We play a raw mix of rock, country, folk, and blues. We call our music "Rawhide Rock" because it's fresh skinned, still dripping blood, and hasn't been processed to fit any certain form. We've got songs as high peaked and treacherous as the Rockies, low and craggy as the Grand Canyon, lonely and hunted as the Badlands, and gentle rolling as a pasture in first bloom. A varied terrain, no doubt, but sure and firm as the rough hand thats maps this world, this life.
Hombre you have nothing to believe in Hombre you ain't got no home Angels cry in heaven Diablo he asks for your soul
Hombre your woman lies sleeping The Rangers wait coiled to strike Listen El Coyote is calling Will you ride and escape with your life? Will you ride for your woman tonight...?
Hombre you hate more than you love A hate that lies cursed in your bones Angels cry in heaven Your woman she cries all alone
Hombre you ride to meet the Rangers You reach for your pistols and draw And now the guns are a'blazing And now the Rangers they fall And now the Rangers they fall...
Hombre you ride on with a fever For one Ranger bullet struck home Angels cry in heaven Your woman she prays for your soul
Hombre the flesh is but a shadow The Earth she is the mother of all You give your last cry to the wind In answer to El Coyote's call In answer to El Coyote's call...
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The Border Band is a four-piece group consisting of rhythm guitar, drums, bass and lead guitar. Melvin Litton, yours truly, captains the band, plays rhythm guitar and writes and sings most of the songs. I began performing over a quarter of a century ago in Canada and have since played in the northeast, down through Nashville, Austin, up to Colorado and back to Kansas where I started out and will likely remain. My major influences are Leadbelly, Jimmy Rogers, Bob Dylan and The Band, while the juices of a hundred others flavor my music, not to mention the sun, wind, moon and stars, and the devil himself if that's what it takes to make a song. But I mainly rely on the better angels of my nature and two fine men that have been with me for over ten years now: Roger Holden and Dave Melody. They've helped forge the sound and are a great part of what makes the music click.
Roger Holden is a wizard on the lead guitar. Besides his own keen talent, he draws inspiration from Hendrix, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King among others. He's played in a dozen bands covering every idiom from Classic Rock, Punk, Ska, Surf, Tex-Mex, Country, Folk and Blues. Fast 'n clean, slick as new cards, he knows when to "hold 'em" and knows when to "play 'em" -- and he plays nuthin' but aces.
Dave Melody plays drums, but he does a helluva lot more than keep time and proves in the act why the drums are a musical intrument not to be denied. He can tap a rhythm soft as raindrops dimpling the dust or boom like thunder rolling down off the mountains in a crash of cymbals and toms to chasm the earth and race the heart.
Through the years we've had as many bass players as a spider has legs, for one reason or another -- a girlfriend, work, a better gig back east -- none of 'em stuck. Then a young man, Daniel Weaverling, asked to join our band, and after one song I knew he could weave the final thread in our sound. Give us a listen and get caught in the web.
BAND DISCOGRAPHY ____________________
The Border Band has released 3 CDs: "Rootless Seed" 2001, "Magdalene" 2003, and "Hard West" 2005. Recent radio highlights for "Hard West":
*Blueshound selection on "Blues Deluxe" (the Nation's blues show hosted by Dave Johnson), aired on over 95 FM stations in US / Canada and the internet at www.freeworldradio.com Playlist: November 20 – 26
*Sirius Satellite Radio: "The Bob Dylan Hour" (program 79) hosted by Michael Tearson www.sirius.com
*Honky Tonk Blues on 101FM Brisbane, Australia hosted by Henry Prokop "Hard West" choice of the month for Freeform Americana Roots Report –
*Charted 42 on Roots Music Report (Roots Blues) 11/8/05 www.rootsmusicreport.com
*Americna Roots Music hosted by Mike Penard on ISA Radio in Lhuis, France "Hope you will stay on this road and will not listen to the sirens of easiness. Your music is true, full of a good spirit. It is a real pleasure for the listeners...the DJ to hold such an album. You can like it or not, but you never have the feeling you hold a record that has already been recorded a hundred times. It is the work of artists, in the literal meaning of the word... To me, you reach perfection with Hombre...." – Mike the Frenchy
*Blues Buffet on KRVK 107.9FM in Casper, WY – hosted by Travis "T-Roy" Royce "Bare Hands is a great song!"
* Big Al's Rhythm Roundup PBS 108.7FM Melbourne, Australia – Big Al Watts "Hell mate The old Kansas Redlegs have not got a patch on you guys love your work..."
*The Fresh 895FM Bendigo, Australia hosted by Trevor Hyland "Great sound – blew me away...featuring The Border Band as my Cyber Buddies..."
*Country-Eastern Outlaws For Peace hosted by Eddie Russell, based in Colombus, TX and broadcast on JRRI International Shortwave out of Waterford, Ireland http://listen.to/jrri/ "Thanks for sending your most excellant 'Hard West' double-cd, a very enjoyable ride"
*Friday Night Blues hosted by Norma Martinez on KTEP 88.5FM NPR El Paso, TX *House Party with Harold Tremblay KAFI 90.3 & 106.7FM Minneapolis/ST.Paul, MN *Old Time & New Country Jean Castro 92.8FM Marmountier, France *Cruisin' with Don Chisholm on MFR 97.4FM Moray Firth Radio – Scotland *La Hora del Blues with Vincente "Harmonica" Zumel Radio PICA Barcelona, Spain *The Upper Room with Joe Kelly WVOF 88.5FM Fairfield, CT *Dark Side of the Highway with Johnny Timewarp WFCS 107.7FM *Radio Vagabond, Danny Birch: "Disc has a real Southern Roadhouse Blues sound..."
Plus many other country-rock and blues shows throughout the US and Canada, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK, Australia, Norway, Slovinia....
I could sure use your vote at Hoss the Boss Radio for the JUNE SONG OF THE MONTH CONTEST. You don't have to register, just place a check beside MIKE PARRISH - BLUE JEAN BABY & click VOTE! that's ALL there is to it! THANK YOU!
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John Kitchen wants you to join their band in Rockstars, a game where you can form bands with your friends and play gigs, battle rival bands, and become famous on MySpace!
Thanks guys for the great feedback, and actually taking the time to listen. I'm going to try and make it to Blaneys or Knuckleheads. This Myspace stuff gets crazy sometimes, keep in touch.
>TA www.ThisAlibi.com
