The Fabulous Horndogs
The Fabulous Horndogs are Michigan's premier dance and party band. We deliver a full menu of hot rhythm and blues with a New Orleans flavor. Particularly suited for festivals, weddings, and corporate events, we occasionally play select nightclubs. Listen to our CD and let us know if we can spice up your next musical event!
Tim Wire was born in 1949. He started piano lessons at age five with a teacher who was a student of Franz Liszt. Tim got hooked on boogie woogie music at 12 years of age and has played with many blues greats including Sam Lay and Pinetop Perkins. Tim toured Europe for two summers with Son Seals, and then played on Seals’ "Lettin' Go" CD, which won the WC Handy award for best traditional blues album of 2001. Tim lives with his wife, Carol, and their dog, Abby, in Northport, Michigan.
Mike Marois started playing music in high school for dances and parties. In the late 1970’s he joined Newt and the Salamanders which toured the Midwest in the 70’s and 80’s. He moved to California and worked for Guitar Center for a couple of years and then moved back to Traverse City to form the band Sneaker and spent several years raising a family. Mike is a founding member of the Fabulous Horndogs and plays a major role in keeping the band going today.
Jack Conners began playing bass guitar at age 16. He played with several bands in the Detroit area in the 1970’s, studying rhythm and blues, funk, jazz, and rock styles. Jack worked through the 80’s and 90’s as a recording engineer and session musician in Baltimore and Nashville. He moved to Traverse City in 1999 and began working on his goal to join the Fabulous Horndogs, being accepted by the group in 2007.
Jim (Murph) Murphy was born in Gary, Indiana and transplanted north by age 15. In high school he found himself under the direction of band leader Bugs Bedow, the original trombone player from Newt and the Salamanders. After high school Murph toured the Midwest in many different bands, opening for Buddy Guy, G.E. Smith, and the Average White Band. Murph is one of the original members of the Fabulous Horndogs.
Hank Lawler, a native of Leelanau County, is celebrating his 51st year playing the trombone. After his college years in the Michigan State Bands, he blew his way through the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, playing in the horn sections of such notables as Donny Hathaway, Albert Collins, Jerry Lee Lewis, NRBQ, and a host of others. He came off the road and returned to Leelanau in the early nineties to raise his two children and team up with the Fabulous Horndogs.
Al Anderson started making music around the age of five. His grandfather heard him playing a tune on a toy plastic harmonica, bought him a Marine Band harp and spent hours playing duets with him. Woodwinds eventually replaced the harp and since the late sixties he has played with numerous working bands covering such diverse styles as blues, pop, jazz and rock, as well as occasional recording studio contributions. He brings his eclectic approach to the tenor and baritone saxophone to the Fabulous Horndogs.
The Fantastic People
The Fantastic People was founded in Borås, Sweden, during the summer of love 2009. After a very successful jam together, the first song for the debut album was written. Since then, the band has been a fantastic way of living, where musical journeys, and nice dinners, with great wine, are the most important ingredients.
Fantastic People is an independent band with talented musicians and songwriters, that, from the very start, wanted to have a great time with new friends. Then the magic began, the music felt so natural to write and play.
"Fantastic Music For Fantastic People" is the name of the forthcoming debut album, recorded and produced by the band during the autumn of 2009.
www.fantasticpeople.se
www.myspace.com/fantasticpeople
Faris Nourallah
Born out of Michigan in the winter of 1969, Faris Nourallah moved as a child with his family to Texas, the Lone Star State. He grew up listening the likes of Clash, Beatles and Elvis Costello, and soon he's involved in playing music along with his brother Salim. They formed the ' Nourallah Brothers ' , and their first and only album saw the light on the indie USA label Western Vinyl. Then, he started touring through the US supporting that collection of songs. But something went wrong and the group disbaned.
Then, Faris stopped to go places. In the inner of his house, he began to write solo songs and to go places through them. That places are drawn in three albums , three 'chapters' of Faris' lifebook. Here starts the story.
Critic was immediatly hitted by his ability to put down songs of diasrming beauty as the ones included in ' I love Faris ', the debut solo album. The stone was thrown in the open water and the waves started to spread. Then was the time of 'Problematico' , that signs the begin of the artistic relationship with visual artist Paco Felici , who nails his first artwork on an Nourallah's album. The same was for 'King of Sweden'. With this record, Faris' name landed strongly in Europe too, where his music became a sort of 'must' for the indie lovers. Critic points at Faris as one of the smartest songwriter around, comparing him to the likes of Ray Davis, John Lennon and Plush and his records' feeling to literary milestones like ' Catcher in the Rye '. The myth creeps more and more...But mainly, people loves Faris. People declared the man and his music to be precious jewels to take care of.
