Menu

Press

DD_cover 1

Honey Island Swamp Band – Demolition Day

/ , , /

Formed about ten years ago in San Francisco by New Orleans musicians displaced from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Honey Island Swamp Band is composed of Aaron Wilkinson (mandolin, guitar, harmonica, vocals), Chris Mulé (guitar, vocals), Sam Price(bass, vocals), Garland Paul (drums, vocals), and Trevor Brooks(keyboards).  Their newest release, Demolition Day is a bountiful big bowl of soulfully seasoned Americana roots-rock, and wonderfully written songs produced by Luther Dickinson(North Mississippi Allstars).

An exquisitely funky bassline sets the track for an intoxicating jam fueled with spacy guitar in “Head High Water Blues”.  I love the little blasts of brass and boogie-laced piano accompaniment in “Watch and Chain”.  Mulé seems to have channeled the spirit of Harry Nilssonwhile writing “She Goes Crazy”.  The innocence lingering in the melody is a fun contrast to the chaotic love story welded into the lyrics.  “Katie” is a lovely piece as well.  This folky performance with a zydeco spirit is one my favorites.  The album comes to a close with the magnificent “Devils Den”.  The eclectic sound of Wilkinson’s mandolin and Mulé’s swampy slide guitar set an eerie ominous presence, like a Nick Cave murder ballad.

Demolition Day, one of the more interesting albums to recently dip into my awareness, reveals something new with each listen.  I’m downright captivated by this music and so enjoy being unconsciously ushered from genre to genre. That’s a craft in and of itself.

What the Critics are Saying About Cane Sugar!

/ , , /

“Cane Sugar is a collection of rockin’ tunes from Honey Island Swamp Band that showcase the band’s superb musicianship (note the grooves locked down by drummer Garland Paul and bassist Sam Price) in addition to what is this rapidly rising roots-rock act’s defining characteristic: the simpatico duality of contrasting worldviews offered by two top-notch songwriters…. Weaving writing styles both sweetly poetic (Wilkinson’s “Prodigal Son”) and defiantly depraved (“Never Saw It Coming” from Mulé) not to mention the former’s fine mandolin picking and the latter’s sinister shreds on Cane Sugar, it’s easy to discover why HISB seems poised to fulfill its substantial potential. “’

Hittin’ The Note Magazine

“Good rock ‘n’ roll. You don’t realize how you miss it until it hits you full in the face like it does when you put Cane Sugar on whatever form of music player you utilize…a good time attitude (whether optimistic or defiant) and the way that the band members work off each other distinguishes Cane Sugar from other roots and Southern influenced records. In and of itself, it’s great collection of rockin’ songs.”

Offbeat Magazine

“Born into the grit of Southern comfort and bred by a homegrown dose of good livin’, Honey Island Swamp Band’s album, Cane Sugar, captures the soul of the dynamic roots rock group as they venture over yet another crossroads in their expanding career. Collaborating with Grammy award-winning producer John Porter, the members of the Honey Island Swamp Band were able to use such a creative element to hone in on a pure, whole sound that utilized instrumentation that carved perfectly into the songwriting pairing of Chris Mule and Aaron Wilkinson. Elevated by the musicianship and craftsmanship of the rest of the talented group, the harmonies balance perfectly along the attractive melodies and sweeping rhythms throughout the album… home-inspired music that resonates Southern roots with a Big Easy attitude.”

Where Y’At Magazine

“It’s hard to hear the Honey Island Swamp Band play without bobbing your head or at least tapping your toes. Maybe it’s the searing guitar from Chris Mulé, the mandolin plucking from Aaron Wilkinson, Trevor Brooks’ Hammond B-3 organ, the thoughtful lyrics and four-part harmonies, or the groovin’ stomp rhythm section from bassist Sam Price and drummer Garland Paul. Whatever it is, the sounds are quintessentially ‘“swampy.’”

Sneak Peak Vail

Louisiana Red Hot Records is Proud to Announce the Release of Cane Sugar

/ , /

Michelle Roche

NEW ORLEANS—May 31, 2013– Louisiana Red Hot Records is proud to announce the release of Cane Sugar, the 4th recording from Honey Island Swamp Band, on July 30, 2013.

Formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in San Francisco, Honey Island Swamp Band has developed into one of hottest new bands coming out of the South.  The band includes:  Aaron Wilkinson (vocals, mandolin, guitar, harmonica); Chris Mulé (vocals, guitar); Sam Price (bass, vocals); Garland Paul (drums, vocals) and Trevor Brooks (keys).  Their music, described as “Bayou Americana,” has won multiple Best of the Beat Awards from Offbeat Magazine for “Best Emerging Artist,” “Best Blues Album” and “Best Roots Rock Artist.” Most recently the band was named “Best Roots Rock of New Orleans” in both 2011 and 2012 by the Big Easy Awards, New Orleans’ most prestigious arts and entertainment honors.

