Wicked Brew Band - Down South (2008)

A force on the Texas live music scene, the Wicked Brew Band has spent four years honing their skills in roadhouses, dancehalls, and biker bars all across the Lone Star State. Just like the original Outlaws, this feisty crew from Belton, Texas, refuses to be pigeon-holed: theyre equally at home churning out two-steppers at rodeos or knocking out rockers at bike rallies. And now with their new album, Down South, theyre making the same two-fisted assault on the Texas airwaves. The first single, Im Alright, showcases the rowdy yet good-natured lyrics of songwriter/lead singer Jared Lightfoot, and the new album, Down South, due out from Smith Entertainment in April, includes guest performances by Texas artists Keith Davis, Steve Maynard, Amanda Brown, Steve Palousek, and Pauline Reese, who is featured on the heart-wrenching duet, Giving Up the Ghost. A bit of band history: Wicked Brews initial EP, First Shot, lived up to its name: Just like the first shot of Jack on a cold Friday night, it was a bit harsh yet still potent enough to warm you up. The bands follow-up album, Two-Faced, showcased the versatility of the band, referencing the many genres that influence the bands larger-than-life persona: Hardcore Country, Southern Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, and even a little Reggae. Two-Faced helped launch the band into larger venues across the state, where Wicked Brew shared the marquee with acts such as Kevin Fowler, Charlie Robison, Cory Morrow, Wade Bowen, Django Walker, Honeybrowne, and Morrison-Williams. The band even got to open for some of their heroes, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and David Allan Coe. Interestingly, the bands nameWicked Brewwas plucked from a poem by Jim Morrison in which the Doors singer describes his experiences while downing a bottle of Texas whiskey. Now the Wicked Brew Band appropriately releases Down South, a new album featuring several tunes that share Morrisons intoxicating inspiration. Distilled along the highways of Texas and diverse as the Lone Star State itself, the songs on Down South showcase Wicked Brews maturing songwriting and musicianship, and the bands rowdy sense of humor. A few of these songs are sure to become anthems on the Texas Music scene.