So, how can be possible to reach such a status without playing in public ever? How can be possible to have an EU label like GreenUFOs tributing him a "best of"? How can be possible not to love Faris' songs?
Now, the fourth chapter of Faris' saga is ready to be glanched. Played, recorded and mixed all by himself in the inner of his house, " Il suo cuore di transistor " found a winning shot in the final mastering carried out at GoldenMastering Studios (Ventura,CA) by "JJ" Golden, the man behind other great records of great artists such us Calexico, Rachel's, Mark Kozelek, Swearing at Motorists and others.
On graphic side, the front/back cover has been handpainted by the talented and multilingual (!) Paco Felici basing on the concept of the record and realized through the Paco's loved theme of the 'robot'. An impressive and unique touch to enrich the new stunning collection of songs. Furthermore, for the first time ever, you'd read the 'transistor heart' words on a booklet.
In this scenario , the great mock 'disco' tunes of tracks like ' Black Car ' and ' But Not Tomorrow ' , the masterly brush-strokes of piano of ' Don't kiss ' or ' Tell me Secrets ', the suspended surroundings of tracks like ' Break Your Vows ' or the Lennonesque jewels like ' Move On ' and ' Raining ', are embellished by Faris' strongest vocals ever.
All of Faris’ albums available here :
www.dotshop.se
Fayssoux
Debut of a stunning singer-songwriter (and former Emmylou Harris harmony vocalist), with original works, traditional folk songs, gospel, country rock and love ballads. Lovely.
Fayssoux's debut album "Early" is a stunning work of grace and beauty, featuring a combination of originals, works of old friends (like Rodney Crowell and Paul Craft), traditional folk, old-time gospel, country rock and love ballads. Fayssoux's voice was an integral element of some of country music's finest recordings. As Fayssoux Starling, she sang duet and harmony vocals on Emmylou Harris' "Green Rolling Hills", "Spanish is a Loving Tongue," "Bluebird Wine", "Too Far Gone" and more. After years out of the recording business, Fayssoux (now McLean) was rediscovered by music journalist, author and singer-songwriter Peter Cooper, who convinced her to return to performing and who produced this record. In a fun turn of events on this CD, Emmylou Harris now sings harmonies for Fayssoux. Other guests include Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, David Ball and the legendary Lloyd Green on pedal steel and dobro.
"Early" available here.
www.fayssouxmusic.com
www.redbeetrecords.com
Fiery Blue
Long distance relationships are difficult to cultivate under the best of circumstances. So imagine the challenge faced by the members of Fiery Blue when they opted to collaborate without ever meeting face to face. Chemistry, synergy and all the other benefits of being in personal proximity might have fallen by the wayside, if instinct and intuition hadn’t taken over.
Fiery Blue first formed when San Diego-based songwriter Paul Marsteller surfed the internet in search of a vocalist who would complement the new songs that he was starting to put together with producer and multi-instrumentalist, Gabe Rhodes, of Austin. That’s when they chanced upon NYC-based singer-songwriter Simone Stevens. They were instantly enticed and emailed her to see if she was interested in a long distance collaboration. They have since gone on to do about 50 songs in the past year and a half, starting with their self-titled 2010 debut, "Fiery Blue".
“We have good chemistry, in spite of having done this without having ever really met”, Marsteller suggests.
Gabe is the son, producer and primary band member of acclaimed Texas country-folk artist Kimmie Rhodes, and an accomplished musician and producer in his own right. His credits include sessions recorded alongside Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Joe Ely, Ray Price, Waylon Jennings, Stephen Bruton, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and a host of others.
Rhodes works with veteran drummer Hunt Sales (Todd Rudgren, David Bowie, Iggy Pop) on most of the Fiery Blue-tracks.
Fiery Blue has clearly taken a significant step forward on their sophomore set, titled "Our Secret". It has an artsy, country, retro, rootsy feel, with most of the songs about the longing for enduring romantic love. The record is more countryesque than their debut record. That was the design.
"Simone is a natural country singer, with all that charm and character in her voice”, Marsteller says. “I don’t think she even realizes just how good she is. And Gabe, well, it goes without saying, he's brilliant at this kind of thing. He not only produces, but he plays just about everything on the record".
