Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs have just released their milestone CD Still Smokin' After 20 Years, and for their fans its a damn near perfect compilation. Its not a greatest hits its simply a collection of some of Billys Bacons notables that he has handpicked from his eight previous records, and some of the fan favorites that he has performed over the past 20 years. So this year he and his band set out to celebrate the endurance and commitment theyve made over those years to spread their Texmex-blues-abilly gospel to people everywhere.
Against todays vapid pop-music industry, The Pigs (as their fans know them) are a true cultural shakeup with their unrelenting individualism. But regardless of their knack to stand out (and even though The Pigs have toured relentlessly over the years) they unfortunately still remain under the radar. As the cover story of 3rd Coast Magazines April 2004 issue explains if you want poster children for neglected road warriors, you could hardly do better than Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs. The trio tours virtually non-stop, playing to capacity crowds, but you rarely come across any mention of them
Maybe thats why Billy Bacon has been underappreciated. His ability to tour as much as 200 days a year, and actually make a living doing it, has unfortunately at times portrayed them as just a bar band. On the contrary, he tours because he wants to take his one of a kind show to the rabid fans he has gathered in every corner of the U.S. As his home town paper, the San Diego Union Tribune describes, Some performers are animated. Some are manic. But only a precious few play like they are truly possessed. Some call the music of Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs roots rock, or rockabilly with a hint of the blues. However, there is so much influence and variety in his music, labels cant do the group justice Whether hes doing daredevil jumps off the bass fiddle, crooning a heartfelt ballad or leading his troupe of seasoned musicians into an authentic Mexican norteña classic, Bacon is wholly devoted to his craft.
Along with the irrefutable uniqueness of their shows, Billy Bacons timeless and passionate voice is portrayed beautifully in every different style of song he sings. His penchant for mixing up genres comes from his musical mentor Doug Sahm. When Billy formed The Pigs in 1984, Sahm was his primary inspiration. Ironically, Sahm has been the only artist to cover one of Billys songs, Una Mas Cerveza. As once again explained by 3rd Coast Magazines cover story, this fact is curious because all his albums are goldmines of original songs with far more substance than might be expected given the trios reputation as the premier roots party music band.
Doug Sahm isnt the only famous fan of Billys. There is also a host of others who are admirers that have also played on his records including Joe Walsh, Michael Doucet, Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, Country Dick Montana, Evan Johns, and Chris Gaffney. I dont come to play with The Pigs because Im a friend, but because Im a fan. These guys are the real thing, says Joe Walsh. This is a very HIP band. Not many bands can do so many different styles and do them that well proclaimed Jimmy Page after The Pigs had just finished playing a Mardi Gras show he attended in New Orleans.
And as another one of his friends (and Producer) Beat Farmer Buddy Blue puts it, if you havent caught the Pigs live, I must insist that you do so at the first given opportunity. Im at a loss to explain how Billy a short, portly, beer-swillin middle-aged guy (hey, he aint good lookin but he sure can play) is able to engage in the sort of onstage acrobatics that hallmark these shows, but it must be seen to be believedbask in his musics bitchen-ness and you can pat yourself on the back for having the impeccable taste to support one of Americas mystic musical treasures! I made my myspace layout using Pimp-My-Profile.com
