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Honey Island Swamp Band is an American blues rock group, formed in 2006 in San Francisco, California, United States. Over the past two decades, Honey Island Swamp Band have released a total of 12 albums, including their most recent collection, Custom Deluxe. They regularly tour and have appeared at a number of music festivals including 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, FloydFest, Wanee Music Festival, Suwannee Hulaween, Hangout Music Festival and Outside Lands.

In describing their music, ‎No Depression‎ stated "Their all encompassing sound of blues, roots, country, and soul has been described as 'Bayou Americana'".

Career


The ensemble is named for the Honey Island Swamp, that is located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana in St. Tammany Parish. The Honey Island Swamp Band is aptly named, with a rootsy sound that incorporates the best of both states. The group's music is a swampy mix of blues, soul, country, R&B, and the rhythms of the group's hometown, New Orleans. The band did not come together in New Orleans, though, but formed instead in San Francisco, where Aaron Wilkinson (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Chris Mule (guitar, vocals), Sam Price (bass, vocals), and Garland Paul (drums, vocals) were all evacuees from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The band relocated back to New Orleans in 2007, adding Trevor Brooks on the Hammond B-3 organ and other keyboards in 2010. Described as "bayou Americana," the band released a seven-song self-titled EP, Honey Island Swamp Band, in 2008, following it with an album, Wishing Well, a year later in 2009. Good to You appeared in 2010, and the group's raucous appearance at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was preserved on the album Live at Jazz Fest 2011. Honey Island Swamp Band's 2012 stand at the New Orleans Jazz Fest was also released as a live album, with the studio set Cane Sugar arriving in 2013. In 2016, the group teamed up with the independent Ruf Records to release its fourth studio album, Demolition Day.



The Honey Island Swamp Band titled Custom Deluxe after an old truck Wilkinson used to own. (“We are very much an old-school truck type of band,” he says.) The logo on the album cover is a modified version of the real-life insignia on the truck; after Wilkinson described his vision to designer Chris Ball, he whipped it up immediately.

“I loved it instantly,” Wilkinson recalls. “We didn’t even do any revisions.”

Prior to the making of Custom Deluxe, the Honey Island Swamp Band were in something of a transitional period. “We had a new guitar player, and a new keyboard player, and we were touring behind a record that they did not play on and weren’t involved with at all,” Wilkinson says. “Which is not ideal. But we had known each other forever, so that helped.”

Eager to create a document of the reconstituted Honey Island Swamp Band, the band recorded Custom Deluxe at various studios around the United States during off days during a heady touring cycle. “Everybody, in every walk of life, feels better about something when they have some ownership of it,” Wilkinson says. “The guys get way more invested.”

The frontman goes on to compare the experience of hunkering down in a studio for an extended period versus booking one-and-done sessions. “When you lock yourself in a studio for a week, your process is often different,” he says. “You’re like, OK, let’s get all the bass and drum tracks for all the songs, then those guys can leave and go about their lives.”

“That’s a cool way to do it,” Wilkinson continues. “But we wanted to try something different.”

This piecemeal recording process found the Honey Island Swamp Band in all manner of contexts: including on top of a mountain in Colorado and in a lengthy session in the Big Easy. By all accounts, things were cooking for Wilkinson, Yankee, Price, Spies, and Paul.



Released in 2016 on Ruf Records, Demolition Day is the band’s fourth full-length studio release and marks a milestone in their career. The album title cuts deep. It’s just over a decade since Hurricane Katrina tore along the Gulf Coast, plunging New Orleans into devastation, but throwing together four Big Easy evacuees who found themselves marooned in San Francisco.

Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar/mandolin/vocals), Chris Mulé (electric guitar/vocals), Sam Price (bass/vocals) and Garland Paul (drums/vocals) were already on nodding terms from their hometown circuit, but when the four men joined forces for a weekly residency at San Francisco’s Boom Boom Room, the chemistry was undeniable. By 2009, the lineup had released award-winning debut Wishing Well, enlisted Hammond B-3 wizard Trevor Brooks and placed one foot onto the podium of New Orleans greats.

Ten years and a thousand gigs down the line, that same battle-hardened lineup took just four days to track Demolition Day at The Parlor Recording Studio in New Orleans with famed producer Luther Dickinson (also leader of the North Mississippi Allstars and ex-Black Crowes guitarist). “We had a very tight window to record,” Wilkinson recalls, “so we had to minimalise in places and really pack a lot of emotion into each take. Luther calls it ‘the freedom of limitation’ and it really served us well on this album.”



Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what the Honey Island Swamp Band is all about. The band came together after Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Chris Mule’ (electric guitar, vocals) were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and had a chance encounter with fellow New Orleans evacuees Sam Price (bass, vocals) and Garland Paul (drums, vocals) at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room on Fillmore Street. They knew each other from having all played together in some form or another in various New Orleans bands, and with the great unknown regarding their return to their underwater hometown looming in the distance, they decided to put together a band and get some gigs.



