
name
2120's
is
my
way
of
honoring
one
of
my
favorite
record
label,
Chess
Records.
Chess original address is 2120 Michigan Avenue in Chicago, says Christian.
Christian´s
first
album
was
released
in
2010
and
was
titled
"Nolo
contendere".
A
European
tour
was
booked
that
same
year
and
on
the
tour
Ted
Russell
Kamp,
a
highly
acclaimed
session
musician and songwriter who is a member of Shooter Jennings & The 357's, joined Christian.
From
that
same
album
"Nolo
contendere"
the
filmmakers
and
Emmy
Award-winners
Mark
and
Adam
Kassen
opted
to
use
one
of
Christian's
songs
in
the
movie
"Puncture",
which
premieres
in
the
spring
of
2011.
Another
song
"Some
People"
will
be
used
in
a
commercial
for
the
State
of Texas, USA during the year.
After
several
European
tours
with
his
debut
album
Christian
once
again
went
into
the
studio
and the sequel is in progress.
Diskografie/Discography
2010:
Christian
&
The
2021’s
“Nolo
Contendere”
(Label:
D.M.A
and
Misty
Music;
Mailorder:
Cactus Rock Records)
LITTLE GREEN
Biografie
Biography
It
may
seem
unlikely
that
one
of
the
most
interesting
bands
in
the
genre
often
referred
to
as
Americana,
resides
in
the
city
of
Gothenburg,
Sweden.
This
is,
however,
a
fact,
and
their
stunning
new
album
Innocent
Again
is
here
to
prove
it.
Thanks
to
bouts
of
touring
and
that
reliable
phenomenon
called
”word
of
mouth”,
Little
Green
are
starting
to
make
waves
in
their
home
country,
as
well
as
on
the
international
scene.
Innocent
Again,
their
third
album,
is
arguably
their
best
so
far.
With
its
inventive
variations
on
country,
folk
rock,
Southern
rock,
and
jangly
guitars,
it
will
most
likely
be
the
album
that
takes
this
already
highly-respected
band
to
the
next
level.
Little
Green
always
had
good
songs.
This
time
around,
everything
else
has
fallen
into
place
as
well.
Everything
has
improved
a
notch
or
three:
arrangements,
performance,
recording,
mixing,
and
mastering.
”Compared
to
this
one,
the
first
two
albums
were
home
recordings.
This
is
”the
real
thing”
from
start
to
finish,
and
I
think
anyone
will
be
able
to
hear
it”,
guitarist/mandolinplayer/main
songwriter
Thomas
Pontén
enthuses.
On
Innocent
Again,
Little
Green
leave
the
folky
tendencies
of
their
last
album
behind,
and
go
for
a
fuller,
more
electric
sound,
with
some
surprises
thrown
in
for
good
measure.
Basic
recordings
were
made
in
Sven
Karlssons
and
Hasse
Carlssons
StudioLydde
in
the
spring
of
2010.
Additional
recordings
were
done
in
the
States
and
Thomas
home
studio.
”Back
when
MySpace
was
happening,
Sven
contacted
us,
told
us
he
liked
our
music
a
lot,
and
informed
us
about
his
studio.
His
resumé
was
impressive
–
for
instance
he
had
played
in
J´s
Plain
Band,
one
of
Sweden’s
best
Americana-bands,
who
had
done
gigs
with
several
of
our
favorite
bands,
including
The
Jayhawks”.
They
tried
recording
For
A
While,
and
from
the
get
go
it
was
obvious
that
he
understood
Little
Green´s
music.
Soft-spoken,
yet
efficient,
he
chose
the
right
moment
for
every
remark
he
made.
”We
learned
a
lot
from
working
with
him.
He
helped
us
focus,
become
more
disciplined,
just
a
better
band
in
every
respect.
Hopefully,
we’ll
work
with
him
again
on
the
next
album”.
The
album
is
full
of
highlights.
