1988 Entertainment Presents:
The Cadillac Three
at Silvermoon Brewing
June 15th, 2023
Doors at 6:00 PM
Leaving a lasting impression on fans across the globe with their distinct sonic tendencies, The Cadillac Three are Nashville's most versatile band. Spending their formative years playing music together in garages before graduating to sold-out venues and being added to major festival lineup. Their free-wheeling vibe has cultivated a following of Country and Rock while defining their musical birthright. Stereoboard observed, “a pivotal part of how they push the envelope without losing their identity is also [singer-guitarist Jaren] Johnston’s distinctive guitar work. Expertly integrating myriad styles into his aesthetic, a down-and-dirty rainbow of textures enlivens songs that, when partnered with instinctive structural detours, Kelby Ray’s distinct lap steel-bass combo and Neil Mason’s powerfully dexterous drumming, find the trio bending numerous genres to their will without trouble.” Resolute in their craft while also serving a community of fellow creators, American Songwriter noted, “The Cadillac Three’s contribution to a year like no other can be measured in albums released, songs released (28), live-streamed shows recorded, donations collected, venues supported, mouths fed, and positive messages sent. […] the trio who has never stopped putting in the work.” TC3’s Country Fuzz sound has also made its way into other superstar artists' careers, such as Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, and Jon Pardi, plus producer credits for Kip Moore, Foo Fighters’ Chris Shifflett, Steven Tyler, and more. Both collectively and individually, they have been nominated for GRAMMY and two consecutive ACM Awards Group of the Year, while Jaren picked up a CMA Triple Play for three No. 1 hits in 12 months. Amplifying Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town’s BANDWAGON TOUR throughout the US in 2022, alongside A-listers like Eric Church and Dierks Bentley, iconic Rockers Metallica and Aerosmith or on their own, audiences on all sides of the world relish in TC3’s uninhibited sets. The high energy international act completed a triumphant tour of the UK in August on their HILLBILLY HYPNOTIZED TOUR. TC3 was named Best New Band at the 2014 UK Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards and received a 2019 CMA International Award nomination for International Artist Achievement. While globe-trotting, the guys are finishing their 6th album and preparing for a busy 2023 touring the world again on their “Bandana Tour” as well as supporting Koe Wetzel in arenas across America.
Visit thecadillacthree.com for the latest happenings.
1988 Entertainment Presents:
Zao, Body Void, Mouth For War, Godcollider
Railroad Earth
A brother leaves this world too soon. A trip down U.S. Highway 61 ends in a deluge of biblical proportions. A retreat to the Big Easy results in its own flood of inspiration. A new chapter begins. These moments and many more fade in and out of focus on Railroad Earth’s seventh full-length album, All For The Song.
The celebrated New Jersey septet — Todd Sheaffer [lead vocals, acoustic guitar], Tim Carbone [violins, electric guitar, vocals], John Skehan [mandolin, bouzouki, piano, vocals], Carey Harmon [drums, percussion, vocals], Dave Speranza[upright & electric bass], Matt Slocum (organ and piano), and Mike Robinson (banjo, guitar, steel) chronicle the twists and turns of this journey through eloquent songcraft, bluegrass soul, and rock ‘n’ roll spirit.
“Perhaps, it represents the journey we’ve been on for twenty years as a band and as a family,” observes Carey.
“What threads the record together?” ponders Todd. “Nostalgia, sadness, and a lot of great moments to sing along to.”
For over two decades, Railroad Earth has captivated audiences with gleefully unpredictable live shows and eloquent and elevated studio output. The group introduced its signature sound on 2001’s The Black Bear Sessions. Between selling out hallowed venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, they’ve launched the longstanding annual Hangtown Music Festival in Placerville, CA and Hillberry: The Harvest Moon Festival in Ozark, AR—both running for a decade-plus. Sought after by legends, the John Denver Estate tapped them to put lyrics penned by the late John Denver to music on the 2019 vinyl EP, Railroad Earth: The John Denver Letters. Beyond tallying tens of millions of streams, the collective have earned widespread critical acclaim from David Fricke of Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Glide Magazine, and NPR who assured, “Well-versed in rambling around, as you might expect from a band named after a Jack Kerouac poem, the New Jersey-built jam-grass engine Railroad Earth has let no moss grow under its rustic wheels.”
In 2018, Railroad Earth bid farewell to founding member Andy Goessling who passed away from cancer. His shadow loomed over the process as the guys retreated to New Orleans for the first time to record.
“From the beginning, the vision was more than just the music,” states Todd. “We looked at this like a ‘destination’ record. Our past records were all made close to home or, in fact, at home. Andy’s passing was very much in the center of our thoughts and our hearts in the writing and recording of this album. Things were so shaken up that we thought it’d be a benefit to go away from all of the distractions and be together. In New Orleans, there is great food and there are great spirits to be shared. I’ll leave the music part of the equation for others to judge, but we surely succeeded in making the bonding part of the vision come to fruition!”
Another first, they recorded with Anders Osborne behind the board as producer. It might’ve been the gumbo, but the guys seamlessly absorbed the homegrown flavors of the Big Easy by osmosis, incorporating horns, blues harmonica, and the producer’s own perspective and guitar playing.
