DAN WHITAKER & SHINEBENDERS Singer-songwriter and guitarist Dan Whitaker digs deep into country, folk, blues, and jazz to create his own original sound. He’s equally comfortable crafting intricate bluesy instrumentals along with his character-driven stories set on the road and in honky tonks. Far, Far Away, Whitaker’s recently released fourth album with the Shinebenders, is a testament to his love of all forms of country music. As Whitaker explains it, “I consider all the different genres of country when writing my songs, because country music has never been about just one thing.” This time around the band expands their sound with a deeper embrace of hillbilly jazz and western swing. Whitaker deliberately chose four instrumentals to break up the storytelling songs and create a unique rhythm for the album. While his songs are influenced by country music’s past, Whitaker isn’t content to live in it. “I want to create new forms of country music by expanding its definition,” Whitaker says. That’s why Far, Far Away includes a rich variety of songs like “Hot Mama Blues,” a toe-tapper that uses country blues to tell the tale of a man and his woman’s wandering ways, and “Trucks Passing Trucks,” an up-tempo number that captures the nervous energy of a semi-truck filled highway and a long night ahead. The title track is classic Americana, spinning the tale of a wandering pilgrimage put into motion when leaving is the only thing left to do. Far, Far Away was recorded at Kingsize studios in Chicago with Mike Hagler, the engineer who also recorded DWSB’s 2017 release Anything You Wanted To. Hagler has worked with artists like Wilco, Neko Case, Billy Bragg, and Jon Langford, among others. “Working with Mike a second time around was great,” says Whitaker. “He gets what we’re trying to do, and we were able to dig deeper to get the rockabilly and swing sounds we wanted.” Whitaker is joined on the album by longtime Shinebenders and pals Earl Powers on upright bass, acoustic guitarist Tom Mioducki, and drummer Eric Niffenegger. Rounding out the sound are frequent collaborators Steve Doyle on Telecaster guitar, and Brian Wilkie on pedal steel. “I believe the world needs original music,” Whitaker concludes. “The stuff with soul, not pop country manufactured for a mass audience. Our music may not sound like what you’d expect, and to me, that’s a good thing.” Dan Whitaker has been creating independent original music since the mid 1980s in such bands as June Bug Massacre, Great Plains Gypsies, Athletic, The Gyps, and Western Grand. JEFF GIVENS Singer/Songwriter Jeff (The Bourbon Cowboy) Givens is a road-seasoned troubadour. As a contemporary musical gypsy, Jeff travels the country, meeting folks from every aspect of life and listens to their stories. He lives this life, documenting it all in his songs. Somehow, writing through the haze of self-destruction like his heroes before him, (Kerouac, Burroughs, Lennon, Hank, Townes and others) he has prevailed and come out the other side, battling his demons by writing about them. Born in Tennessee and raised in Chicago, The Cowboy is a music veteran of over 30 years and has played in many bands, from Chicago to Boston to London. Working with Jay Bennett from Wilco was one of his many highlights. Back in 2001, Jeff went all-in; he left his day gig and everything else to fully embrace this musical journey. Tramping around America, like a prince of skid row, he began writing songs that defined his life. Settling back in Chicago, Jeff reconnected with producer, collaborator and fellow hell-raiser, Jason (Mistah Bocka) Botka, to finish, write and record this honest, badass music. From the easy rooms of Skye Bleu Studios, Jeff's first album, "Bourbon Cowboy" was born. DOORS at 6pm/ MUSIC at 8pm $10 suggested cover All social distancing protocol in full effect
