The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band has been creating a whirlwind with their riveting and unconventional elixir of muscular and high voltage country blues capped by gritty growling vocals and striking finger picking. Inspired by the likes of Charley Patton, Furry Lewis and John Hurt, Reverend Peyton is steeped in the great blues tradition but is catapulting its roots into a new era.Living Blues Magazine declares, “The tent revival, almost punk energy of the Big Damn Band is a refreshing splash of cold water to the face,” while Elmore Magazine raves “You can’t ignore Big Damn Band’s gospel.”
February 2015, Shanachie Entertainment will release The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band’s highly anticipated new CD. The release of this album marks the first time that a contemporary artist has been released on Yazoo. Shanachie Entertainment General Manager Randall Grass shares, “We are excited to sign Reverend Peyton, an artist whose appreciation of the many great blues artists released on our historic Yazoo label has led him–like The White Stripes and The Black Keys–to translate the spirit of those seminal masters into a 21st century incarnation of elemental blues.”
Roaring out of the southern Indiana foothills, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band have distinguished themselves for their tireless work ethic and high-octane live performances. Their sheer energy, virtuoso musicianship and witty songwriting have allowed the road warriors to play close to 250 dates a year and become favorites on the festival circuit.The strikingly magnetic trio features the Reverend along with his wife Breezy’s energized washboard playing and soulful vocals and dynamic drummer Ben “Bird Dog” Bussell.
“The Yazoo Record label was always my favorite label growing up, and am so proud to be a part of the roster,” shares Reverend Peyton. “We now share a label with so many of our heroes. I can’t wait for our fans and the rest of the world to hear this record. The foundation is built on the legacy of American Rural Blues, but we endeavor to take this music to places beyond the museum and the nostalgic. This is timeless music for listeners now that owes as much to The Band, ZZ Top, and CCR as it does to Charley Patton.”
Reverend Peyton’s father, a blues fan, bought him a red Kay state of the Art model guitar and later a Gorilla amplifier once he learned to play. It was not long before the Rev was exploring the music of BB King, Muddy Waters, Bukka White and Charley Patton.In high school, following a performance at his graduation party, The Rev, experienced excruciating pain in his hands. Doctors later informed him that he would never be able to hold his left hand in fretting position again. During the year when he was unable to play, he spent countless hours dreaming of playing again. He eventually underwent hand surgery that required removing a mass of scar tissue that led to new flexibility and greater control. It was during this recovery time that Rev. Peyton met Breezy. Their first date was at the Indiana State Fair, where Peyton won a stuffed animal they named the “Big Damn Bear,” and the rest as they say is history.
This new record will be The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band’s seventh recording and first for Shanachie Entertainment. Their previous releases include: Big Damn Nation (2006) The Gospel Album (2007), The Whole Fam Damnily (2008), The Wages (2010), Peyton on Patton (2011) and Between the Ditches (2012), which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Blues Charts. In 2010 they were on the entire Van’s Warped Tour on the Alternative Press stage and they received the “Best Band of Warped Tour” award, voted by the crew, bands, and promoters. They’ve also played the following festivals; Glastonbury, Austin City Limits, Bonaroo, High Sierra, Warped Tour, Vancouver Folk Fest, King Biscuit Blues Fest, Riot Fest, WOMAD, Cornbury, Edinburgh Jazz Fest, Cambridge Folk Fest, Waterfront Blues Fest, Telluride, DelFest and All Good just to name a few. With the release of their new record in February, 2015 The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is poised to reach the masses with their insatiable fusion of Delta blues, hillbilly fervor, rock infused edge and poignant story telling.
Don’t Miss The Opportunity To Catch The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band Live!
9/20/14 Morgantown, IN -Quafftober Festival
9/24/14 Salt Lake City, UT -Urban Lounge
9/25/14 – 09/26/14 Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender – Riviera Hotel & Casino
9/27/14 Long Beach, CA -Folk Revival Festival
9/28/14 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
9/29/14 Phoenix, AZ -Last Exit Live
10/01/14 Dallas, TX -Gas Monkey Garage
10/03/14 Carbondale, IL -Hangar
10/04/14 Vevay, IN -Bavarian Beer Bash
10/09/14 Sioux City, IA –Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
10/10/14 St. Louis, MO -The Gramophone
10/12/14 Daytona Beach, FL -Daytona Blues Festival
10/29/14 Morgantown, WV -Schmitt’s Saloon
10/30/14 Pittsburgh, PA -Thunderbird Cafe
10/31/14 Vienna, VA- Jammin’ Java
11/1/14 Martinsville, VA-Rives Theatre
11/2/14 Virginia Beach, VA-House Of Blues and Brews VA Museum of Contemporary Art
11/7/14 Oslo, Norway – Herr-Nilsen
11/8/14 Frederikshavn – Frederikshavn Blues Fest @ The Music Hall
11/11/14 Mantes La Jolie – Blues Sur Seine Festival
11/28/14 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theatre
11/29/14 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre Ballroom
