The Dusty Roads Band is; Dustin Harder (Lead/backup vocals, electric and acoustic guitar) Jessica Rae Ayre (Lead/backup vocals) Harmonica. Jake Bell (Drums and all manner of percussion) Jake Stead (Electric/upright Bass) Graham Crellin(Guitar) Every now and then they are joined by: Dan Frechette(Guitar)
or sideman extraordinaire: Jeremy "Blind Boy Wonder" Rusu(Keyboards,clarinet,harmonica, accordion and mandolin)
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Influences
All genres, every moment,OUR FANS, our families, The Winnipeg Folk Festival, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, The Allman Bros. Band, Dave Mathews, Blind Melon, Bob Marley, Blue Rodeo, Willie Nelson, Gabor Szabo, Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, Tim Reynolds, The Times Change(d) musicians, Winnipegers, and everyone in between.
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The Dusty Roads Band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is a blues-rock quintet that positively sizzles onstage. Led by the hard-edged passionate vocals and intense guitar of Dustin Harder, this band has all the ingredients for a great night of live entertainment: Totally infectious tunes (covers and originals) that you can't help but feel like dancing to... a tremendous high level of musicianship that commands your attention... and a stage atmosphere that is as much theatre as it is music. You can't take your eyes off this band once they're in a groove.
Early this summer, I had my first chance to see the band up-close-and-personal in an intimate, outdoor environment on the patio of Osborne Village's Gas Station Theatre in Winnipeg. Previously, I had only experienced their show from a distance. That was impressive enough, but nothing prepared me for what I would see and hear while sitting just several feet away. Despite the modest setting and seating, and therefore a smallish audience, the band was totally focused and pumped right from the opening number.
The passion in Harder's vocals and guitar work, especially on his outstanding original tunes, will leave you awestruck. He sings and plays with total commitment and confidence. His skill on guitar is tremendous - his vocals are perfectly suited for blues with an edge you can't ignore. (Interestingly enough, I've also heard Dustin sing solo with material that lends itself more to folk - which just shows how versatile a composer and performer he is. And he doesn't stop there... he has a couple of synthesized-guitar instrumental tracks on his MySpace Solo Music Profile that are ambiently captivating - so much so that I think of them as being part of some IMAX nature-documentary soundtrack. He humbly says he was just "noodling" when he recorded them. Some noodling!!)
"The Two Jakes", as they are referred to fondly (Jake Stead on bass and Jake Bell on drums), provide a rock-solid foundation that you really must experience - their energy and physicality is jaw-dropping to watch. Bell is a demon on percussion... his entire body is moving as if he's drawing on some deep, inner pool of energy to fuel his power-drumming. But as animated as he is while seated, add Jake Stead to the mix and you pretty much have physical theatre set to music. There were occasions when I mused that Stead was on the verge of breaking into "modern dance"... he doesn't just interpret the music through his playing, but also through his body language. Bass and drums require necessary teamwork... "The Two Jakes" are totally in synch. They play off each other like actors. And there are times during instrumental solo breaks that Harder will join them - sending the energy level through the roof.
Jess Rae Ayre's sirenesque singing and Graham Crellin's scintillating virtuosity on guitar provide an essential balance. In particular, Ayre's appealing presence and range of vocals create the necessary counterpoint to the often-frenetic male activity around her. An alluring pillar of stability, Ayre will nonetheless surprise with different vocal stylings - gut-wrenchingly soulful in a powerful piece like "Ocean Of Tears"... silky-smooth 'n sexy in a jazzy little number like "Goin' Away"... or letting it all hang out with some rockin' blues such as in "This Dog" (her very own composition).
The Dusty Roads Band was originally a quartet, bringing in guest musicians as needed for live performances and studio recordings. Crellin was one of the guest guitarists and the band soon took note of not only how well he fit in, but of the dedication he showed toward the music. Thus, he landed a full-time spot. This is a guy who can make his presence felt through his musicianship. Watch him play - the fingers of a master at work.
The Dusty Roads Band has developed the perfect stage formula to delight audiences, and they seem at home in any type or size of venue, playing before any size of crowd. And their formula extends to the music, as evidenced by the tracks on their debut CD - "Searchin' For A River". Blues is the motif throughout, of course, but there's nothing even remotely repetitive from song-to-song... there's blues with a gospel touch, blues with a jazz feel, blues with playful pop stylings, blues with a little bit country and blues with a lot of rock 'n roll.