To
begin
with,
it
features
two
duets,
This
Is
Our
Life
(featuring
Lisa
Pedersen),
and
I
Can
Talk
Again
(featuring
Keith
Miles).
Innocent
Again
features
background
vocals
by
Kimmie
Rhodes,
whose
songs
have
been
recorded
by
several
major
artists,
including
Emmylou
Harris
and
Mark
Knopfler.
A
songwriter’s
songwriter
who
enjoys
a
lot
of
respect
from
her
peers.
Ted
Russell
Kamp,
with
whom
Little
Green
will
do
their
fourth
tour
in
August,
adds
backing
vocals
to
a
couple
of
tracks.
The
lyrics
move
between
story
songs
and
poetic
imagery;
between
humour,
and
darker
themes.
The
subtly
Dave
Matthews-
inspired
Upside
Down
describes
a
poor
person’s
upbringing,
from
a
Swedish
point
of
view,
and
was
partly
inspired
by
Thomas
own
youth.
Don’t
Tell
Me
It’s
Over,
an
old
song
that
was
re-
worked
for
Little
Green,
now
features
a
southern
rock
groove
that
lets
the
rhythm
section
stretch
out
a
little.
The
majestic
closer,
The
Band
Played
On,
describes
the
day
when
Thomas
lost
all
of
his
notes
of
songs
on
his
way
from
a
rehearsal.
”It
was
catastrophe
–
this
was
before
the
digital
age,
and
there
was
no
backup.
Luckily,
the
songs
found
their
way
back
to
me
somehow. But the lyrics can be seen as decribing a lost love – which, in a way, it was!”
The
nucleus
of
Little
Green
was
born
in
2004,
when
Thomas
met
singer/guitarist
Andreas
Johannesson.
”We
actually
bumped
into
each
other
due
to
the
fact
that
our
children
were
the
same
age”,
remembers
Thomas.
It
soon
transpired
that
both
of
them
were
making
home
recordings
of
songs,
but
had
started
to
feel
the
urge
to
perform
the
material
live.
Their
musical
tastes
were
similar,
but
not
identical,
making
for
a
great
blend
of
styles
rooted
in
rootsy
American
music.
Andreas’
laid
back
personality,
great
ear
and
smoothly
raspy
singing
style
blended
well
with
Thomas
driven
personality,
and
more
intense
style
of
playing.
In
2006,
they
started
performing
as
a
duo,
mixing
original
songs
with
material
by
Tom
Waits,
Carly
Simon
and
others.
Deciding
to
apply
for
the
Swedish
Country
Championship,
they
made
it
to
the
finals
in
the
alternative
country
genre.
They
were
joined
by
additional
members
on
bass,
and
pedal
steel.
For
the
following
year’s
championships
they
added
banjo
and
fiddle
to
their
sound.
”Hardcore
bluegrass
musicians
mocked
us
because
we
had
a
drum
kit,
but
for
us
the
styles
and
instrumentation
are
not
as
important
as
the
songwriting,
which
is
the
core
of
the
band”,
says
Thomas.
”Several
of
my
older
songs
have
been
re-worked
to
suit
the
Little
Green
sound,
whatever
that
is”.
For
a
while,
their
music
was
labelled
Acousticana.
But
things
were
about
to
change.
Undeterred
by
the
hostile
reception
Dylan
got
in
the
mid-sixties,
the
band
decided
to
”go
electric”
in
the
spring
of
2008,
when
agreeing
to
do
their
first
tour
with
fellow
Americana
artist
Ted
Russell
Kamp.
Kamp
has
released
several
well-received
solo
albums,
as
well
as
the
bass
player
and
sometime
songwriter
for
Shooter
Jennings.
”I
dusted
off
my
electric
guitar,
and
influences
by
Little
Feat
and
The
Band
,
and
Californian
singer/songwriter
and
country
rock
influences
slowly
started
creeping
in”,
remembers
Thomas.
Open-minded
listeners
may
also
be
able
to
detect
another,
more
unexpected
ingredient:
British
new
wave
pop.
