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The Spikedrivers

Hard Rockin' & Hard Drinkin'

About Me

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In 2003 a new sound sprang up in the Rust Belt; a raucous, down-and-dirty sound, an intoxicating and gritty sound that pulled people in droves to the dance floors across the Midwest. It was the sound of The Spikedrivers playing their unique blend of swinging, bluesy, upbeat, country-fried rock ‘n’ roll. Front man Jesse Henry’s unique, original and down-home song writing meets the electrified ruckus and wild precision of the backing band similar to what might have been if Woody Guthrie had led NRBQ.

In 2007 with one live album and their first studio album just released The Spikedrivers took their show on the road. They played in eleven states rocking the shores of Massachusetts, the bright lights of New York, and the fields of Illinois. The band gained fans across the East Coast and the Midwest. Along the way The Spikedrivers released their second live CD, “Live in New York City” which showcased how easily The Spikedrivers can grab hold of an audience in a packed club and turn them instantly to avid fans.The Spikedrivers front man is Jesse Henry, who was raised Mennonite in rural Northwest Ohio and who spent his early years working on grain elevators and learning songs of the great American Troubadours. He brings his electrifying stage presence and musicianship wherever he roams. Megan Palmer, a registered nurse by day, turns fiddle playing superhero by night; serenading the audience with a sultry voice and ravishing them with white-hot fiddle leads. Steve Sweney, best known for his cosmic guitar work with the band Ekoostik Hookah, gets to showcase a different side of his playing. He strips down to just amp and guitar and listeners get to relish the raw tone and intensity. John Boestler the guitar wizard is the newest member but brings 40-plus years of experience as well as being Sweney’s early mentor. The rhythm section and backbone holding it all together are Nate Anders and Steven Fox. A vibraphonist and college educator, Nate beats the skins like a pack of hounds is on his tail all the while booming baritone harmony. Fox brings his lightning fast bow acrobatics and hard-thumping sound on the upright bass to adventurous levels as well as singing his sideburns off.In the coming year The Spikedrivers look to continue their success on the road spreading their infectious joy to all who will listen, and to some who won’t. Also, they will return to the studio to release their second studio album filled with ear turning tunes sure to have people dancing in their homes waiting for the next live performance. We hope to see you there.Buy The Spikedrivers' self-titled studio debut at CD Baby:
Click Here--
Studio and live albums, T-Shirts, and stickers are all available for purchase at live performances!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/2/2006
Band Website: thespikedrivers.com
Band Members: Jesse Henry
vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, kazoo, whistling

Steven Fox
upright bass, vocals

Megan Palmer
fiddle, vocals

John Boerstler
guitar

Steve Sweney
guitar

Nate Anders
drums, vocals

The Spikedrivers



Influences: Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Willie Dixon, Bill Monroe, John Prine, Charles Mingus, Jerry Reed, Buck Owens, John Hartford, Roger Miller, NRBQ, Jerry Garcia, John Hartford, Cream, Tom Waits, James Booker, Vassar Clements.........
Sounds Like: “The Spikedrivers love to act up — before, during and after any of their foot-stompin', crazified country numbers. But the group's singer-songwriter Jesse Henry, fiendish fiddle player Megan Palmer, guitarists Paul Brown and Steve Sweney, drummer Nate Anders, and ZZ Top-mutton-chops bassist Steven Fox do much more than toss their longhaired, sweaty selves around the stage. Their sound is a reflection of raw musical talent, and it has a distinctive flavor that comes out somewhere between The Wilders and Old Crow Medicine Show. Toss in a few melancholy tunes, the occasional weeping, heaving cello and a general old-timey feel to their jam, and the only conclusion is that The Spikedrivers deliver exactly what they advertise. It's a boom-funk-chunk, everything-in-the-kitchen, leave-behind-your-order-and-listen country kind of music.” -Jesse Nathan, The Pitch, Kansas City, Missouri
Record Label: The Spikedrivers
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

New Fall Dates Announced

The first batch of fall performance dates have been posted, but please check back often as we will be adding more shows in the near future, especially in the upper midwest and along the east...
Posted by The Spikedrivers on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:48:00 PST

Official "Live from New York City" CD Release

We are very proud to announce the official release of The Spikedrivers' second live album, "Live from New York City," recorded this past winter in... come on, people, New York City. To celebrate this ...
Posted by The Spikedrivers on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:01:00 PST

back room slander

covering the four walls and ceilings of  green rooms thoughout our cultured motherland are sayings, advertisements, slander and propoganda, introduced by anonymous hands, some quit...
Posted by The Spikedrivers on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:09:00 PST

we've had the CD for over a month now, christ

The Studio album is done, in stores, in some peoples home, and we are selling them at shows.  Hell Garrison Keeler has one, Thanks to Erin and her magical showcasing spells of hypnosis and mind c...
Posted by The Spikedrivers on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 03:41:00 PST