Formed with the intention of playing country rock music in the finest American bar-room tradition, you will not hear the same old crash bang rock and roll served up by a million and one other pub bands.
This is no tired and predictable Country & Western band either. This is something altogether different.
Melodic, toe tapping, thigh slapping, knuckle cracking, hip twisting, good time music. And a sense of humour too.
With a repertoire ranging from traditional country, through songs by Steve Earle, Gram Parsons and The Eagles, to more left field artists like Dave Alvin and Nick Lowe, you're bound to hear something you like. Driven along by six and twelve string acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums, 101 Proof also make good use of lap steel, mandolin, harmonica, six string bass, and washboard. Yes washboard. Intrigued ? Well come and see for yourself.
Sit back and enjoy. Or get up, get down and boogie, just like these people did.
Susette Swanson writing in North Country News.
The Grey Goose, Arnold Lane, Gedling, Nottingham.
I had been told that 101 Proof was a good band so made my way to the venue to see the last hour of their performance. Refreshing, invigorating, mind-blowing, absolutely brilliant and many more adjectives can be used to describe the musical ability of this four piece band. The band is made up of Mick - vocals and guitars, Ray - vocals and bass, Bob - drums and percussion and the very talented David - harmonica, 6, 12 string & slide guitar, mandolin, lap steel and six string bass.
During the short hour I listened to them the tunes amongst the repertoire included "Kings Highway", "Haleys Comet" and "I fought the law".
Well known in their own area (Spalding) they have decided to play further afield and believe me if you see 101 Proof advertised and don't go, you will be missing a musical treat the like you have not seen for many moons. I believe their motto goes something like "faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money". The drummer played with precision and was one of the best I have ever seen. Dave plays each of his instruments as though it is the love of his life. The professionalism and versatility is such that they will become popular to all that see them.
One thing that struck me most is that although they were playing in a very small "club" the sound was not overwhelming, I commented to them after the show on this fact, to be told that they want the audience to appreciate the music and know that the louder something is does not mean the better it is.
They also value their hearing. Nice to hear from a band with quite a bit of country rock to their sound.
The
Running Horse, Nottingham Believe me when you wait for someone else to see a new band first you are not doing yourself any favours, not when they turn out to be this good!
What a little cracker. Country rock with some wild bluegrass and rock 'n' roll thrown in, I solidly enjoyed the whole set from this superbly balanced jam packed full of talent band... deadly fine drumming, whacking bass, great vocal power, and a guitar and string lovers dream in the shape of their number one string man - phew, what a splendid array of instruments to study and listen to... lap steel, mandolin, double neck guitar, electric 12 string... this guy was the absolute bizz.
Heaps of 1st class Steve Earle, John Hiatt, John Fogerty, Sonny Landreth, Tom Petty, Eagles, Byrds, Thorogood... each song taylored musically to sound it's very best. This band is a real find. I could not fault them... unless I wanted to be really picky about the colour of the double-necked guitar clashing with that already eyeboggling shirt... which it did, but with all the musical interest of this evening I think I can afford to overlook such trifles!
Outstanding moments for me were the electric 12 string with that gorgeous 'ring like a bell' Byrds sound, the wild mandolin hillbilly version of 'That's Alright Mama', and the deadly bottlenecking slide of a superbly hypnotic 'Mona'.
And I swear their storming last number, Copperhead Road, was the best since Steve Earle cut the original. Next chance to see them you lucky lot... Saturday 22nd December!!!
Hilary
p.s. Their publicity has to be some of the best I've seen too; no need to rack your brains for that elusive artist or song title, they've got everything that they play listed with it's source in a gig-guide sized booklet for you. Other bands take note, this is impressive stuff!
From "The Backcountry Gazette".
Journal of The Outhouse Builders and Loincloth Retexturers Association of America
(We buy it for the pictures of old screwdrivers on page 3)
"Wif th' twangiess git-fiddles, funkiess man'olin an' loudess shirts this hyar side of th'Mason Dixon, these four fine fellas play rockin' country moosic mo'e lowdown than a rattler's ass, as o'nery as a rabid houn'dog an' wif a kick like backwoods moonshine.
Y'all sh'd beat a path t'their dore faster than a revenue man on th' trail of a still, ah reckon'.
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