”I
was
always
a
sucker
for
three
minute
pop
songs,
as
recorded
by
Elvis
Costello,
Joe
Jackson
and
XTC
in
the
late Seventies and early Eighties. This to-the-point approach surely suits their lead singer.
”Andreas
rarely
feels
like
jamming”,
Thomas
smiles.
Karl
Wassholm
was
the
third
member
to
join
Little
Green.
His
fellow
bandmembers
describe
him
as
a
very
musical
guy
with
diverse
musical
influences:
he’s
a
Bright
Eyes-fan
with
metal
roots
which
makes
for
a
sensitive
player
who
can
turn
into
a
powerhouse
bassplayer,
when
needed.
Jonas
Holmberg
comes
from
the
south
of
Sweden
,and
is
the
most
recent
member
to
join
Little
Green.
Having
spent
most
of
his
adult
life
on
the
road,
he
has
toured
with
major
swedish
”dance
bands”,
worked
as
a
truck
driver
and
now
studies
to
become
a
pilot.
What
makes
Little
Green
different
from
American
bands
is
the
Scandinavian
vibe
that
complements
their
knowledge
of
the
great
West,
It
can
be
traced in the melancholic and reflective lyrics and subtly Swedish folk harmonies.
Diskografie/Discography
2011: Little Green “Innocent Again” (Label: Paraply Records; Mailorder: Cactus Rock
Records)
BRAD BROOKS
Biografie
Biography
Originally
from
sun
baked
Tucson,
Arizona,
Brad
Brooks
is
that
rare
quadruple
threat
of
writer,
player,
singer,
and
performer.
His
songs
combine
the
orchestral
sophistication
of
Queen, the melodic sensibility of Elvis Costello, and the punk energy of early Talking Heads.
The
music
is
cinematic,
orchestrated,
moody,
and
his
elaborate
west
coast
baroque
sound,
rocks,
pops,
and
breaks
your
heart
in
all
the
right
places.
His
70’s
piano
driven
style
moves
from
constructed
psychedelic
pop
anthems,
through
Jacques
Brel-esque
satirical
waltzes,
to
intimate Americana guitar ballads.
He
cut
his
teeth
in
Tucson
as
the
lead
singer
for
Pollo
Elastico
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE21udTxfZ8>
and
has
been
a
singer-songwriter
in
the
San
Francisco
bay
area
since
1990.
After
fronting
SF
bands
Reckonball
&
Dolorosa,
he
emerged
as
a
solo
artist
in
2001
with
the
release
of
"Sanctified
Into
Astroglide.
<http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bradbrooks>"
Then
in
2007
he
released
"Spill
Collateral
Love"
which
is
a
visceral
and
psychedelic
mix
that
highlights
the
songwriter's
exceptional
vocal
range
and
bold
command
of
powerful
pop
craftsmanship.
Centered
on
piano
and
acoustic
guitar,
his
expert
band
highlights
a
host
of
musical
luminaries,
including
Paul
Hoaglin
from
The
Mother
Hips
<http://www.motherhips.com/news/>.
Brooks's
disc
is
rooted
in
a
kind
of
Victorian
California
romanticism;
his
vocal
approach
is
earnest
and
dramatic,
but
maintains
a
poise
and
sense
of
wry
wit
that
keeps
the
release
organic
yet
keenly
produced.
Brooks
even
includes
tape
loops
from
S.F.'s
now-defunct
carnival funhouse Musee Mechanique on a track, pushing the bands vaudevillian
influences to the forefront of his original sound.
Currently he's finishing up his new record that is to be released in 2012.
