OUR NEW CD, Honky Tonk Angel and a Bottle of Wine, IS NOW AVAILABLE online at iTunes, CDBABY.com and DIGSTATION.com
Who are the bo-stevens?
The roots of this roots band go deep into the mantle of country music. Richard Boyd came to love the Tele twang and pedal steel swells of Honky Tonk at his father's knee. In fact, Richard Sr. recorded two country songs in the 1950s just a few doors down from the Trade Street art studio where the bo-stevens got their start. And for a Carolina-based band that never left their roots behind, it's fitting that they've dedicated their new release, HONKY TONK ANGEL AND A BOTTLE OF WINE, to Richard's dad. Take their commitment to tradition and mix some rockabilly, a pinch of gospel, and a dash of bluegrass into the stew to serve up a tasty Saturday night.
In 2004 the group released CAN'TS NEVER COULD, a mix of original songs and old-school covers, which was lauded in the local press for its unvarnished honesty and retro leanings. On September 8, 2007, the band celebrated the release of A LITTLE MORE ROAD, this time an all-original journey through Richard and company's old-school sound.
This third release tops off a year of great successes and hard work, including gigs across the Southeast and many hours in the studio. Daniel Mebane's joining on standup gave the kick the band needed, alongside Greg Bell's Hulacaster rips, Jeff Shu's mandolin and pedal steel, and the Rev. Doug Hawkins's swinging drums. If they've stayed in the 1950s musically, they've steadily moved forward with Richard's songwriting and new collaborations with local musicians. The bluegrassy romp "Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" features a wicked fiddle from the Mad Tea Party's Jason Krekel of Asheville, NC. And an ode to poor decisions and lonely nights, "This Can't End Well" shines with a duet between Richard and otherwise-operatic Karon Click.
"Last February we were anxious to get this next album started, so we headed into the studio with just about half of the songs," said Jeff Shu, mandolin and pedal steel player for the band. "Daniel (bass) brought a song this time. Hearing what Jason and Karon brought was awesome. We took our time, giving the songs and arrangements room to mature. And completing a third album with our same engineer and producer, we've got a trust and comfort I wouldn't trade for the world."
That engineer is Doug Williams of Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders in Winston-Salem. Having worked with such talent as The Avett Brothers, The Mad Tea Party, and The Wood Brothers, Williams earns the sixth man award hands down. "There wouldn't be an album without him," according to Boyd. "His sense of what a song needs and what we as musicians can do makes his studio crackle creatively."
Having opened for acts as big as Dwight Yoakam and The Avett Brothers, the bo-stevens are more likely to be found in the same honky tonk haunts that birthed the music. Traveling from Memphis to Charleston, Richmond to Atlanta, playing within a vibrant and supportive music scene, the bo-stevens is preparing for a second decade on the road.
KEEP IT COUNTRY.
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