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I’m Eric, and these are my January picks….

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Al Casey – Ramrod (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

Alvin W. Casey (26 October 1936 in Long Beach, California – 17 September 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona) was an American rockabilly guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States. The average music fan in the United States may have never heard of Al, but, among fellow musicians, he remains a legend. You can look him up for the ages in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Here’s his MySpace page.

Chuck Hall Band – Iceman Cometh (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 2

Chuck Hall is a true Blues Master of the guitar. Raised in Louisiana and Texas, he soaked up the deeply rooted styles spawned by such legends as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters, and Albert King. Since moving to the Valley, Chuck has become a legend himself playing clubs and festivals of all sorts around AZ and the Southwest, as well as, touring Europe 24 times. Chuck Hall Band plays countless originals along with unique, tight arrangements of blues-based standards to cook up a Texas stew sure to please and move all in listening range.  This song is off a CD that Chuck recorded live in Sweden. Here’s Chuck’s website. And here he is on MySpace.

Deadhot Workshop – Nixon Saves (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

Tempe, AZ-based singer/songwriter Brent Babb joined with drummer/bandleader Curtis Grippe to form the guitar-driven rock band Dead Hot Workshop in the early ’90s. More than a decade (and four albums) later, the group remained one of the hardest-hitting bands on the West Coast. According to Roger Clyne of Phoenix.-based Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, “Music people in this city get as excited about what Brent Babb does as people did about what Dylan was doing in the ’60s.”

While their early sound centered on the two-guitar attack of Babb and Steve Larson and Babb’s working-class-oriented lyrics, Dead Hot Workshop was forced to reorganize following the departure of Larson in June 1997. They recorded their second album, Karma Covered Apple, as a trio.

Dead Hot Workshop continued to shift personnel. When  bassist Brian Scott left in June 1998, he was replaced by Thomas Laufenberg. Here’s their website. And here they are on MySpace.

(Curtis If I missed any thing let hoss know!)

Fishbone- Lemon Meringue (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 2

Fishbone is an alternative rock band that plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, reggae, funk, heavy metal and more. The band was formed in 1979 in the ghettos of South Central Los Angeles by Angelo Moore, also known as “Dr. Madd Vibe” (vocals, saxophones ranging from sopranino to bass, and theremin); Kendall Jones (guitar); John Norwood Fisher (bass); Philip “Fish” Fisher (drums); “Dirty” Walter A. Kibby II (vocals, trumpet); and Chris Dowd (keyboards, trombone). The group came from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned the Minutemen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction. Here’s their website. And here they are on MySpace.

Mark Zubia (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

Ask him and Mark Zubia from Phoenix, Arizona has just finished a solo CD after leading roots rock groups the Pistoleros and Los Guys for many years. Don’t worry. He’s not left the band scene. This is just a new little project for him. And it’s pretty cool stuff. Here’s his website.  And here he is on MySpace.

Rebel Red- American Girl (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

Rebel Red is an American Girl who has definitely seen the world. She was born in New York but grew up in England and has spend many years playing in bands that have performed at U.S. military bases across the world. Here’s her website. And here she is on Myspace.

Scott Johnson – Stop  (Buy, Dang It)
Finished 3rd — Moves on to the finals

Tempe guitarist Scott Johnson made a name for himself playing with Gin Blossoms rising to fame and fortune as the Tempe based band climbed the charts in the mid 90’s. His 3 years with Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers solidified his place in rock and roll. Now releasing 12 fresh NEW tracks produced by George Keller. Here he is on MySpace.

Suicide Kings – Light At The End of the Bottle (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

The Suicide Kings are some cool guys who ended up in Nashville after spending a lot of time on the Arizona music scene. Here’s what their record company Blue Plate Music says about  them:

“The Suicide Kings self-titled debut could easily be the soundtrack for a twenty-first century version of the Wild West. The album fuses the grit and tragic sincerity of classic country music and adds equal parts trailer trash and genius. Sonically, The Suicide Kings are like a desert tornado spinning deeply personal songs to serenade the desperate, the lonely and the broken-hearted. At the core of the band are two prolific musicians with equally unique histories. Recent Nashville transplants, Bruce Connole and Brad Buxer formed The Suicide Kings in 2006 after twenty years of playing together in various projects from The Strand to Phoenix favorites The Jetzons. The musical bond that comes from playing together for this amount of time is evident in the rich body of work that comprises The Suicide Kings’ debut. Bruce Connole is the lead vocalist, guitar player and songwriter. It’s an understatement to say he has overcome many obstacles to stand where he is today: including kicking a long and devastating heroin addiction that is no skeleton in his closet. “Quitting dope was about as courageous as running out of a burning house,” Connole says with a grin. With his past firmly behind him, Bruce’s focus clearly resides in making his songs come alive through poignant story telling. It becomes apparent in the first few songs on this album that Bruce’s songwriting is inspirationally haunted by the likes of Hank Williams Sr., Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Brad Buxer, the The Suicide Kings’ keyboard player and background vocalist, has a lengthy list of musical accolades including playing, arranging and/or programming for Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, among others. But while Buxer’s musical accomplishments are a true testament to a monster talent and an unprecedented work ethic, it is arguable that this record showcases some of his finest and most soulful playing. This is not a record for the timid or the faint of heart. However, as poetically dark as some of these stories and characters may be, there is still something undeniably relatable about The Suicide Kings. The sentiment in every word holds true and captures the essence of a seedy underbelly of life that few of us have ever ventured into. The names would have been changed to protect the innocent, but it’s clear that everyone in these songs is guilty and still running.” Check them out on MySpace.

Waylon Jennings – My World  (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 4

This is a rare recording done by one of the legends of American music. Enough said. Make sure you spend some time at www.Waylon.com.

You Am I – Gunslingers (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

You Am I is an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances. Check them out their website. And here they are on MySpace.

About Me:

I have a band called Bretheren Sol. Check out our website: www.BretherenSol.com.  Our song Across the Desert won the Hossey Award Song of the Year in 2008. Enough said, dang it.