“His enthusiasm is contagious,” exclaims Carey. “There are five producers in this band, so a strong-willed voice from the outside is usually pretty essential. Anders was the voice.”
Todd agrees, “He brought a pure and striving soul, unforgettable laugh, rich palette of emotion, a great stash of guitars and amps, philosophical driftings, freedom, unguarded honesty, warmth, and love.”
The band paved the way for the album with “The Great Divide,” “It’s So Good,” and “Runnin’ Wild.” Beyond those initial singles, the record picks up steam on “Blues Highway.” Over dusty acoustic guitar, hummable fiddle, and a banjo pluck, Todd recounts a particular road trip down Rte. 61, which ended in “the most downpour of rain I’ve ever experienced.”
“We had a show in Natchez, so I decided to make my own adventure out of the trip,” he recalls. “I flew to New Orleans, rented a car, and drove up the Blues Highway like a tourist, stopping and touring the old plantations and blues honky-tonks. I was smelling the river and the refineries. On my return to New Orleans, I drove into what might’ve been a hurricane with intense and terrifying lightning to boot. In the dead of night, I gave up trying to inch down the road, pulled over, and waited it out. The trip seemed like a parallel for my life at the time and inspired the song.”
The epic “Driftin’ The Bardo” hinges on one of the final recordings of Andy on ukulele and high-strung guitar. It slips into a poignant piano-driven crescendo punctuated by cinematic strings.
“As we were recording it, ‘The Bardo’ came to represent Andy’s transition,” reveals Tim. “It was an emotional experience.”
Clocking over eight minutes, “Showers of Rain” unfurls as a “psychedelic excursion” complete with an improvised jam, guitar solo by Anders, a dreamy string section, and imagery “inspired by a strange 19th century novel called Green Mansions.”
“We all have those moments when we feel visitations and remember loved ones we’ve lost,” Todd observes. “In New Orleans, Andrew shared with us the night previous he’d had a visit from Andy in his sleep. At my house, we have a cardinal who taps on the window, and my wife think It’s her mom. These are the thoughts in the middle of the song where I ask, ‘Was that really you?’”
The album culminates on the wistful “All For The Song” as the final refrain, “All of the heartache, all that’s gone wrong, all for the moment, all for the song,” rings out before a harmonica passage.
“It’s a bit painful to contemplate or talk about, to be honest—as are a couple other tunes on this record,” confesses Todd. “The song says way more than enough, I believe.”
In the end, Railroad Earth brings listeners closer than ever on All For The Song.
“We want audiences to connect to the album,” Carey leaves off. “We hope they’re as moved by the music as we were making it.”
In 2022, the California Honeydrops celebrate their fourteenth year together with the forthcoming release of their latest studio album, Soft Spot. “This record is all about love and good lovin’ and other things that matter,” says frontman, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski of the new LP, which exhibits the Honeydrops’ unique musical style that draws from roots, Bay Area R&B, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second line. “We continued the Honeydrops’ album tradition of bringing special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic,” adds drummer Ben Malament. “Sousaphones, strings, space echoes—it’s all here.” Soft Spot comes on the heels of Covers from the Cave, a cover album born out of pandemic livestream videos; live albums Remember When: Vol. 3 and Honeydrops Live 2019; and their first-ever double-album, Call It Home: Vol 1 & 2, in 2018, which No Depression called “a fun-filled, funky goodie basket for all occasions.”
This year has also brought the Honeydrops’ return to live music with a fall national tour, their first headlining date at Red Rocks, as well as performances at festivals across the country including FloydFest, High Sierra, and Burning Man. Known for bringing vibrant energy and infectious dance-party vibes to their shows, the Honeydrops have taken the party all over the world, touring widely across North America, Europe, and Australia. In 2016 and 2017, the Honeydrops were honored to play with Bonnie Raitt on her North America release tour, and in the past have been privileged to support the likes of B.B. King, Allen Toussaint, Buddy Guy, and Dr. John. Whether in those high-profile performances or in more intimate venues where the band can leave the stage and get down on the dance floor themselves, the California Honeydrops’ shared vision and purpose remain: to make the audience dance and sing—and to give back. Since 2019, the band has used its “Spreadin’ Honey Project” to partner with local nonprofits in each city they visit on tour, raising awareness and funds for causes such as food banks, homeless shelters, youth centers, disaster relief efforts, and social justice initiatives.
The band has come a long way since Wierzynski and Malament started busking in an Oakland, California, subway station, but they’ve stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. Wierzynski was born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised by Polish political refugees. He learned his vocal stylings from contraband American recordings of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong, and developed them later at Oberlin College and in Oakland’s club circuit. With the additions of Malament on drums, Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Bradbury on bass, the Honeydrops have cultivated a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals. More like parties than traditional concerts, their shows feature extensive off-stage jamming and crowd interaction. “The whole point is to erase the boundaries between the crowd and us,” Wierzynski says. “We don’t make setlists. We want requests. We want crowd involvement and to make people become a part of the whole thing by dancing along, singing, and generally coming out of their shells.”