With special guest Ronnie Dawson. Release date: August, 2004
#1 on XM Radio's X-Check Album Chart
"an alternative to cookie-cutter Nashville country as well as frat-boy Texas Music."
- John Goodspeed, San Antonio Express-News
Americana Music Association Top 100 Release for 2004
"If you’re beyond the manicured and blow-dried image of today’s CMT hopefuls, check out these guys."
- George Peden, CountryReview.com
There’s a classic country feel
to the Mickey Newberry-penned “Why You Been Gone So Long,” the first single
from Eleven Hundred Springs’ Bandwagon. But the band’s pedal
steel-driven sound owes as much to the Burrito Brothers/Byrds/Eagles strain
of California country rock as it does the CMT lineup.
Band leader Matt Hillyer draws
comparisons to Willie Nelson in looks and style; he and the other Springers
— Steven Berg, Chris Claridy, Aaron Wynne
and Mark Reznicek — consider themselves
members of Nelson’s outlaw country camp. But band members also cite
influences from Buck Owens and Doug Sahm to the Rolling Stones. One of EHS’
greatest inspirations, Ronnie Dawson, recorded the original version of “Why
You Been Gone So Long” with Hillyer in July 1993. Dawson, who passed away in
2003, is featured on the remastered, partly rerecorded single.
Guitarist/lead vocalist Hillyer
is well-supported by band co-founder Berg’s upright and electric bass,
Claridy’s guitar, and Wynne’s prominent pedal steel. All three also
contribute backing vocals. The band’s newest member is drummer Reznicek,
formerly of the platinum-selling Toadies.
Hillyer’s also the man behind
most of the songs. His insights and humor are heard throughout the tracks on
the album, from which future singles will include “North Side Blues” and “A
Straighter Line.”
Eleven Hundred Springs is a
perfect fit for Palo Duro Records’ growing roster. The label focuses on
Texas talent, an under-represented part of the country music universe.
| track |
|
composer |
|
North
Side Blues |
|
Steve Berg & Matt Hillyer |
| If I Was a Candle |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| The Only Thing She Left Me Was the
Blues |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Long Haired, Tattooed Hippie Freak |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Thunderbird Will Do Just Fine |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Gina from San Jose |
|
Steve Berg & Matt Hillyer |
| Can't Win for Losin' |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Hank Williams Wouldn't Make It |
|
Aaron Wynne |
| Swerving |
|
Chris Claridy |
| Brand New Shoes |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Straighter Line |
|
Chris Claridy, Matt Hillyer & Aaron
Wynne |
|
Why You
Been Gone So Long
(with
Ronnie Dawson) |
|
Mickey Newberry |
| See You in the Next Life |
|
Matt Hillyer |
| Rock Island Line |
|
Arrangement by Matt Hillyer |