With the exception of a sultry cover of the Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen A Face” (featuring harmony vocals from Kimmie Rhodes), all the songs are Marsteller’s original compositions (including two he co-composed with Rhodes). The material sounds both timeless and familiar. Stevens’ singing on “Crystal Ball", “Slow Down”, "Wheels Up" and the title track brings to mind the elemental sensitivity of Emmylou Harris and the clear determination of Lucinda Williams. Rhodes’ shimmering production makes songs such as “Tears Are Blue”, "Little Red Shoes", "While The Music Plays" and “Eventide” appear both atmospheric and engaging simultaneously. The album overall demonstrates all the makings of a classic.
How do they account for being so in sync, despite the distances between them? “All I know is that it just works,” Marsteller offers. “I write the songs, Simone knows how to sing them and Gabe puts them in the right musical setting. We each have a part to play in the creative process. Maybe doing this long distance even helps, because it allows us to concentrate on our respective parts, without all the logistics and overtones of being in the same room together".
Stevens sums the relationship up succinctly. “I know I’m the shortest one,” she laughs. “And I also know Gabe and Paul are cool guys. And knowing that, what else really matters?”
www.fieryblue.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Fiery-Blue/143432519020729
Filip
Born in 1980 and living in western Sweden.
Singer of songs, strummer of strings, teller of tales, feeler of feelings...
"Crane Grief" is actually the second full-length recording from twenty-six year old Swedish excentric pop poet Filip. A while back he distributed his homemade CDR's of Charles Bukowski-poems put to music, followed by the exciting instrumental single "Tobacco/Sad Autumn Roses".
These two releases got a lot of attention in the media, both in Sweden and in the UK. Among others, Everett True in Plan B happily exclaimed: "Filip is redolent of Daniel Johnston, Will Oldham and Tom Waits, without sounding like any of them. It's brilliant!" Later in the year, Filip, together with Einar Heckscher, made a short tour around Sweden in celebration of the late, great Charles Bukowski. "Crane-grief" is something completely different - It's the self-released debut album proper from Filip.
Recorded in the spring of 2006, during two charged days in a Stockholm located basement. Using old analogue equipment, engineers/producers Henrik af Ugglas and Tom Hakava has created a raw and intimate sound. With just guitar, piano, pump organ and autoharp, Filip performs his simple and beautiful songs all by himself, true to his heart. Hearing is believing...
"Crane Grief" is available here :
www.dotshop.se
Firefall
As dusk enveloped the spectacular vistas of Yose-mite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California, a huge pile of wood lay stacked at the edge of a high cliff. Nature lovers from far corners of the world gathered on the valley floor, waiting till dark when the woodpile was torched and slowly pushed off the cliff, the burning logs forming a blazing cascade down the mountain's stony face.
The image of the primitive light show, staged at Yose-mite for tourists, stuck in Florida-born Rick Roberts' mind for a long time. Then in l973, as he and his new Colorado based band were about to play their first gig but still needed a name, the image flashed back: Firefall. That seems an especially dead-on handle for the country flavored rock'n'roll band that carried the torch of musical forebears such as The Byrds, The Buffalo Springfield, and The Flying Burrito Brothers into the mid-'70s and beyond.
For the better part of the next decade, Firefall burned brightly it at both ends, musically and personally, and then appeared to flame out, at least on record. By 1982, they'd cut eight albums (scoring gold for the first three, with the third going on to platinum-plus), and put 11 singles on the charts.
For You 2
The Roma-based Italian label Route 61 is runned by journalist, music producer and tv show-writer Ermanno Labianca, who wrote a bunch of books on Bruce Springsteen (including the best seller "American Skin") and a few on American singer songwriters (including a Ben Harper biography and "Like A Rolling Stone").
For his Totem Records in the 90's, he produced albums by American soccer player Alexi Lalas and Italian songwriter Marco Conidi, as well as "For You – A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen".
Starting with "For You 2 – A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen" (which features Italian artists, as well as contibutions by the likes of JT Van Zandt, son of the late great Townes, and Chris Cacavas, former member of Dream Syndicate and Green On Red), Labianca recently founded Route 61 and right after he decided to follow that tribute album with "Find the Light", Francesco Lucarelli's debut, which features guest appearances by Graham Nash, Jeff Pevar, James Raymond and Kenny Passarelli. Lucarelli ends the Springsteen-tribute with a bluegrass rendition of "Tomorrow Never Knows".
Route 61 products are marketed as "Americana Made in Italy". That says it all.
"There is a scene, well represented in 'For You 2'" – says Labianca - "that in my opinion deserved to be showcasted, and the mostly folk-country-blues-r'n'r based tribute to Bruce Springsteen was a starting point. In the future, the label intend to produce other artist featured in 'For You', as well as American musicians that we admire."