Band members

 * Aaron Wilkinson – vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica
 * Lee Yankie – guitar, vocals
 * Chris Spies – keyboards
 * Sam Price – bass, vocals
 * Garland Paul – drums, vocals

Career


In 2022, Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 was nominated for the Libera Award for Best Blues Record.



In 2019, Here in Babylon was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.



Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1, the band's new release on Blue Heart Records, continues that proud tradition. It’s their 12th album. A coterie of Texas guitar greats guest on the set, including Anson Funderburgh, Lee Roy Parnell, Johnny Lee Schell, Snuffy Walden, and Dean Parks.

“There was always music playing in my house. My dad was a huge music fan. He had all kinds of musical interests, so I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music.” “I studied classical music until I was about a sophomore in high school. When I was like eight or so, my dad taught me how to play guitar.

Teresa ultimately left Houston at the encouragement of Terry Wilson and his buddy Tony Braunagel, who had relocated to Los Angeles. Terry proved the perfect musical cohort for Teresa. “His songs are brilliant. I think he’s a really great songwriter. And we’ve collaborated on quite a few, but I think what I bring to his songs in the interpretation is just a good match. He knows the kinds of things that I’m going to be able to put myself into to expand them,” she says. “Over the years, we have definitely developed a partnership that works.” Her band, The Rhythm Tramps, consists of world class players.

In 1998, The Rhythm Tramps released their debut album, The Whole Enchilada, on Jesilu Records, with Teresa and Terry’s studio cohorts including guitarists Watts, Schell, and Bruton. Braunagel and Herman Matthews manned the drums. Subsequent releases include Live (2000), Oh Yeah! (2003), The Rhythm Method (2004), and The Bottom Line in 2007. “The Bottom Line is a really good one,” says Teresa. "We still do most of the songs on that album, and that was the one where we got the BMA nomination". Next up was Country by Request (2008), followed by 2010's You Know You Love It, Come On Home in 2012, Bonafide in 2016, and Here in Babylon in 2018, which was mixed by Ed Cherney with Jay Bellerose on drums.

James sang back-up on Randy Newman's song "Putin" from his 2017 album, Dark Matter.



Video Premiere: “Takes One To Know One” by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps

We are pleased to exclusively premiere the video "Takes One To Know One" by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, a video/single from the forthcoming album, Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 out September 17, 2021 on Blue Heart Records.

Teresa James says, “Terry and I have been musical partners for 30 years and life partners for almost as long. After marriage, kids, countless bands, tours, gigs and records, it’s safe to say that if it takes one to know one, he’s the one for me! We are proud to feature the guitar work of Anson Funderburgh, who is such an iconic part of our Texas musical family, on this track. This song is one of many co-writes by frequent collaborators Terry Wilson and Gregg Sutton. Although Anson wasn’t able to be with us for the live video, our long-time Rhythm Tramps guitarist Billy Watts, a brilliant player in his own right, stepped in and brought his own magic to this video recording.”

James and her partner in crime, Terry Wilson, who produced the album, wrote/co-wrote all the songs, were once again joined by a splendid cast of characters that make up The Rhythm Tramps, along with some special guests. Mainstay guitarist Billy Watts, bassist Wilson and alternating drummers, Jay Bellerose and Herman Matthews, maintain the rhythm section, with a selection of exceptional Texas guitar players such as Yates McKendree, Anson Funderburgh, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, and Snuffy Walden in the mix. They are joined by Paulie Cerra and Darrell Leonard on horns, with vocalists Richard Millsap, Nikki Bluhm, Michael Star on violin, and Kevin McKendree on keys. The project, recorded over a year and a half in California, has that undeniable smooth West Coast Canyon Country sound.



Rose Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 is the latest release by Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps. It’s an optimistic release that’s full of songs full of strength, romance, redemption, and love.

For five decades Teresa Jones and her partner Terry Wilson have written and played together with a vast ensemble of musicians known The Rhythm Tramps. Rose Colored Glasses vol. 1 continues that tradition and features an array of exceptional Texan musicians each bringing their own individual style to the album.

Highlights include the horn-driven ‘Takes One To Know One’, where James’ vocals mix beautifully with sublime guitar work by Anson Funderburgh. The soulful opener ‘Show Me How You Do It’ is a sultry delight. Mixing horns and hypnotic beats on ‘I Got A Love I Wanna Hold Onto’, James sings seductively about the delights of love.

As with the songwriting, the production duties on the album are shared between James and Wilson, and the results are just beautiful. The musical arrangements, in particular the brass and percussion, are delightful, harking back to the golden age of Stax and Chess Studios, resulting in music that’s as smooth as silk.



