Baddest Band in the Land CD Release and Tour
Call it bearing the torch passed to them from numerous rock icons with whom they’ve shared the stage – Ronnie Hawkins, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Johnnie Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, and more. Call it tenacity, passion, desire, need. The Weber Brothers aren’t in this for fame, for money, to be ‘cool’, to belong to a clique, to party. They’re in this for one reason – to be the best.
Their new recording, Baddest Band in the Land is as matter-of-fact as its title. Recorded in two days, live off the floor. 13 songs presenting an unexampled fusion of straight rock, pop, country, rhythm and blues, and the rockabilly style learned under Hawkins’ wing. Ryan’s beastly vocals and distinctive upright bass style along with Sam’s ship-steering guitar are staples of a unique, highly arranged sound. But the defining characteristic of the album is not in its individual elements, but the evident cohesion of a band firing on all cylinders. With longtime members Emmet VanEtten (drums), Shai Peer (keyboards) and multi-instrumentalist Tim Bracken, they create a tight, unified sound, the product of years of shared experience and work. It’s the sound of a band, not just five musicians playing at the same time.
Their talent was pretty obvious, but the thing that got me excited was their work ethic. I told them to practice and play, and that’s what they did. Whatever they’re playing, they’ve got this need to play it absolutely right, to be authentic. They’re just getting better and better and better. It’s tough doing what they do. That’s what I did. It means you want it.
People always ask me about those early days with The Band. I guess I could tell you lots of stories and try to tell you how great it was, but like they say, you had to be there. The only way to really understand what it’s like when a band does all that hard work and really becomes a band, is to be there when it happens. Well babies, it’s happening right now with The Weber Brothers. You want to catch them now and see it happen for yourself. Then you won’t have to ask me what those early days with The Weber Brothers were like.”
-Ronnie Hawkins
Oct 13-Lop Lops, Sault Ste Marie ON
Oct 14/15-Apollo,Thunder Bay ON
Oct 21/22-The Fez Club, Saskatoon SK
Oct 25- Phunkin Gruuve, Lloydminster AB
Oct 29-The Slice, Lethbridge AB
Nov 3-Canmore Hotel, Canmore AB
Nov 4/5-Mikey’s Juke Joint, Calgary AB
Nov 6-Black Diamond Hotel, Black Diamond AB
Nov 11-Park Theater, Winnipeg MB
Nov 18/19-Dakota Tavern, Toronto ON
Nov 25-The Legendary Red Dog, Peterborough ON
Dec 1-The Elmdale Tavern, Ottawa ON
Dec 2-Sticky Fingers, Barrie ON
