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Underwater People is made up of six full time musicians. Most of the members of the band are music school graduates who only teach and perform music to make their living. The band is made up of the same musicians night in and night out, and we’ve been playing together for many years (Jim and Jacob for over 18 years!). That means that you always know who and what you are getting. This is different than the “So and So Orchestra” bands, who often rely on contracted musicians, some of whom may have never played together before. The band can also be expanded to an eight person band (The UWP Big Show), which adds two musicians who play a combination of saxophone, trumpet, flute and percussion

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Righteous Hillbillies are a rock ‘n’ roll band launching a revival of the Southern spirit of blues boogie, soul groove, along with the primal and visceral energy of rock ‘n’ roll power. Their hometown of Joliet, Illinois is not the likeliest headquarters for one of America’s best Southern Rock bands, but Righteous Hillbillies put the map of convention in the shredder a long time ago. With every Allman Brothers or Stax-Volt style lick, and impassioned and intense shout in a mode and method similar to Chris Robinson, Righteous Hillbillies are an axe shredding, ace dealing demonstration of Southern Rock vitality and the value of authenticity. After a recent live performance at a music festival, music critic David Masciotra, author of Mellencamp: American Troubadour, said, “Righteous Hillbillies stole the show. Their high level of skill, energy, and intensity will make anyone dance in one moment, and then knock the wind out of them the next.”

The lineup of Righteous Hillbillies consists of Brent James, a singer and songwriter bringing together such seemingly disparate elements as hard rock, country, with rhythm and blues to form an unforgettable style. Also keeping the rhythm on guitar, James is a charismatic but commanding front man, steering the Southern Rock ship to conquer new territory at every concert. By his side is Nick Normando, a prodigy and gifted lead guitarist who received his baptism in blood while growing up playing the blues. Righteous Hillbillies have now cut the leash, and Normando is free to run with the pack, bringing all his ferocious power and unpredictable virtuosity to the stage and studio. Jeff Bella pours the foundation on the bass, knowing when to inject color and character into the music, behind Bella is Barret Harvey – a thunderous powerhouse whose drumming ability is steady as a pulse, but equally dynamic. Trained in rock ‘n’ roll and jazz, Harvey adds a unique ingredient to the Hillbillies tonic. Elevating the rhythm of Righteous Hillbillies with a tone of gospel is Chris Bartley, whose keyboards and organ give every song a soulful texture on top the jagged edge of rock ‘n’ roll.

Righteous Hillbillies released their first record of original, instant classics in 2008. They followed up their self-titled debut with a stunning sophomore effort, Trece  Diablos, in 2012. Like a brilliant poker player, they upped the ante in 2015. Righteous Hillbillies who threw all their talent in a bag and took it to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, showing that they can stand in the same studio as the legends who made Muscle Shoals famous: Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Bob Seger. Citing all of those icons as influence, Righteous Hillbillies’ new record, The Muscle Shoals Sessions,  explores all the high points of American music, from rock to rhythm and blues. The songwriting shines like a new diamond, and the performances are flawless.

Guest musicians on the album include keyboards  provided by Danny Louis from Gov’t Mule and Larry Byrom from Steppenwolf. It was produced by Craig Bishop of New York Noize, who has worked with David Byrne, BB King, Rosanne Cash, Joan Osborne, and Shawn Colvin. It was engineered by John Gifford III (Fame Studios) and mastered by Fred Kevorkian of Kevorkian Mastering, who has worked with Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams, The White Stripes, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Trey Anastasio, and more.

Righteous Hillbillies are currently supporting the record throughout the Midwest, and throughout their career, have shared the stage with Bad Company, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Charlie Daniels Band, David Allen Coe, Bret Michaels, Phil Vassar, Jackyl, Gin Blossoms, Days of the New, Sonny Landreth, Vince Neil (Motley Crue), Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Black Oak Arkansas, Jimmie Van Zandt, Doyle Dykes, Stoney LaRue, Cathy Richardson, Clint Black, and more.

Righteous Hillbillies are currently writing songs for their next record, promising to make it a Southern Rock explosion. Follow them on Facebook for regular updates on their show schedule, and exciting news about their next project.

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As the son of legendary drumming icon Ginger Baker, Kofi Baker has a name that’s synonymous with drumming excellence. And Kofi lives up to his name; with his outstanding skills, drive, and dedication he continues the great Baker legacy.

Kofi’s first live performance was with his father on the UK television show “The Old Grey Whistle Test” – at just six years of age he proved he had inherited more than just his fathers name. In the early 80’s, Kofi and his father played drum duets throughout Europe, amazing audiences with complex African polyrhythms. Later, Kofi toured with John Ethridge (Soft Machine) and gigged in London with Steve Waller (Manfred Mann) and with Randy California (Spirit). He also toured Europe with Steve Marriot’s Humble Pie.
During the 1990’s Kofi toured with Jack Bruce in Budapest; signed with Scotty Brothers Records when he recorded the album Lost City; recorded Abstract Logic with Jonas Hellborg and Shawn Lane; and toured extensivley – including more drum duets with Ginger Baker.

In 1994, Kofi headed off for the USA and for some time lived with his father Ginger Baker in Colorado. Footage of this can be seen in the Ginger Baker Rockumentary ‘Beware of Mr Baker’ and more stories in the Ginger Baker autobiography ‘Hellraiser’ & GingerBaker.com.
More recently Kofi has completed The Extreme Guitar Tour with Uli Jon Roth -Former Scorpions lead guitarist, Vinny Appice – DIO, Black Sabbath, Rick Derringer, John Lennon ect. Vinnie Moore – Lead guitarist with UFO.

After leaving Colorado for LA, Kofi continues to play extensively and also set up his own drum school which spawned many loyal fans and pupils; anyone attending his clinics can testify to his easy friendly manner and the excellent way he communicates his passion to others.

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Dear Mother,

I meant to write to you before this, and I hope you haven’t been worried. I am in Nashville and it is really beautiful here. A beautiful scene. We’ve been here a week, me and this rock and roll band that calls itself the Love-In. We’re making this movie. Well it’s not really a movie, but a short film. Well it’s not visual or anything, more like an album. Only while we’re making it, I’m in it.

I won’t bore you with the whole thing, how it happened, but I really tried, because I knew you wanted me to. It just didn’t work out with me and Danny, and so I have come here and it is a really beautiful scene. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m with the Love-In now.

There’s a boy named Ian Kendall who plays guitar. He’s shown me around a bit. He’s always in such a hurry, yet somehow always late. And there’s a girl named Veronica Selby with eyes like a doe and a voice like a little birdie. She hangs around with a boy named Michael Rasile, who hits his drums so hard you wouldn’t believe! It’s powerful stuff the way he plays, but my new friend Allison Stokes says not to listen to him. She sings with a voice dark and mysterious like the woods back home. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what I should do. This guy John Lattimer says I shouldn’t listen to either of them and to just do what I want. He plays the bass like thunder and walks around followed by a cloud of smoke.

We’re all getting a van together and we’re just gonna go. We’re piling in together, traveling all over the Heartland, playing our music and bringing people into our movie. Please don’t worry. We’re welcoming everyone to the Love-In.

Completely and Honestly Truly,
Laurel & the Love-In