The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns
The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns Who are they?
The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns are a band that formed in the early 1990's and are considered one of the pioneering United States East Coast psychobilly bands. They have earned the band a worldwide reputation and devout fan base.
How would you describe their music?
Their vibe is rooted in the origins of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll, but they have taken this music to a whole new level. They have combined the rawness of rock, the soul and heartbreak of country, with the attitude of ‘77 punk, mixing it with hard-hitting rhythms and riffs. The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns have blurred the distinction between past, present, and future and have discovered a signature sound that has made them a genre onto themselves.
Who Are The Members?
Ace Filipini - lead vocals, Quentin Jones,- guitar, Linh Le - bass, and Dave Ferarra - drums. Quentin and Ace are the songwriters.
What have they done?
The band has already released two albums (Llist Records) and has toured endlessly off of them. The combination of the records and their touring has earned the Clowns tons of radio play, as well as features in magazines like Hot Rod, CMJ Music Monthly and many more. Heard by millions, their music has been featured in films and on network television. “Google” them and you will find page after page that references the band.
What Label are they on?
Inner Knot/Lanark Records, distributed by ADA, which is owned by Warner Brother (WEA). The band’s back catalogue is now available as Reach Around Rodeo Clowns Greatest Hits on the web, through mail order, and at major and independent retail stores all over the world. Their label mates include rock and roll pioneer Charlie Gracie and guitar slinger Nick Kane of the Grammy winning band the Mavericks.
Who else have they worked with?
Member of the band have worked as songwriters, producers, and musicians for many top artists, including Robert Gordon, Lee Rocker, Nick Kane, Al Kooper, Graham Nash, Charlie Gracie, Peter Noone, Kim Fowley, The Monkee’s Eddie Angel, Tommy Conwell, and many more.
What’s going on now for the band?
The “Clowns” have been playing show in Hollywood, California and surrounding areas. There is a huge article about the band in Girls and Corpses Magazine coming to news stands April 2010. The NHL team, the L.A. Kings is using the bands music on the radio during their home games. The award winning adult film “Stunt Girl 2” used the band’s music. The band is set to do a major United States tour during the spring and summer 2010 in support of their new cd.
What going on with the new Cd? It is due to be released summer 2010. It was produced by Quentin Jones and world-renowned engineer/producer Tom “T Bone” Edmonds, best known for his work with Lenny Kravitz, Meat Loaf, Patty Smith, The Cult, The Isley Brothers, Peter Tosh, and a long list of others. It will be called “Dark Days, Dark Nights” and is packed with 19 songs that run the gamet of styles that the band is known for. It tells the brutal story of an out-of-work rodeo clown/country singer who has lost the American Dream and all that he owns and goes mad, but ultimately finding redemption. It has already been called the Sergeant Pepper of rockabilly and has been compared to the Who’s Tommy by the press.
What does the band stand for?
The rebirth of true American roots music and the older you are, and the more you lose, the better you can do this. Fuck American Idol and manufactured corporate music.. Our message to the world is you don’t have to buy into everything TV tells you. You don’t have to give up your soul just to work a job or buy a house and a new car. Everything you have will be lost at sometime in the future, so don’t feel bad if hard times get you down. Live your life without worry, try to help others, don’t be a slave to money, and redefine the American dream. It’s ok to get fat, bald, and sweaty. In a nutshell, F.T.W! Do it yourself !
Charlie Gracie
Charlie Gracie is one of a diminishing number of rock-n-roll innovators, who continues to actively perform. A native of South Philadelphia, he became the first successful recording star of the "Rock Era" to emerge from that neighborhood. In 1957, Charlie's 'Butterfly' topped the American and British music charts, selling over 3 million copies. His other late fifties big sellers include: 'Fabulous', 'Ninety-Nine Ways', 'Wanderin Eyes' and 'I Love You So Much It Hurts'. These hits bankrolled Philly's famous Cameo-Parkway record label, making it a dominant force in the music industry for nearly a decade! At the height of his fame, Charlie frequently appeared on 'Dick Clark's American Bandstand', 'The Ed Sullivan Show', and 'Alan Freed's TV Specials'. He headlined shows at the Brooklyn Paramount, the Casino Royale in Washington, The 500 Club in Atlantic City, and Old Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Charlie's star burned even brighter in Great Britain where he became the second American artist to bring rock-n-roll to the English concert stage. Preceded only by Bill Haley, Charlie headlined the London Palladium and Hippodrome receiving outstanding receptions from the press and public. To this day, Charlie Gracie, is a much loved and respected performer the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
While Charlie has earned a place in rock music history, this is only one dimension to a career that spans forty years. His versatility makes him the consummate music man! Today, Charlie enjoys a strong following at clubs and resorts along the northeast corridor of the U.S. Twice, annually, he performs to large audiences in countries such as: England, Italy, Germany, Austria, Finland, Spain and Holland. His superb guitar playing elicits the highest of praise from music legends like George Harrison. The ex-Beatle referred to Charlie's
guitar work as 'brilliant' in a March 1996 interview with Billboard Magazine. Paul McCartney paid tribute to Charlie by Recording an updated version of 'Fabulous' in his new 1999 CD series entitled: "Run Devil Run". McCartney honored Charlie again that fall by inviting him to the album's premiere party in London.