You Know You Love It review

Teresa James is a very talented singer and pianist whose choices in blues-based music and especially sidemen for this recording are immaculate. Blessed with a powerful and flexible voice, James rips through this upbeat set of original tunes primarily written by her bassist Terry Wilson. Recorded in California, James and her crew take Southern-style blues to heart, reflecting the steamy, cooking values of New Orleans-to-Memphis music with an occasional horn complement, a little good old rock & roll, and soul. James is not so much a temptress as a good-time gal, belting out funk like "She Don't Mess with His Buzz," rocking out the title track, or digging into pure, slow swamp blues as on "You Got Me Where It Hurts." No two tunes are alike, and James and her Rhythm Tramps explore old time pop/rock, accordion-driven boogaloo, voodoo-distorted underground sounds, a gospel ballad, and even honky tonk. It's hard to say what she's best at, because she does it all with the ease and clarity of a seasoned pro. Her working band, led by Wilson, is solid, but she adds on all-stars like pianists Jon Cleary or Steve Moos, organists Mike Finnegan or John "Rabbit" Bundrick, and drummer Tony Braunagel to the fray. Teresa James also plays a very competent piano, the Wurlitzer, or spinet upright on just about every track. This recording is something of a sleeper for those nationwide who don't know about Teresa James but who should get hip to her right quick.



American singer and keyboardist from Houston, Texas, based in Los Angeles, California. Married to Terry Wilson.



Home Base: Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Texas style blues with a Southern roots/Americana flavor

Category Submitted: Blues Album

Work Submitted: Come on Home

Artists Featured: Mike Finnegan and Tony Braunagel (The Phantom Blues Band), Jon Cleary (pianist), Herman Matthews and Jim Christie (drums), Debra Dobkin (percussion), Lee Thornburg (trumpet) Jerry Peterson (sax) along with the fabulous Mingo Fishtrap Horns; David P. Jackson in a brief appearance on accordian; and, of course we feature our very own Rhythm Tramp, the wonderful Billy Watts (guitar).

What’s the meaning of your band name?: We’ve had this name for a long time – it started years ago when some of the band guys were living in London. Between tours they used the name, ‘the Rhythm Tramps’, when they played in little blues clubs, There were always lots of friends sitting in and different band members depending on who was off the road at the time. Through the years we have had lots of players and friends play with us, too, so the name just seemed to fit. Definitely a better name than ‘T-Bird & the Moonpies’ which we using for a while….

Describe your nominated work: This is our 8th CD. All of our CDs (except for 1 straight out country CD) are a mix of blues and r&b with a strong Texas/Louisiana roots feel – always very song oriented. This one has a bit of a rawer feel and a little more edge overall, I think.

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 12th IMA’s?: We wanted to see how it stacked up with the other works.

Our Kickstarter campaign for all their help in getting this out.



Teresa James was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she was introduced to music at an early age by her father and grandfather. She starting playing piano at five years old.

Blues Matters! magazine in the UK is quoted “the girls voice does the talking alright with a knife edge when she wants rip your ears off or your heart out!”

Levon Helm said “Teresa James is a true original. When she sings you can feel it in your bones.”

They now have had 11 albums released. All backed by husband led, bassist, songwriter, producer Terry Wilson & their band, the Rhythm Tramps.

DownBeat magazine has given Teresa and the band four 4 Star reviews in a row of her last four albums. Of her tenth CD 2019 Here in Babylon they said "Texas-raised Californian James has during the past several years been one of the genre’s blue-ribbon singers. She exudes largeness of spirit and interpretative authority by way of her natural, wide-ranging voice".

Here’s a little of what Bill Bentley from Sonic Boomers said about Teresa and her sixth release, “You Know You Love It” cd. “This is the stuff they don't teach you in school….. These are the keepers of the unknown language. Teresa’s voice is all-knowing, like she's been to the places most of us aren't able to go. It is a mixture of rejection and redemption, … be glad there are still people like Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps who care enough to do this and share their spirits. Each and every one of them should receive a letter jacket with a big "S" for soul on it. Class dismissed. “



Houston born now California based Teresa James and her deeply soulful pipes and keyboards takes different variations of her band through their paces at one of their favorite California venues Bogie’s.

“In The Pink” gets things off on the good foot as Teresa expounds on the healing powers of the blues. She leads the band through The Five Royals’ jump boogie “I Like It Like That” with her barrelhouse piano. “Put The Squeeze On Me” and “Don’t Make A Habit Of It” are both ballads with the former being more intense. Another ballad “Forgetting You” tenderly tugs at the heart strings with the yearning vocal delivery. “Easier Said Than Done” is a tight and smooth slice of R&B.

Guitarist Billy Watts steps up to the plate for a fiery duet on Etta James' "If I Can't Have You". Watts also contributes a stinging guitar solo. They turn in a worthy version of Allen Toussaint’s funky ""Shoorah! Shoorah!"" allowing Teresa to show off her piano skills. Billy Watts adds his blues guitar to the tale of the passing of Gregg Allman “The Day The Blues Came To Call”.



Pianist and vocalist Teresa James is back with her band, The Rhythm Tramps, for her tenth album, Here in Babylon. Since it’s release on March 3, it went to number five on the National Blues Chart. Teresa’s 2008 release, The Bottom Line, garnered her a nomination by a Blues Music Award for 'Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year' and her 2010 CD, You Know You Love it, was a finalist for an Independent Music Award.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Teresa is based in Los Angeles, where she has assembled a group of some of the top touring and session musicians for her band, The Rhythm Tramps. They have been working the LA area and at blues festivals and clubs throughout the US and Europe for many years.