WINNIPEG NEWSPAPER REVIEWS>>>>
http://www.winnipegsun.com/entertainment/music/2009/03/12/8717406-sun.html
The Sun
Versatility is like personality: It goes a long way. It goes even farther when you have both, like this eclectic outfit led by singer-guitarist Dustin Harder. Between his picking (which is gruff and gritty or supple and slinky as required), the band's jam-honed chops and singer Jessica Rae Ayre's rich pipes, they prove adept at everything from blues and country to reggae to jazz.
By Darryl Sterdan
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/music/country--roots-41251847.html
THE DUSTY ROADS BAND
Searchin' for a River (Independent)
IF you find yourself regularly bellying up to the bar of any of our beloved 'Peg City blues venues there's no doubt you've seen and heard Dustin Harder. As leader of The Dusty Roads Band he's working hard to carve out a unique niche for himself in a glutted musical landscape and his debut album Searchin' for a River finds him perfectly situated to make a big impact on that scene. What keeps him suspended above the more commonplace 12-bar dudes is his ability to create a stylish guitar tone that evokes the masterful attitude of cats like former Fleetwood Mac-er Peter Green, and that alone is a rarity. If you ignore the cod-reggae track and the vibe-deflating Goin' Away, it's plain that this particular musical river has a magnificent flow. 'Ö'Ö'Ö1/2
-- Jeff Monk
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The Dusty Roads Band have been officialy nominated for "Best Blues Album" for the 2009 APCMA's...visit www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com to log on and vote.....Thanks to those who voted during the first round....Now We NEED YOUR SUPPORT for this on elast time...Spread the word and vote....Thank you soooo much!!!
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Thanks! Damn chronic diseases have been acting up for awhile now, forced me to lay a little low, draw in the walls a bit, even on the Internet. Been concentrating more on MySpace where things are a tad more interesting than anywhere else, as I like to experience meeting new people, get exposed to new music.
I monitor things over at Facebook, too, so I've been following your progress from a distance, as it were. Of course, I have your CD and play that lots, so the music isn't far from me.
No way I can get out tonight. Saturday? Hmmm... well, I'll play it by ear and we'll see what happens. But you have a great gig!! I'm sure you'll bring the house down as usual!!
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Hey THE DUSTY ROADS BAND, I am happy to see you are doing great with your latest release. Keep it up THE DUSTY ROADS BAND. I want you to know that I am big fan. I love your talent. Do PS.:Follow me at Twitter:http://twitter.com/iaent
Glad you liked it. Didn't want to leave anything out as far as my impressions of the band (both as a whole and as individuals) were concerned. It was a treat for me to have a closer experience with both your music and your performance. Everyone should have that opportunity. Looking forward to more in the future!!
I had so much fun and I'm looking forward to seeing you in concert again soon! That was so crazy how you packed 80 000 people into Lady of the Lake in Brandon, Manitoba!!! You are all ROCK STARS!!!!
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hi and greetings from Wollongong. the music on my profile is my son's Christopher. He is an excellent songwriter. if you'd like to have one of your songs played on voxfm (www.voxfm.org.au) just hook up with my radio programme profile Yesterday Today (www.myspace.com/wollongongmusic) and i'll arrange it with you. Best to you. Wayne.
Thought you might like to support some northern blues.....The Dusty Roads Band is eligible for an APCMA in the following categories :Best Blues Album,Best New Artist,,Best Songwriter,,Best Album Design, Best Group or Duo,Best Single of the year. Online voting begins first round July 7,2009 and goes to August 13,2009..If you could please take a moment and login to http://www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/ And vote online, it would really help us gain what we think is some well deserved recognition for all the hard work we have done and are doing to bring great music to your ears.
Just finished listening to Searchin' For A River. What a boss CD! Totally strong, each and every song! Obviously well-produced and engineered because the sound is great!
I'd have a hard time picking a single off it - there's a few candidates - but right now, I'm leaning towards the title track with Killin' Time a runnerup. The title track in particular is quintessential blues.
And Howlin' Wind is perfect as the starting track... it really sets the table. Old Man Blues and Ain't No Grave are good penultimate pieces for the title track that ends it all in grand fashion. Old Man Blues, by the way, is a smile generator. :)
This isn't just baby steps for a debut CD - this is a giant leap! Every blues fan should have this in their collection.
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*Allo The Dusty Roads Band! I invite you to check out my solo project, my new album « L’arbre aux parfums » is now released. To hear exerts and adventure in my fragile garden, please feel free: www.myspace.com/caracolmusique Many thanks ! CARACOL*