Cane Sugar is the band’s first nationally released album following three self-released recordings.  Produced by multiple Grammy-winner John Porter (Buddy Guy, BB King, Santana, Ryan Adams), the 12 songs feature lush instrumentation highlighted by layers of slide guitar, keyboards, strings, banjo and horns, perfectly blending Blues, Country, and Southern Rock.  A limited rush release for the 2013 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in late April scored Cane Sugar an impressive #2 best selling CD ranking at the Fest music store (barely beaten out by jazz superstar and Fest closer Trombone Shorty, who Louisiana Red Hot first introduced to the world in 2002).

The band performed 150+ dates in each of 2011 and 2012, including major festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Wakarusa, Wanee Fest, and a headlining performance at Portland’s 4th of July Waterfront Blues Festival, winning audiences over with their blazing live show.   The band will continue to keep the road hot behind the new release.    Their itinerary thus far is as follows:

Thurs, June 13 Generations Hall New Orleans, LA
Fri, June 14 Last Concert Café Houston, TX
Sat, June 15 Antone’s Austin, TX
Fri, June 21 Maple Leaf New Orleans, LA
Fri, June 28 KTAO Solar Center Taos, NM
Sat. June 29 Sheridan Opera House Telluride, CO
Tues, July 2 Hot Summer Nights Vail, CO
Thurs, July 4 Red, White & True Blues Fest Denver, CO
Fri, July 5 Bluebird Theatre Denver, CO
Sat-Sun, July 6-7 Jambalaya Fest Kempton, PA
Thurs-Fri, July 11-12 Boom Boom Room San Francisco, CA
Sat, July 13 Seven Sisters Music Festival San Luis Obispo, CA
Thurs, July 25 U.S. National Whitewater Center Charlotte, NC
Wed, July 31 Music City Roots Nashville, TN
Fri, Aug 2 Martyrs’ Chicago, IL
Sat, Aug 3 Cincy Blues Festival Cincinatti, OH

Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana Red Hot Records has released over 200 albums of the hottest Blues, Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Funk, Zydeco, Cajun and Rock, and is a leader among Southern independent labels in marketing and worldwide distribution.  Having reemerged from the near-total destruction of its facilities by Hurricane Katrina, it is the only label in the Deep South partnered with Entertainment One, the world’s #1 independent distributor for music and video. Owner Harris Rea has sold millions of records over his forty year career, helping launch such artists as Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Hunter Hayes, Master P, the Cash Money Millionaires, Cowboy Mouth, Better Than Ezra, Cyril Neville and most recently Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk.  His family also owns and operates the famed Peaches Records in the French Quarter.  Founded in 1975 by Mr. Rea, it is one of the largest and oldest remaining indie music retailers in the U.S.

For more information:

www.honeyislandswamp.com

http://louisianaredhotrecords.com

360 University Circle, Athens, GA 30605

706-353-3244  michelle@michelleroche.com  www.michelleroche.com

Jambase: Pictures from second weekend of 2012 JazzFest

/ , /

Jambase is now featuring a wonderful photo montage from our friend Susan Weiand, visually documenting the second weekend of the music at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — or simply the 2012 JazzFest — including some really sweet shots of Honey Island Swamp Band’s debut at the Acura Stage on Thursday May 3.  Also featured are legendary Meters’ bassist George Porter Jr., Astral Project, and our friends Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk.

You can check out Sue’s photos HERE….and please visit Susan J Weiand Photography to see the amazing archive of music photos that Sue has accomplished, as well as to find out about the other incredible photographic work Sue does – if you live in the Bay area, please consider her services for your next big event or family portraiture. Yeah you rite Sue!

Honey Island Swamp Band comes of age

/ , /

by Keith Spera, New Orleans Times-Picayune

** Thursday July 21, 2011 **

It sometimes is possible to pinpoint the exact moment a band comes of age. Having defined their sound, its members articulate it with confidence. They are rewarded with the hoots and hands-in-the-air approval of an appreciative audience that, going forward, will seek them out, buy their CDs and confirm their place in the firmament.

The Honey Island Swamp Band experienced such a moment during the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

 

Chris Mulé, special guest Jake Eckert, Aaron Wilkinson and Sam Price - Honey Island Swamp Band at N.O. Jazz and Heritage Festival - 5/1/2011 (photo by NolaMar Images)

At the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, the musicians hit all their marks: They plugged their most recent CD, “Good to You,” but not gratuitously; they beefed up their presentation with horns and a percussionist. For the finale…

read more…

Eye On The Music – Honey Island Swamp Band @ The Mint

/ , /

by Jim Brock, EyeOnTheMusic.com

** Sunday June 26, 2011 **

Honey Island Swamp Band swung into the Westside on Saturday, another NOLA nugget appearing at the Mint.  This is a New Orleans band that reflects its Katrina Diaspora-Bay Area birth with chunky and soulful jams, tight arrangements and great material.  If you are expecting ballads, standards, and second lines, this ain’t that NOLA band.  Whether moving easily from moments Dead infused or Dr. John influenced, their self-described Bayou Americana sound never loses sight of its swampy swagger or solo driven joy.

