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THE TATERS
 THE
TATERS
The
Taters play an eclectic mix of roots rock, pop, country, skiffle &
Americana, a sound that's been compared favorably to a mixture of Everlys,
Orbison, Beatles, and Nick Lowe.
When
Craig Evans and Brad Tucker started singing together in the early 1980's,
neither could have guessed how long that partnership would last. With the new
release of Just One Night, their 4th album as The Taters, it's obvious to
listeners that their music is still getting stronger all the time. And now those
new to the band can get a glimpse of what goes on during a live show the
interplay and harmonies, and just the wide range of song styles that make up
their musical identity.
A lot
has been written over the last 10 years about the influences of the band, and
comparisons have been made to Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, The Mavericks,
Nick Lowe and others. "We decided it was time to do a live album this time
out, said Craig in a recent interview, since that's where we meet most of our
listeners, and vice versa. It gave us a chance to do some covers that are
regular requests at our shows, and to kind of pay tribute to some of the
influences that have guided us for so long. We're also using the album as a
chance to re-work some of the tunes from our early albums. The cool thing was
how well all of it came together in a single show!
Just One
Night was recorded in Ashland , VA , and includes Craig & Brad along with a
host of side Taters, including Diana Carr (pedal steel) , Stu Grimes (drums),
Jim Wark (guitar), Ned Henson (guitar), and Alan MacEwen & Chris Watling
from The Grandsons on horns.
Writing
in Billboard magazine, the internationally published "bible" of the
music industry, critic Gordon Ely described the Taters as "determinedly-and
gleefully-forging a path with no limits or end in sight. This is music for which
you've been waiting a long, long time... Without a trace of self-consciousness
or pretension, the Taters draw up a formula that can rightly be claimed as their
own".
Website: www.thetaters.com
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THE ATKINSONS
 THE
ATKINSONS
The Atkinsons formed in the fall of 2003 in
Richmond, VA. Their main focus was to write and perform their own brand of
original music, as well as incorporating select cover songs that complement
their Americana style. Rooted in rock, touched by country, and rich in
harmonies, The Atkinsons merge their signature sound with bittersweet tales of
woe and heartbreak. Their originals are written with a hardcore honesty that
chronicles Americas lost and lonely souls and their life struggles and turmoil.
Influences range from Whiskeytown, Old 97s and Son Volt - to Old Crow Medicine
Show, The Avett Brothers and Scott Miller - to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,
The Rolling Stones and Nirvana. The soulful lyrics and whiskey-stained vocals of
Dickie Wood are complemented with three-part harmonies offered up by Jamie Wood
and Kris Krull. Kris also gives the band a new edge on drums working with Ricky
Breland on bass to create a pounding rhythm section. Combine Mike Ferry's fiddle
with Jeff Williams mandolin, and you got a potent mix of rock and country
creating one kickass rockin' Americana band.
"American
Gothic” (self-released): "Dickie Wood has a lot of words floating
around in his head. That’s the thought that comes to mind listening to the
new release from this ubiquitous Richmond group. Serving the role as lead
singer and guitarist, Wood is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jeff
Williams, bassist Ricky Breland, fiddler Mike Ferry, drummer Kris Krull and
percussionist/ vocalist Jamie Wood. Throughout 10 tracks (and a bonus track),
they weave stories of loneliness, desertion, romance, boozing, traveling . . .
very much a cross-section of the American experience. Songs are written
more in the form of rhyming prose than as couplets, which helps bolster the
storytelling. Sonically, the group resembles alt-rock pioneers Uncle Tupelo or early
Ryan Adams. The idea behind the music is well-communicated, and the songs
are executed with precision. The Atkinsons have been performing on Richmond
stages for more than four years, and the time and experience are reflected in
the maturity of this recording."
- Style
Weekly, Local Bin by Josh Bearman June 2007
Website: www.theatkinsons.us
www.myspace.com/theatkinsons
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