Dugan & the Roustabouts: 6 guys, one working brain cell! This is a band dedicated to the fine art of raisin' a ruckus. The music is a mix of rock, blues, and country (and Chinese Pop) tossed into a pot and left to simmer on the woodstove until boiling. When you leave a Roustabouts show, yer sweaty and drunk and ready for lovin' (if you like that sort of thing). The Roustabouts were founded by singer/saxist Dugan Henhawk, guitarist Tiny Murray, drummer Phil Regan, and bassist Kent Lyons from the dying embers of cult favorite/critic's darling, WhiteBoy and the WagonBurners. When Kent finally got sick of Dugan's stupid face (they'd been playing together since they were teenagers), he quit the band. That was very nearly the end of the Roustabouts, as bassists able to properly negotiate that elusive roots rock thang were few and far between in the Salt City. But, just when all seemed lost, the talented Jay Gould descended from his wooly mountain lair in some incredibly ugly shoes and saved the band. Filling a neglected roots rock niche in CNY, the Roustabouts really began to pick up steam when they were joined by guitarist/vocalist Rex Lyons (Kent's cousin and founding member of some of Dugan's earlier groups) and keyboardist/bon vivant Scott Ebner. For the next few years, Dugan & the Roustabouts traveled the world (well, New York, anyway), bringing American Roadhouse Music to the masses. The Roustabouts (in conjunction with a whole lotta alcohol) helped white people dance and also managed to produce a damn fine CD. "Fried Chicken to Go" was put together to represent a 'live' set from the boys. If you went to see 'em in the dumps and dives of CNY, the 15 songs on this disc are what you might have heard. Running the gamut from rockabilly to blues to a set-capping, hand-clapping gospel-style rave-up, "Fried Chicken to Go" is essentially a party on disc, recorded in glorious stereophonic sound just for YOU. It's available at www.losroustabouts.com or can be ordered from Mr. Henhawk by e-mailing [email protected] or right here on myspace. Highlighted here are four Henhawk originals, written in charcoal by the light of a kerosene lantern. Unfortunately, the Roustabouts went on indefinite hiatus when Henhawk relocated to the cultural wasteland of Las Vegas (the things a man will do for love!). Fortunately, the rest of the guys quickly re-tooled and re-emerged as the Fabulous Ripcords, who continue to entertain the people of CNY to this day. They can be found at www.myspace.com/fabulousripcords. Scott Ebner, who mixed and mastered "Fried Chicken to Go" at his own Skunk City Studios, can also be found plying his trade with the roots rock/jamband juggernaut, The TippHillbillies. They also have some great music for sale and can be found at www.myspace.com/tipphillbillies. As if that weren't enough, Dugan, Scott, and Jay also performed and recorded with redoubtable bluesman and bandleader, Rockin' Ron Spencer in jump blues band (and Blue Wave recording artist) Jumpstart. Ronnie can be found at www.myspace.com/ronspencerband. All of the groups mentioned here exist as alternatives to the more mainstream offerings on the musical landscape, living proof that there's more to life than the crap played on the radio and endlessly rammed down yer throat everywhere from the dentist's office to the freakin' gas station. Check out Dugan & the Roustabouts, the Fabulous Ripcords, the TippHillbillies, and Ron Spencer & Jumpstart and discover the parallel universe of American Roadhouse Music.
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Roustabouts CD Release
