Magnolia Electric

An eclectic artist with a thousand shades, Gaetano Pellino is without a doubt one of the most interesting artists of recent years. His works range from blues and funk, hip hop coming through the dozens of other influences, always well mixed and accuratamete accurate, from time to time become real musical gems timeless.

“Dangerous” Dan Toler—who played with The Allman Brothers Band from 1978-82, participated in the band’s 1986 reunion shows and toured with both Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts—is currently suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. But the noted guitarist has mustered the energy to record a new studio album with The Toler Tucci Band, Doc’s Hideaway which is set for release on November 6 via Magnolia Records. In addition to Toler and band co-namesake Doc Tucci, the group features The Platters singer Verceal Whitaker, keyboardist Jake Hansen, bassist Harry DeBusk, percussionist Mike Tucci and Gregg Allman Band percussionist Chaz Trippy.

Cousin to the late blues ballad singer Chuck Willis, Robert "Chick" Willis is primarily beloved for his ribald, dozens-based rocker "Stoop Down Baby." The guitarist cut his original version in 1972 for tiny La Val Records of Kalamazoo, MI, selling a ton of 45s for the jukebox market only (the tune's lyrics were way too raunchy for airplay).
Willis left the military in 1954, hiring on as valet and chauffeur to cousin Chuck, then riding high with his many R&B hits for OKeh Records. At that point, Chick's primary role on the show was as a singer (he made his own vinyl debut in 1956 with a single, "You're Mine," for Lee Rupe's Ebb Records after winning a talent contest at Atlanta's Magnolia Ballroom), but he picked up the guitar while on the road with his cousin (Chick cites Guitar Slim as his main man in that department)…

2007 GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR HISTORY IN THE MAKING Once in a lifetime you may experience a brief moment when the stars align and something truly extraordinary happens. This was the case in October 2004, when four of the greatest living blues legends were assembled in Dallas, Texas for one incomparable night of music. At the time they ranged in age from 89 to 94 and all had received the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship Award, the highest honor in the USA for traditional arts. These musicians have devoted their entire life to playing the blues, and staging such an epic event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once reunited, the old magic reemerged. It was if they were long lost school buddies.

Brand new album by Thunder Dreamer is the band's most fully realized and affecting work to-date. Capture finds the four piece in torch-bearing form. Even when the band are crafting a gleaming slice of Americana think Whiskeytown at their most opulent or Songs: Ohia's rollicking pomp the whole thing is underpinned by an overwhelming poignancy. Capture is a more complete and substantial gritty take on the great American songbook, with its arms and heart left open to all. The album was recorded by Mike Bridavsky (Magnolia Electric Co., Mac Demarco, Mount Eerie) at Russian Recording in Bloomington, IN and mastered by T.W. Walsh (David Bazan, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Julien Baker). Art direction and design by Aaron Tanner (Pixies, Ween).

The time is right for CBP to finally release a recording made up of cover versions. "Horrific Honorifics" is an unashamed celebration of songs that have either influenced Justin Greaves and CBP in music and life, or have been on the “cover song short list” for quite some time, waiting to be recorded once the opportunity arose.
Throughout the history of the band there have always been the occasional cover songs, but mostly consigned to the extra-or-hidden-track department, although a couple of songs made it onto albums such as “Of A Lifetime” on I,Vigilante, and most recently “Turn To Stone” on the critically acclaimed album Bronze, which were instant hits and popular live songs. Now it’s time to dedicate a whole release to this CBP tradition…