The year 2000 found Charlie on the road with Irish blues rocker, Van Morrison. Van, another Charlie Gracie admirer, commissioned him to open his shows at the Wiltern in Los Angeles and The House of Blues in Las Vegas. A short time later, Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame, declared that Charlie inspired him to a musical career. Nash then proceeded to contribute vocally on Charlie's latest CD release-his first of the new Millennium.
It is obvious why Charlie Gracie has lasted the course longer than most. He is an accomplished musician and an exceptional talent - a devoted family man who conducts himself as a gentleman both on stage and off. He is a credit to his industry. *Charlie was voted into Great Britain's Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame (1998) founded by "Now Dig This" magazine.
Nick Kane and the Lanark Kings
Nick Kane and the Lanark Kings
Nick Kane was born August 21, 1954 in Camden, NJ. In the early 1960’s Nick’s family moved to Germany where his father, James Patrick Kane, pursued a career as an opera singer.
In 1972 Nick began playing guitar full-time in bands working the military club circuit in Europe. He played thousands of dates and spent time in British and German rock bands.
By 1985 Nick was based out of Miami Fla. He was a member of roots-rock band The Preachers and toured the East Coast extensively, opening for many seminal alt-rock bands of the day, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, TSOL, X, Jason and the Nashville Scorchers, Tex and the Horseheads etc.
In 1987 Nick joined Miami blues stalwarts ‘IKO IKO’. Their 1st album ‘Snowstorm in the Jungle’ was released on Kingsnake Records.
In late 1988 Nick moved to New York City and joined blues band Little Mike and the Tornadoes. With the Tornadoes Nick spent the next year-and-a-half traveling the world backing up legendary Chicago blues artists Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rodgers and many others. Nick also recorded on several albums for Blind Pig Records.
In 1990 Nick moved to Los Angeles and immersed himself in the prolific club and recording scene there. Over the next 3 years Nick established himself as a versatile and consummate professional.
In 1993 Nick joined country-pop band the Mavericks and moved to Nashville. The Mavericks released a slew of Platinum and Gold selling albums on MCA and Universal Records, toured extensively, headlined the Royal Albert Hall eight times and won a host of international awards including a Grammy in 1995.
During that period Nick found time to be involved with many projects, most notably producing an album for Canadian swing orchestra ‘Johnny Favorite’ on Universal Canada. Nick was nominated for ‘Producer of the Year’ at the 2000 Juno Awards.
In 1999 Nick released his first solo album, ‘Songs in the Key of E’ on Llist Records. The album was also released in Canada on Universal and in Europe on Demon/Westside and Edel.
After the Mavericks folded in 2000 Nick concentrated his efforts on local Nashville based projects. In 2002 he recorded the album ‘Believe’ with ‘The Legendary Shack Shakers’ on YepRoc Records and toured briefly with the band.
In 2003 Nick started his own band ‘The Balls’, an all-instrumental rock power trio. In 2004 he released an album of original compositions with the Balls entitled ‘Come Out Swinging’ on his own label Lonely Puppy Music. That album was also released 2007 in Germany on the Monogenuss label.
In 2009 Nick formed a new band call ‘Nick Kane and the Lanark Kings’, with Quentin Jones, a producer, and a guitar player with many the top roots/rockabilly acts. Nick and Quentin will be writing, recording and performing guitar driven roots rock and roll. Joining Nick and Quentin will be famed drummer Dave Ferarra.
Nick and Quentin will be producing a new Cd for Lanark Records. This new band that is sure to become one of the top roots band in the world. The new project will feature Nicks outstanding guitar work and vocals on all new recordings.
