Imagine a musical road trip through Memphis and Muscle Shoals with side trips to Texas and Detroit, ending up in Macon and you have a idea of the distinctive American rock and roll of Old Union. With musical influences as varied as the individual members, the music of Old Union has been described as fresh and new, yet with a cool retro vibe.
Old Union was formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 by Chuck Foster (keyboards and lead vocals), Johnny Zvolensky (guitars), Steve Spotty Swertfeger (guitars and vocals), and David Bryndal (drums), with the recent addition Professor "JDubb" Williams (bass). The strong, well-crafted songs and soulful, gritty vocals of Foster remain the heart and soul of the band. With additional songwriting from Zvolensky, and Swertfeger, Old Union has acquired the reputation as one of the best song-oriented bands working today. With superb musicianship from the twin guitar assault of Swertfeger and Zvolensky and the locked in solid-as-a-rock rhythm section of Williams and Bryndal, Old Union hits the stage with an aggressive rock edge drenched in Southern soul.
Old Unions debut CD; Forgiveness Or Permission, released in December of 2003, drew favorable reviews from Hittin The Note, An Honest Tune, Glide and numerous newspapers around the country. The CD, which featured guest vocals from rock legend, Bonnie Bramlett led to a successful Bramlett/Old Union Northeastern tour including a critically acclaimed appearance at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Their non-stop touring schedule has taken them from coast to coast with appearances at such high profile festivals as Bonnaroo, High Sierra Music Festival, Blue Ridge Harvest Festival, Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival, Nashville’s Riverstages and Dancin in the District, Terrapin Hill, Down On The Farm and Uphonia. They have appeared with such artists as Karl Densons Tiny Universe, North Mississippi All Stars, Ratdog, Govt. Mule, Allman Brothers Band, Black Crowes and The Charlie Daniels Band. The intensity of their live shows has earned them a loyal fan base that is growing with every show. Their hometown Nashville club shows are legend, drawing a whos who of musicians on stage to jam including former Allman Brother Jack Pearson, rock and roll Hall Of Famer Steve Cropper, Bonnie and Becca Bramlett, Jimmy Hall, Tony Furtado, members of The Charlie Daniels Band and numerous others.
After working with the band in the fall of 2005 with producer John Carter Cash, who was drawn to the band by their songwritting ability and called their sound; “lyrically poignant, sonically explosive, emotionally charged and culturally significant. The best new rock music I’ve heard in years.”
In the fall of 2007 Old Union released their independent sophomore release called Motels and Highways and a companion website that chronicles the effort. The album has received critical acclaim and the band has begun to tour in support of the record.
When its all said and done, Old Union are just five guys trying to write songs that honor their heroes and play good music for good people. They are simply carrying on the grand tradition of celebrating the glorious joy of American rock and roll at its purest.
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