Doug Sahm and The Sir Douglas Quintet, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, Louis Jordan, Louie Prima, Phil Harris, The Duke, The Count, George Jones, Buck Owens, Louvin Brothers, Webb Pierce, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Bobby Darin, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Freddie King, Willie Dixon, Jackie Wilson, Brian Wilson, The Beatles, NRBQ, Harry Nilsson, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Los Lobos, The Blasters, Evan Johns, The Beat Farmers, to name a few.
Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs have just released their milestone CD Still Smokin' After 20 Years, and for their fans its a damn near perfect compilation. Its not a greatest hits its simply a collection of some of Billys Bacons notables that he has handpicked from his eight previous records, and some of the fan favorites that he has performed over the past 20 years. So this year he and his band set out to celebrate the endurance and commitment theyve made over those years to spread their Texmex-blues-abilly gospel to people everywhere.
Against todays vapid pop-music industry, The Pigs (as their fans know them) are a true cultural shakeup with their unrelenting individualism. But regardless of their knack to stand out (and even though The Pigs have toured relentlessly over the years) they unfortunately still remain under the radar. As the cover story of 3rd Coast Magazines April 2004 issue explains if you want poster children for neglected road warriors, you could hardly do better than Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs. The trio tours virtually non-stop, playing to capacity crowds, but you rarely come across any mention of them
Maybe thats why Billy Bacon has been underappreciated. His ability to tour as much as 200 days a year, and actually make a living doing it, has unfortunately at times portrayed them as just a bar band. On the contrary, he tours because he wants to take his one of a kind show to the rabid fans he has gathered in every corner of the U.S. As his home town paper, the San Diego Union Tribune describes, Some performers are animated. Some are manic. But only a precious few play like they are truly possessed. Some call the music of Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs roots rock, or rockabilly with a hint of the blues. However, there is so much influence and variety in his music, labels cant do the group justice Whether hes doing daredevil jumps off the bass fiddle, crooning a heartfelt ballad or leading his troupe of seasoned musicians into an authentic Mexican norteña classic, Bacon is wholly devoted to his craft.
Along with the irrefutable uniqueness of their shows, Billy Bacons timeless and passionate voice is portrayed beautifully in every different style of song he sings. His penchant for mixing up genres comes from his musical mentor Doug Sahm. When Billy formed The Pigs in 1984, Sahm was his primary inspiration. Ironically, Sahm has been the only artist to cover one of Billys songs, Una Mas Cerveza. As once again explained by 3rd Coast Magazines cover story, this fact is curious because all his albums are goldmines of original songs with far more substance than might be expected given the trios reputation as the premier roots party music band.
Doug Sahm isnt the only famous fan of Billys. There is also a host of others who are admirers that have also played on his records including Joe Walsh, Michael Doucet, Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, Country Dick Montana, Evan Johns, and Chris Gaffney. I dont come to play with The Pigs because Im a friend, but because Im a fan. These guys are the real thing, says Joe Walsh. This is a very HIP band. Not many bands can do so many different styles and do them that well proclaimed Jimmy Page after The Pigs had just finished playing a Mardi Gras show he attended in New Orleans.
And as another one of his friends (and Producer) Beat Farmer Buddy Blue puts it, if you havent caught the Pigs live, I must insist that you do so at the first given opportunity. Im at a loss to explain how Billy a short, portly, beer-swillin middle-aged guy (hey, he aint good lookin but he sure can play) is able to engage in the sort of onstage acrobatics that hallmark these shows, but it must be seen to be believedbask in his musics bitchen-ness and you can pat yourself on the back for having the impeccable taste to support one of Americas mystic musical treasures!
What do you got going on this Saturday Night? You should come check out our B-BOY BATTLE at hells kitchen and see some of the sickest break dancers we got around the area, not to mention a dope ass 2x4 DJ set by some of the areas hottest DJ's and live performances by some of the puget sounds dopest local hiphop artists.
DJ REIGN & DJ QRIME ON A 2X4 SET AFROK EVERGREENoNE ROCKWELL POWERS
They will all be performing and they all throw down a very entertaining and sick set. it's $5.00. 21 years of age and older. 9pm.
Hells Kitchen is located at 3829 6th Ave in Tacoma, off of 6th and Proctor. Hope to see you there. It's gonna be a fun ass time!
Vielen Dank für die Freundschaft; Thank you for the friendship! Merci pour l'amitié! Спасибо за дружбу! Dank u voor de vriendschap! Grazie per l'amicizia! Gracias por la amistad! Tack för vänskap! Takk for vennskap! Obrigado pela amizade! の友情をありがとう！ 우정의 해 주셔서 감사합니다! 谢谢你的友谊！ Σας ευχαριστώ για τη φιλία! Kiitos ystävyydestä!
Hello from Finland! It's a name-dropping FRENZY!!! I just released my new cd featuring Alejandro Escovedo, Mark Lanegan, Steve Berlin (los lobos), Chris and Carla from the Walkabouts, Peter Case, Scott McCaughey (YFF, REM)and Jim Roth (built to spill). CD has liner notes by Biographer Charles R. Cross (BackStreets-Springsteen...Heavier than Heaven-Cobain...Roomful of Mirrors-Hendrix...etc. Also I have finally put "Passing Thru" on my site as well for you to hear...this is the one with Eddie Vedder, Victoria Williams, and Carla Torgerson trading verses with me...it has not been availablé for a long time, and I also have it on i-tunes, etunes, amazon and rhapsody. Okay...I hope you are doing well!
Hey,
We posted some new recordings so check them out when you get a minute!
Also please sign our new guestbook and include a picture & comment if you'd like.
Online Now!