He's
also
has
done
some
commercial
work
and
has
sung
on
the
video
games:
(Guitar
Hero
2,
Guitar
Hero:
Rock
the
80's,
as
well
as
Karaoke
Revolution
presents
American
Idol
1&
2
and all 3 of the original Karaoke Revolution series')
Diskografie/Discography
Sidewinders: Cuacha (backup vocals)
Gila Bend's: Kim Chee Cowboy (backup vocals)
Pollo Elastico: Bantams 1988-90 <http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/polloelastico>
Brad Brooks: Sanctified Into Astroglide
<http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bradbrooks>
2007- Brad Brooks: Spill Collateral Love (Mailorder: CACTUS ROCK RECORDS)
2012- Brad Brooks: Harmony Of Passing Lights (Mailorder: CACTUS ROCK RECORDS)
Media:
BB website <http://www.brad-brooks.com/>
BB Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/people/Brad-Brooks/547826723>
BB Twitter <https://twitter.com/BradBrooksmusic>
BB Myspace <http://www.myspace.com/bradbrooksmusic>
BB Youtube <http://www.youtube.com/user/williebb39#p/
Biografie/Biography
When I was in high school my friend Jeff Farr started reading about this thing called punk. We
then read (in the Newsreel) that some people were putting on punk shows at a bar called
Tumbleweeds in Tucson. We were only 14 so we couldn’t get in but we went down anyway. We
started hanging around outside and I think the people felt bad that these kids were outside on
the sidewalk at night, so they let us come in if we didn’t drink. After that we started going down
every weekend and became friends with Van Christian, Dan Stuart, Jack Waterson and Chris
Cacavas (the Serfers). They took us under their wings, told us about Leonard Cohen and The
Velvet Underground. Later we started our band the Seldoms and started playing Tumbleweeds
ourselves. I am self taught. I started with drums in the Seldoms, except I didn’t use the bass
drum. Just toms, snare and cymbals. The Seldoms recorded a 45 for Subterranean and I
played drums on that record. Chris Cacavas taught me a few things on keyboards and I latter
moved to keyboards in the Seldoms and then guitar in The River Roses. Of course I played
bass with Jacket Weather along with the great Howie Salmon and in a band called The Vegas
Kids. Right now I am teaching myself Pro Tools so I am still self taught. The Seldoms were
mostly about a High School friendship. Jeff Farr, Michael Donnely and I (along with Sean
Murphy and Cheryl Graham) wanted to hang out and we wanted to express ourselves. What
we found out along the way was no matter how primitive the music sounded we had a talent for
writing songs. After the Seldoms I have spent the rest of my life writing music but I really
learned I could do it there. The Seldoms music got compared to the English band The Fall a
lot. I think we were Lo-Fi before it existed. The Songwriter answer is what I am writing right
now is the milestone of my career. Of course people have sentimental attachments to songs I
wrote at different times in my life, but I think I have been improving as a song writer all along. I
remember when we got the vinyl pressing from the first River Roses record and I played it that
was cool. The River Roses played the Ford Amphitheater which was across from the
Hollywood bowl opening for Camper Van Beethoven. Many of my fondest memories are from
Wooden Ball shows, not me playing, but the whole experience. I have been doing the Wooden
Ball for eighteen years so that show really follows my experiences as a musician. I love hearing
new music, not because I copy it but because it gets me excited about writing my own songs. I
also love finding a new chord progression or melody. The act of creation, bringing something
out of the void, inspires me. I believe art’s major benefit is to bring some order out of chaos and
when that form comes into shape it is very inspiring. I am very proud of that CD. Nick Luca
(producer) and I spent about year and half recording song after song, because we were looking
for recordings that felt emotionally real. I think I wrote at least 100 songs for that project and
recorded maybe 50 of those. We settled on 12 songs and I think it is the closest I have come
as a songwriter or singer to producing something greater than the sum of its parts. It is kind of
a quiet CD very acoustic and a little sad, so it probably isn’t the most commercial thing I’ve
done (if anything I’ve done is commercial) but I think it is very good. Of course having Tom
Larkins, Joey Burns, Gene Ruley, Nick Luca and Neil Harry play on the CD didn’t hurt.
Diskografie/Discography
2009: “The Sailor’s Daughter” (Label: Mud-Time Music; Mailorder: Cactus Rock Records)
Artists from A to L