Ermanno Labianca, Francesco Lucarelli and Joe Slomp (the only recording artist that appears on both "For You" and "For You 2") can be considered the heart and the motor of Route 61.
www.route61music.com
www.foryouspringsteen.com
Francesco Lucarelli
"Music has always been part of my life - From the soundtrack of a collection of fairy tales I listened to as a child, to the hit-singles played on the local Hit Parade radio show during my early teens, to any other kind of music I fell in love with later. I have been an avid listener since I was a kid, playing my parents' records and spending the few coins in my piggy-bank, buying the new ones I liked.
Bacharach, Beatles, classical music and big orchestras were constantly filling the living room and those melodies urged me to look for more. It was just a matter of time before I finally had the chance to put my clumsy fingers on the fretboard of a nearly-impossible-to-play cheap guitar.
Playing music made me feel good, and singing with my friends made me feel even better. With all due respect, the pleasure I feel making music is definitely stronger than what shakes me when I listen to the masters, but it's the two of them combined which keeps me going.
Rock on!"
www.francescolucarelli.com
www.myspace.com/francescolucarelli
Franco Morone & Raffaella Luna
The wonderful voice of Raffaella Luna, alongside guitarist Franco Morone, disclose one of the most interesting current happenings in Italian music.
Their CD ‘’Songs We Love’’ received public and critics excellent outcome, in between the most important traditional and acoustic music festivals all around Europe.
All of the songs are arranged by Franco, have an unmistakable personal sound, and the voice of Raffaella, sweet and passionate, merging with the guitar, creates a sweet blend, both ethereal and evocative, giving evidence to the mature and coherent character of the duo, whereas it
surprises the simplicity with whom they can enchant, and deeply move the audience into a performance of rare beauty and warmth.
www.francomorone.it
www.raffaellaluna.com
www.myspace.com/raffaellaluna
www.myspace.com/francomorone
www.francomoroneraffaellaluna.com
Franka De Mille
Franka De Mille is a London based singer, songwriter and composer. Her debut album ‘Bridge The Roads’ has already received critical acclaim and extensive airplay all over the world.
Emotionally raw, truly original and with sophisticated arrangements Franka De Mille’s music has an elegant blend of Americana, chamber music and alternative folk.
Franka’s focus on strong melodies really underline the powerful emotional charge of her unique voice and deeply personal lyrics. Her deliberate use of violin, cello, accordion, mandolin and flute as ‘second voices’ add an awesome depth to her compositions.
Although she has been compared to Patti Smith, Tori Amos, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey, the only real comparison with them is a shared creative clarity in the expression of their music. Franka remains uncompromisingly herself, both musically and vocally.
She is the first, and only, independent artist to be selected for the British Phonographic Industry’s ‘Why Music Matters’ campaign, alongside Nina Simone, The Beatles, Kate Bush, Louie Armstrong, John Martyn and Nick Cave.
www.frankademille.com
www.myspace.com/frankademille
www.whymusicmatters.org/videos/entry/franka-de-mille
www.facebook.com/pages/Franka-De-Mille/123479582874
Freebo
One of contemporary music’s most renowned and versatile bassists via his longtime associations with Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Crosby Stills & Nash, Neil Young, Buddy Guy and Ringo Starr, Freebo has evolved over the years into a popular singer-songwriter on the folk-rock circuit.
While keeping up a brisk pace of composing and performing at clubs and festivals throughout the US, the versatile classic rock and blues influenced musician has received an unprecedented amount of accolades in the handful of years since the release of his critically acclaimed recording “Before The Separation”. In 2007, he was named “Best Folk Artist” at the Los Angeles Music Awards and won the South Florida Songwriting Contest; the following year, he won a Posi Award for Best Song in the “Most Uniting” category; and in 2009, he was a finalist in The Great American Songwriting Contest.
On his highly anticipated new album, Freebo invites his fans to join him on a heartfelt search for “Something To Believe”. Digging into his dual passions for bluesy rock and stripped down acoustic guitar driven folk-pop, the singer — working with co-producer and engineer Robert Tepper - frees his musical soul as he looks for meaning in various ways throughout the eclectic and compelling 11 tracks.
In Freebo’s cleverly poetic world, there is always whimsy to spare — which allows for a few lighthearted moments like the wry and charming blues rocker “She Loves My Dog More Than Me”. But it’s those other, deeper places in the artist’s heart that reflect this moment in his spiritual journey and an ongoing quest for personal significance and universal truth.
