Swedens Tequila Sunrise has captured the bone-deep passion of American blues rock with more power than many a native U.S. band. Joakim Ramstedt and Assar Danielson who created the first incarnation of this band in the mid-80s when the pair met in the military, forge a fiery, deeply felt brand of heavy, oil-drenched Southern rock familiar to most state-siders but with subtle twists perhaps only a native of elsewhere could conjure. It's Tequila Sunrise's unique vantage point that enables them to find fresh fire in a vintage sound.
Back in the day, the 19-year-olds put together a blues rock line-up with the odds stacked against them. The closest dive in which they could play was distant enough that what few bucks they earned from the show were consumed by travel expenses. Nonetheless, the drive to make music prevailed. The band then included, besides Ramstedt (vocals, guitars) and Danielson (bass), the talents of Olle Friström (guitar) and Mike Ajax, now one of Swedens most sought-after percussionists.
But time moves on, and people move away, and eventually the bands arch enemy distance won the battle (but not the war). The band disassembled and has been on a 15-year hiatus.
One of the best presents for blues rock aficionados came along last Christmas when, despite a decade-and-a-half of divergent careers and a lack of geographic proximity to each other, Ramstedt and Danielson revived Tequila Sunrise. (Todays technology helps shorten the gap considerably.)
The band has since been busy writing and recording new material with a lineup that also includes rhythm maestro Joakim Nordborg on drums and string wizard Mattias Olofsson as the other half of the duel guitar team. (Besides the standard instruments, Ramstedt also plays dobro, as does Olofsson, who contributes lapsteel, as well.) With this synergy arising from the fusion of talent and Danielsons spotless production skills (on top of his bass mastery) to catch it all for perpetuity, the band has already garnered enthusiasm and praise from fans and media alike.
The bands latest song, Born To Be Free, which resonates with a spirit any American can relish, has lit a fire inside listeners, quickly racking up listens on the groups often-visited MySpace page, www.myspace.com/tequilasunriseblues. It isn't that there are no more hardships ? the bands brand of music is distinctive in the Swedish music scene (and, indeed, offers a unique spin on the genre even for U.S. listeners) but Tequila Sunrise's determination is still present and potent and, along with formidable talent, contributes to the groups grassroots momentum. It's all part of the Tequlia Sunrise philosophy: Never play what you don't want to play just because a lot of folks want to hear it.
The true mark of success for this band is making music that not just the fans, but the band members themselves, enjoy to the fullest. It's a benchmark Tequila Sunrise has met and surpassed. High praise from numerous publications, as well as listeners (and not just in Europe) and these musicians obvious love for their craft are testament enough to that.
Tequila Sunrise is currently working with A&R Select, the premier A&R firm based out of Los Angeles, CA. More information is available by visiting www.tequilasunrise.se, www.promofm.com (keyword search: Tequila Sunrise) and www.arselect.com.
