GravelRoad – Shot The Devil

Artist Information

Biography
CURRENT NEWS: NOV 27, 2009: GravelRoad is preparing to enter the studio to record their 3rd album. 2010 will not only see the late Winter release of the new album, but once again, GRAVELROAD will embark on their 5th (!) US tour supporting T-Model Ford. Check back for pictures, reviews, stories, etc ….

AVAILABLE NOW In Stores … OUR SECOND ALBUM: "SHOT THE DEVIL."

"Shot the Devil" was released on October 14, 2008 on Uncle Larry’s Records (Indie – Wichita, KS). "Shot the Devil" has US distribution via Indie leader Burnside Distribution Co.
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"The music we are making has evolved into some of the deepest, darkest blues out there. "

2008 has seen GRAVELROAD on three North American tours. Two of these were with and in support of Mississippi alt-blues legend T-Model Ford. highlighted by appearances at the 2008 & 2009 DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL in LAKE ELMO, MN and the 2008 VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL in Vancouver BC, Canada.

To have the opportunity to support and be the backing band for alt-blues legend T-MODEL FORD is an honor for these relatively young men. T-Model’s the only octogenarian on the circuit. He’s out-lived all of his contemporaries. RIP: RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Paul "Wine" Jones, et al. He’s the last one left. Again, GRAVELROAD is humbled to be touring with "Uncle T." In addition to our own work, we will be supporting T-Model on the road for the foreseeable future.

"Anyone can learn to play music. Reading notes are easy. Having the FEEL is harder. A range of feel, dynamics, vulnerability, sincerity … these are the greater challenges. Musically and personally. We are ok with these struggles. They speak to life. They are the truth." -GravelRoad.

HISTORY:
GRAVELROAD emerged from its hidden-in-plain-site womb ‘round 2005. The music that had begun under the influence of modern Dark Blues masters Jr. Kimbrough, RL Burnside, T-Model Ford, and Fred McDowell was just our hobby. But what began in “The House” that we shared in Seattle, WA in 1999 has evolved to where we are at today: writing our own music, playing with everything we’ve got for our live shows, and delivering something DIFFERENT musically – – something that is unlike anything else you’ve ever heard, even if you’ve followed us so far with the references we’ve made.

We know that “We had to play,” because all we heard in our heads was music day and night. We are obsessed with pounding drums giving some ass to one dirty guitar made to sound like three. We practiced. We struggled mightily sometimes. We pushed, and were pushed, forward.

We took our show into basements, studios, food joints, parties, into dive bars, and you name it. We played and played and played. As a two-piece, the guitar player suffered along with the drummer learning the music and the drummer suffered the guitar player’s stringed-brilliance and vocal-awkwardness. This started to change in 2003-2004. What didn’t change was the dedication – – back to the woodsheds – – practice, record it, listen to it, practice, record it, listen back, practice … and so on and so on.

Kirby was playing bass in another band in ‘03 and ‘04 with the two-piece. His natural rhythm and melodic sense gelled with us naturally, and his sensibility and background connected – a kindred spirit for lack of a stronger term. We had unbelievable times in that band and many, many stories still are with us. However, over time, as bands often do, there was flux and change and evolution and as it happened (destiny?) the dust that settled into our teeth and under our nails was the 3 of us as GravelRoad.

Now we have our voice. The energy within the Vocals, Guitars, and Bass combined with Words that are deep and raw and hypnotic, spinning tales of sex, murder, death, love, redemption, and madness ring together as true as we can make it. We believe our music – where it comes from, where it is at right now, as where it is going – is without limits.

Our website: www.gravelroadblues.com and our MySpace page: www.myspace.com/gravelroad give information on how to purchase our debut full-length CD from 2004.

You can check out our other myspace page with T-Model Ford: www.myspace.com/tmodelfordandgravelroad

Thanks for your support and interest.

Instrumentation
Stefan Zillioux: Guitar, Vocals, Grit
Martin Reinsel: Drums, Hollers, Hair
J. ‘Kirby’ Newman: Bass, Guitar, Devious Plans

Discography
Oct, 2008: "Shot The Devil" (US label: Uncle Larry’s Records, Wichita KS. US Distribution: Burnside Distribution Co, Portland OR). WE’RE DAMN PROUD THAT EVERY SINGLE TRACK FROM THIS ALBUM HAd RECEIVED AIRPLAY WITHIN ONE MONTH OF RELEASE.

Nov 22, 2004: Gravel Road – "Gravel Road" (self-released).

– This release has garnered some glowing and favorable reviews from across the globe, including Blues Matters! Magazine (England), and various on-line blogs and roots-blues websites.

– Several songs from this album continue to receive airplay, both on radio stations, internet radio, and podcasts across the globe (including "Sonic Reducer" on local kick-ass KEXP 90.3 fm, Seattle WA).

Links
http://www.myspace.com/gravelroad