THE LONESOME HEROES
Bio:
It’s a big strange world out there full of beautiful overlooked roadsides, mountains, and people, and The Lonesome Heroes want to find every one. A band with a mission, they seek to spread psychedelic country tones wherever they go, and with 395,000 miles on their trusted rusted van Helga they sometimes seem to be running on sheer luck and determination. Many people wince at the mention of Country Music, but The Lonesome Heroes quickly unfurl brows through their subtle meshing of Indie Rock, Folk, Country and Psychedelic tones.
The core of the band consists of the shared songwriting and vision of Brooklyn raised songwriter Rich Russell and Texas raised songwriter/artist Landry McMeans. The duo splits singing, guitar, and steel guitar duties to create songs that bridge the gap between north and south, and modern and traditional songwriting. Relying on a long list of incredible musicians from around the country to fill out the band, the Lonesome Heroes continually push the boundaries of Country, Rock, and Folk Music.
Playing diverse venues ranging from Rock Clubs, Art Galleries, Summer Camps, Honky Tonks, State Parks, Acoustic Rooms, Five Star Restaurants, and beyond, The Lonesome Heroes are revolutionizing Country Music one night and one venue at a time. With just 5 songs and 1000 copies available on Floodwater Record’s first pressing of DON’T PLAY TO LOSE, The Lonesome Heroes managed to garner outstanding national press and national radio play without the aid of publicists, booking agents, or radio promoters.
The Lonesome Heroes bring a DIY approach to country music. They solved the problem of not being able to book enough shows with other country acts in Austin, by becoming booking agents themselves. Six months later, The Lonesome Heroes free weekly Alt Country Showcase (www.myspace.com/austinaltcountry) has become a self-sustaining local staple at Austin’s Historic Hole in The Wall. The list of established and upcoming acts that grace the Showcase expands weekly, and the Showcase has evolved into a great community of musicians that challenge the complacency of Contemporary Commercial Country Music.
The summer of 2007 will be the greatest adventure yet for The Lonesome Heroes, starting with a June residency at Banjo Jim’s in the not-so-country-music stronghold of NYC. With almost more shows booked than they have days in NYC, The Lonesome Heroes will continue to carve out a name for themselves and country music as they have so successfully done in Austin, by playing music and meeting beautiful people.
In July they will quickly swing back through Texas before another Midwest/West coast tour with a list of venues so diverse that only a psychedelic country band could possibly fit the bills. The ending highlight to the tour will be another week long residency at Element Skateboard Camp in The Sequoia Mountains, where The Lonesome Heroes will trade Country songs with kids for skateboard tricks and nature skills.
Please keep your ears peeled for The Lonesome Heroes new limited press 100% acoustic release *SUNNY*EYED*HIGHWAY*SONGS*. Also watch for them in a town near you and please check out the links page for some of the incredible bands The Lonesome Heroes have been lucky enough to play with across the country.
January 2008 finds the Lonesome Heroes hiding out @ Super Pop Studios in Austin as they finally bring their ever expanding band to record a full length Psychedelic Country Record. Due out in May, it will be totally awesome.
Influences:
Beck, The Silver Jews, Johnny Cash, Smog, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Wilco, The Velvet Underground, Graham Parsons, Lil' Cap'n Travis, The Magnetic Fields, Hank Williams, Luna, Yo La Tengo, The Flaming Lips, The Weary Boys, Patty Griffin, Galaxie 500, Brothers and Sisters, Kris Kristoferson, The Darling New Neighbors, Will Oldham, Woody Guthrie, Gillian Welch, Lou Barlow, Iron and Wine, Emmylou Harris, The Flying Burrito Brothers…
THE LONESOME HEROES ARE:
Rich Russell: Vocals, Guitar, & Steel.
Landry McMeans: Vocals, Lap Steel, Dobro, Guitar.
Jim DeGregorio: Electric Bass
Chuck Fleming: Drums.
Sarah Millenary: Fiddle.
Kullen Fuchs: Trumpet, Vibraphone, Accordion, & textures.
A BUNCH OF OTHER LONESOME HEROES MAY SOMETIMES INCLUDE:
Jeff Johnston: Ambassador of Awesomeness/Bass (TX)
Judas Brooks: Spiritual Advisor/Guitar/Bass/Vocals (????)