 

Chris Mulé & A-Ron Wilkinson - The Mint, L.A. 6/25/11 photo by Jim Brock

 

The band has kicked ass at Jazzfest the past few years, so a chance to enjoy them here in the Southland was indeed a treat, and to my knowledge, The Mint gig is their first Los Angeles show.  At Fest performances and in the studio, HISB often fattens their arrangements with horns, and Saturday had that taste with Karl Denson sitting in for both sets contributing frequent solos and locking into some killer grooves with Trevor Brooks on keys and Chris Mule’s SG/Strat driven leads…

read more…

 

 

 

 

Jackson Hole Weekly – Bayou Americana at Music on Main

/ /

by Aaron Davis, Jackson Hole Weekly

** Wednesday July 6, 2011 **

 

Jackson Hole, Wyo. — “Putting a fire out” can mean a lot of things when coming from the mouth of a touring musician. Mandolinist-vocalist Aaron Wilkinson of Honey Island Swamp Band used the phrase when he dealt with a radiator issue on the band’s touring vehicle just before connecting with me for a brief phone chat.
“Its glamorous rock star stuff,” Wilkinson joked.

 

Chris Mulé & Aaron Wilkinson at "Music on Main" in City Park, Victor, Idaho - 7/6/11 (photo by Mundo)

 

The New Orleans-based quartet plays “Bayou Americana” tunes anchored by soaring guitar, sure-handed mandolin and four-part vocal harmony. The band is making its first road trip through Idaho this week, and its performance at Music On Main is one of only two shows it’s put on in the Rocky Mountain region. The first thing that caught my attention was…

read more…

Waterfront Blues Festival 2011: Honey Island Swamp Band

/ , /

by Marc Nieman-Ross, Oregon Music News

** Tuesday July 5, 2011 **

In 1978, a friend introduced me to a band named “Little Feat”. I don’t remember the exact cassette he popped into the tape player in my Subaru Coupe as we traveled from St. Paul to Ely, Minnesota. But we played it over and over during the six hour trip, and by the time I had reached the North Woods, I was completely hooked on what we decided was “Barnyard Funk”.

 

Garland Paul and Chris Mulé with special guest Ivan Neville on keys - Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, OR - 7/4/11

 

Thirty-three years later, I’m watching Honey Island Swamp Band lay down the same difficult-to-describe but completely addicting funk that forces you to head-bob in a pseudo-reggae 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and… To an extent, they even look like what I remember…

read more…

 

 

 

 

SF Chronicle – Bayou buzz band has San Francisco roots

/ , /

by Joel Selvin, Senior Music Critic — San Francisco Chronicle

** Tuesday June 28, 2011 **

The hottest new band in New Orleans started in San Francisco.

Guitarist Chris Mulé and bassist Aaron Wilkinson were playing with guitarist Eric Lindell on tour in San Francisco when Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005. Everything Wilkinson owned was stashed in his van and his roommate’s apartment back in Louisiana.

Honey Island Swamp Band - Garland Paul, A-Ron Wilkinson, Sam Price, Trevor Brooks, and Chris Mulé - photo by Zack Smith

“It was a trip being thousands of miles away, watching it on TV, not knowing what happened to any of your stuff,” he says. “After a couple of weeks, you just wrote it off.”

Stranded in San Francisco, unable to reach anybody back home, Mulé and Wilkinson gravitated toward spending their days at the Boom Boom Room on Fillmore Street, a San Francisco nightclub that many New Orleans musicians think of as their home away from home in this town…

read more…

 

CNN.com – New Orleans Jazz Fest after hours

/ , /

by Jessica Rosgaard, CNN.com

** Thursday May 6, 2011 **

New Orleans (CNN) — The population of New Orleans isn’t big enough that local bands can play to a new crowd every week, so when New Orleans musicians want to make money and new fans, they usually hit the road.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an exception to that rule, with most local bands staying at home to take advantage of a crowd that — this time — comes to them.

 

Honey Island Swamp Band rocks to a capacity crowd at the 2011 JazzFest - 5/1/11 - photo by Mundo

 

For seven days over two weekends, Jazz Fest attracts more than 300,000 music fans to New Orleans. Spread out over a dozen stages, the fest hosts over 450 musical acts from New Orleans and around the world.

Such a large festival opens bands to a big audience, but it also means musicians have tough competition for fest-goers’ time

“At Jazz Fest, there are multiple bands playing at the same time,” said Aaron Wilkinson of Honey Island Swamp Band. “You can’t count on everyone seeing you at your Jazz Fest set, so…

read more…

Load More

Back to top

@ 2016 Honey Island Swamp Band / Double Down Music