“No matter what I’m writing, I always come from a place of honesty and truth, emotion and commonality”, says Freebo. “Creativity is an expression of my personal spirituality, sharing who I am and how I relate to the rest of the world — and that includes not only people but animals and nature. It’s more than simply a belief in a God or superior being. It’s about a connectedness to all things. “Something To Believe” is about a quest for meaning but I didn’t start out with that concept — it’s simply the theme that took shape as I began to write more songs reflecting on my life and the world around me”.
Freebo wrote the poignant title track with his longtime friend Eric Lowen (of the singer-songwriter duo Lowen & Navarro) who is battling ALS. The song explores some of the spiritual issues that have arisen since he was diagnosed — including the desire to find deeper meaning in those dark places and the dream of someday knowing freedom from the burden. The song has a tacit acknowledgement that the ultimate purpose of this journey is out there but in this life we may not fully be able to grasp it.
On “Before The Separation”, Freebo — who grew up in a Pennsylvania coal mining town — tackled the hard issue of the loss of the American Dream. “Something To Believe” expands on that theme via “When There’s No Place Like Home”, tackling the issue of homelessness based on the experiences of those who have lost their jobs in a bad economy and veterans the government has turned its back on. The album also includes a song about Freebo’s desire to know his life has counted for something (“Standing Ovation”); a clever weaving of a spiritual quest with modern technology (“My Personal GPS”); an unabashed optimistic love song (“On A Parallel Together”) and his aspiration to conquer his fears and take risks (“If Not Now, When”).
“That’s What Love Is”, the new album’s most philosophical, poetic number, finds Freebo collaborating with songwriters Karen Taylor-Good and Lisa Aschmann; the gentle acoustic ballad weaves personal observation, timeless wisdom and even classic Biblical concepts in trying to define the attributes of life’s greatest mystery. Typical of Freebo’s free-spirited stylistic approach, he follows this point of grace with the rollicking, playful blues-rock jam “Sometimes It’s For Nothin’”.
“For me”, he says, “the process of crafting a new recording is one of exploration. You might start out thinking the album is about one thing but are happy to allow it to evolve into something very different and unexpected if it’s meant to go that way. The joy is in the discovery of new creative directions, and I always find myself growing as a writer, producer and vocalist during the making of an album. The great news is, the search for a higher significance continues and that means there are a lot more songs where these came from”.
Fred Eaglesmith
Fred Eaglesmith has done it again – An 18-track tour de force that makes the compelling case - as well as most enjoyable and fulfilling listening - that its a landmark album, not just for the artist himself but within the contemporary music at large.
Yes, his new album, “Tinderbox” is that good, an album that is sure to appear on year-end critics Top 10 lists.
On it, one detects the complimentary comparisons made about Eaglesmith by critics in the past - Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, John Prine, T Bone Burnett and Steve Earle - yet it’s an album that could only been made by Fred Eaglesmith.
With production by Eaglesmith and Scott Merritt that blends deep roots and vivid musicality with atmospheric arrangements and experimentalist touches that remind of Waits’ more progressive work, it captivates listeners and leads them on a musical and lyrical journey that evokes powerful emotions and visions.
Self described as "Dirt Road Gospel" (in a non-religious way).
Fur Dixon & Steve Werner
There’s a twin dust devil blowing in out of the west and it’s name is Fur Dixon & Steve Werner. They just seemed to come off the road, out of nowhere with their big cowboy hats and guitars, yodeling and harmonizing their highway songs into the hearts of the American West. Their songs are filled with stories of the western road, told unadorned in plain language.
Yep, the “Traveling American Folksingers” from Van Nuys, California are on the move. Their two CDs,“The Pearl & The Swine” and “Travelers” are a one-two knockout punch of real-deal Americana. They effortlessly blur the boundaries of bluegrass, western and American folk music.
They have wowed ‘em all over the west, headlining at such places as the Getty Center, Tucson Folk Festival, Peter Strauss Ranch Summer Concert Series, Friends Of Bodie Days, Bluegrass At The Braemar, Ojai Concert Series, Underwood Farms Bluegrass Folk & Old Time Festival and the Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival. They are beloved by young and old alike, by fidgety kids, Hollywood hipsters, old folkies and silver-haired septuagenarians.
Fabulous Horndogs
Fantastic People
Faris Nourallah
Fayssoux
Fiery Blue
Filip
Firefall
For You 2
Francesco Lucarelli
Franco & Raffaella
Franka De Mille
Freebo
Fred Eaglesmith
Fur & Steve