Darren Sluyter: George Jones Impersonations/Electric Bass. (TX)
Cary Ozanian: Head Motorcycle Repair Guru/Drums. (TX)
Doodle Cox: Best Smile in Texas/Upright Bass. (TX)
Josh Wayne: Flying Burrito Brother/Fiddle/Tamborine/Vocals (CA/TX)
Michael Bilger: Texas Country Music Consoltant/Upright Bass (TX)
Max Korten: Enviromental Advisor/Bass/Vocals (CA)
Scott Hinman: Beerded Organs (TX)
Shelley Herr: Muse/Siren/Melodica/Keyboards (CA)
Jeff Manson: Artist/Piano (CA)
James Moore: Ethnomusicologist/Guitar Maestro/Bass (NYC)
Nima Shirazi: Resident Rock N' Roll Technician/Drums (NYC)
Playing Experience:
The Lonesome Heroes toured the East Coast in the summer of 2005 and West Coast in the summer of 2006. Playing over 100 shows a year locally and nationally the Lonesome Heroes have played a wide variety of venues including:
Emo's, Austin, TX.
The Hole in the Wall, Austin, TX.
Antone's, Austin, TX.
The Cactus Cafe, Austin TX.
The Continental Club, Austin, TX.
The Rodeo Bar, NY, NY.
Superfine, Brooklyn, NY.
Sidewalk Cafe, NY, NY.
Room 710, Austin, TX.
The Mucky Duck, Houston, TX.
Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY.
Eklektikos, KUT 90.5 FM, Austin, TX.
Apocalypse Lounge, NY, NY.
Momo's, Austin, TX.
The Lucky Cat, Brooklyn, NY.
Trophy's, Austin, TX.
The Town Pump, Ashville, NC.
Freddy's Place, Austin, TX.
The Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA.
Redrum, Austin, TX.
The Makeout Room, San Francisco, CA.
Amnesia, San Francisco, CA.
The Carousel Lounge, Austin, TX.
The Attic, Santa Cruz CA.
Café Mundi, Austin, TX.
The Stork Club, Oakland CA.
The Green Mesquite, Austin, TX.
Jambalaya, Arcata, CA.
Kaos Radio 95.9 FM, Austin, TX.
Maiden Publik House, Big Sur, CA.
Flipnotics, Austin, TX.
The Cinema Bar, Los Angeles, CA.
El Arroyo, Austin, TX.
The Granary, Jackson Hole, WY.
Beck's, Austin TX.
Herman's Hideaway, Denver, CO.
Triple Crown, San Marcos, TX.
Duffs, Portland, OR.
Alice's Restaurant, Niederwald, TX.
The Fire, Philadelphia, PA.
Releases:
Don't Play to Lose EP, 2006 Floodwater Records, Minneapolis, MN.
KUT 90.5 FM Eklektikos Live performance April 11, Eklektikos Archives,www.kut.org
Tricks," Element Skateboards Video, Directed By Michael Kershner, 2003 Element Skate Boards, features two songs by Rich Russell.
"Count Me In, The Story of a Swing State," Directed By Daniel Stolzman, 2004 Frameless Productions, Features one song by Rich Russell.
Austin Music CO-OP Open Mic, Hosted by Rich Russell and Josh Wayne, aired on ACTV Tuesdays Channel 10 at 11PM.
Contact:
Rich Russell (303) 726 9406
email: richrussell79@yahoo.com
Web: www.myspace.com/lonesomeheroes
EPK: www.sonicbids.com/lonesomeheroes
Label: Floodwater Records P.O. Box 2083, St. Paul, MN. www.floodwaterrecords.com
Label Contact: Andrew D. Visser (651) 329 2024 info@floodwaterrecords.com
Websites
http://www.thelonesomeheroes.com
http://www.floodwaterrecords.com
Discography
The Lonesome Heroes played on KUT 90.5 FM Eklektikos Live Set April 11th 2006. They have regular airplay on, KUT, KGSR, KVRX, KOOP, & KAOS in Austin as well as KZSC, KUSP in California, WXLV in PA, WNYU in NYC.
The Lonesome Heroes' first label release Don't Play to Lose was released on Floodwater Records on April 2, 2006. A new Live Acoustic album is set for early 2007. Distribution information: www.floodwaterrecords.com
Releases:
Don't Play to Lose EP © 2006 Floodwater Records, Minneapolis, MN.
"Tricks," Element Skateboards Video, Directed By Michael Kershner, © 2003 Element Skate Boards, features two songs by Rich Russell.
"Count Me In, The Story of a Swing State," Directed By Daniel Stolzman, © 2004 Frameless Productions, Features one song by Rich Russell.
Austin Music CO-OP Open Mic, Hosted by Rich Russell and Josh Wayne, aired on ACTV Tuesdays Channel 10 at 11PM.
Rich Russell has five Independently produced albums all available at www.cdbaby.com/richrussell. Scattered Thoughts (2002), Songs for California (2003), Ten Songs of an Evolving Heart (2003), Still Life (2004), T is for Texas, (or Throwing Dirt into the Wind) (2005).