What do you get when you take the influence of the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Kinks and the Animals and then combine them with Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Roy Acuff and Hank Williams? It could only be Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters. The Boxmasters are fashioned after a 1960’s-era mod band whose upbeat rhythms and infectious arrangements contrast sardonically with the very dark themes they explore lyrically. The tension that the disparity between the subject matter and the music creates lends itself to a truly unique musical experience that could only be produced by The Boxmasters.Started by Billy Bob Thornton and GRAMMY® winner engineer/guitarist J.D. Andrew, The Boxmasters evolved into an alternative outlet for Thornton while he was recording his fourth solo album, Beautiful Door. “Electric Hillbilly music is probably the best description of The Boxmasters,†stated Billy Bob Thornton. “But the real idea behind The Boxmasters was both musically and in live performance, it was like watching a combination of 60’s television shows like Dean Martin, Johnny Cash Show, all those variety shows, with electric hillbilly music — it’s a great blend.â€The Boxmasters features Billy Bob Thornton on lead vocals, background vocals, drums and tambourine; J.D Andrew on rhythm electric, acoustic guitar, bass and background vocals; and Mike Butler on lead guitar, lap steel and Dobro. The touring band also features Brad Davis on Guitar and Mandolin, Teddy Andreadis on Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica, Marty Rifkin on Pedal Steel, Chuck Garric on Bass, and Mike "Bubba" Bruce on drums.
