Phill Morgan - Steel Guitar, Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Gordon Dole - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Dave Dole - Dog House & Vocals
Mark James - Drums
About 12 years ago, The Tennessee Rhythm Riders were playing in a bar in Basingstoke, England. The audience consisted of a few drunk locals and a “Rockin” gang that the ‘Riders had follow them about for a while. However, this time there was a young guy their that they hadn’t seen before with a big haircut but more importantly, a big smile!
Gordon was just a kid at the time, too young to see the ‘Riders, but he kept himself out of the way, just joining in with the constant applause for the band. After the show had finished, he walked up to the band, with his brother Tommy and his family and said, enthusiastically, how much he really enjoyed the music. He said he was learning guitar and maybe Willy Briggs (The Tennessee Rhythm Riders guitarist) could show him some licks and said how much he would love to play this sort of stuff one day. He said he had a little brother, Dave that was learning bass and with the aid of a box to stand on, would sometimes get on stage with bands like The Rimshots, and play.
Well, who would have guessed that all this time later Gordon, Dave, Phil (Ex Tennessee Rhythm Rider) and Mark would be playing this “Rockin’ Hillbilly”, “Honky-tonk swing”, “Western Bop” whatever you want to call it! The Western Aces have arrived !!
Playing together for about a year, back in February this year their original drummer had to leave. Dave, Phil and Gordon set about looking for the “ideal” replacement. He had to be good, play it the “right” way and have the sort of sense of humour that would force an Eskimo to smile on a cold day after the central heating on his igloo had broken down. With this in mind, they found him. Mark James, a well-known “Cad” around town and good drummer, was known to all the guys in the band. He had played in a successful Rockabilly band, The Ricardo’s, who were regularly playing the same bills and circuit as The ‘Riders. Phil had even had to play Mark’s drum kit on one occasion after the ‘Riders drummer couldn’t make a show. Mark was in and immediately took the sound up another level - the only downfall being the jokes!
Now the ‘Aces are high. Their blend and portrayal of the music they love is taking audiences by storm. This “Introduction” to the ‘Aces sums up the bands desire to recreate the music they love, but in their own way. There are no pigeonholes – its neither Western Swing, Hillbilly or Rockabilly, Honky Tonk. It’s all and a bit more. You can dance to it, weep to it, smile to it and drink to it and hopefully, you’ll love it!!
