Influences are a tough description. " I am a part of all that I have met..." I was very much influenced by Bob Dylan. Especially his "Highway 61 Revisited"
I met Richie Havens when I was sixteen years old and that got me interested in playing the guitar. Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa,Tom Waits, Miles Davis, Dr. John's " Gris-Gris", David Bromberg,The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix. Leonard Cohen, I love the Country Blues, John Lee Hooker, Howlin" Wolf, Country Joe and the Fish, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Allman Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Blind Willie McTell,Weather Report, Van Morrison. "Too late to stop now!" I have been influenced more by an era than by a certain style.
The people I'm listening to these days for inspiration are Otis Taylor, Papa Mali, Los Lobos, Latin Playboys, Lucinda Williams, Cowboy Junkies, Nick Cave, Wilco,The Black Keys, Jim White, Weather Report, Anders Osborne,The North Mississippi All-Stars. And I always have Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" close by.
Sounds Like
Graham Wood Drout's IKO IKO is an eclectic mix of southern musical traditions. Blues, Folk, Funk, Rock, Classic Soul, Gulf Coast Americana, and trance-dance psychodelia. We call it "Swampedelic!"
IKO IKO's sound has been compaired to The Band, The Doors,The Allman Brothers, and a number of other classic rock bands. Straight out of the "60's and not ashamed.
Be sure to join the Voodoo Crew- IKO IKO's official fan club.
Give me the faith to lay my hands on rattle snakes!
John Lee Hooker
In my Zydeco!
Graham Wood Drout's
IKO-IKO
"A must see!"- Rock and Roll Road Trip, Rolling Stone Magazine
-In 2008 Graham Wood Drout and IKO IKO celebrated their 25th Anniversary. Twenty five years, thousands of shows, four critically aclaimed CD's, three vans, a who's who of distingushed alumni and a reputation for making really good music.
The San Diego Tribune describes IKO IKO as "An eclectic mix of southern musical traditions."
The Chicago Tribune describes IKO's sound as a " low down gators-and-gumbo hybred of rock, blues and R&B..."
Blues, Mardi Gras , Gulf Coast Americana, Dylan, Rock and Roll music with a Bo Diddley beat
and the award winning song craft of Graham Wood Drout. Graham's songs have been a favorite of AAA radio and the satalite stations. His tunes have been covered by IBC Blues winner Joey Gilmore (who credits Graham's "Ghosts of Mississippi" for putting him over the top) and Blues Leaf Records guitar slinger Albert Castiglia who scored a hit with the fabulous Mr. D's "Big Toe." Craig Rusky of Delta Snake Magazine says, "As a songwriter Drout is a powerful master."
Ed Ivy of Blues Revue Magazine says, "This songwriting is on the order of Gordon Lightfoot or Jim Croce, full of soul- filling ideas that flow out of the writer's pen and into the heart of the listener. It takes emotional depth to confront the issues Drout takes on and the result is breath taking. Drout appears to be incapable of writing"oh, baby"- style bluescliches: he stakes a claim on a much higher ground. Great...and emotionally complete..."
Patrick O'Donnell of Blues On Stage writes, "Graham is an artist in every sense of the word."
And South Florida's New Times Magazine voted Graham Wood Drout Best Songwriter.
Graham Wood Drout was born in Newark, New Jersey, raised in Houston, Texas, graduated High School in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and settled in Miami, Florida. Along with his music and writing, Graham is also a fine artist and has had a number of one man shows in some of Miami"s top art galleries. His last show was at the DeLux Art's Gallery for Art Basil. Graham has a BFA in Fine Art from Florida International University.
IKO-IKO
Graham Wood Drout: Vocals, guitar, bass, percussion.
Good Rockin' Johnny Wenzel: Guitar, slide guitar
Mitch Mestel: Bass, vocals
Daniel East: Drums, percussion, vocals
Ron Taylor: piano. organ, keyboards
You can find out more about IKO IKO by visiting our web site: www.iko-iko.com.
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Graham Wood Drout and IKO-IKO continue to be at the forefront of live performance in South Florida after more than three decades. The band continues to reinvent itself and create great music that brings real energy to their infamous live performances and recordings.
Beginning in 1980 as The Fat Chance Blues Band, the founding members eventually changed the name in 1983 to get a fresh start and set themselves apart during the New Wave/ Blue Wave movement. John Wenzel was the original guitar player with Bob Hemphill on harp. Clearly the right move...
In 1991 IKO IKO released "Riding on the Rims" on Little Silver Records.
In 1996 IKO IKO released "Protected By Voodoo" On Little Silver Records.
In 2000 IKO IKO released "Shine" once again on Little Silver.
In 2002 Graham Wood Drout worked with Albert Castiglia on his record "Burn"
In 2004 Graham Wood Drout worked with 2006 IBC winner Joey Gilmore on his album "The Ghosts of Mississippi..." on BluePik Records
2005 Graham and Albert Castiglia released a live acoustic performance album "The Bittersweet Sessions" on Little Silver Records. Castiglia also features other songs by GWD on his records and in live performances.
Over the years IKO IKO has recieved numerous awards and critical notice from the press and radio. Voted Jam magazines Best Blues Band in Florida. Graham was awarded Miami New Times "Best Songwriter"
Selected performances:
Iko Iko "Protected By Voodoo" Little Silver Records LSCD 002 The Delta is a strange, wonderful, and mysterious place. The opening of the fine CD, "Protected By Voodoo" by Iko Iko is just as strange, wonderful, and mysterious. 'Millers Woods' has the spirit of the Delta's rich musical legacy wrapping itself around the rhythm and floating through the verses as Graham Wood Drout sings of ghosts, spirits, salvation, and Bible black air. The acoustic twelve string work of guest Patrick DeLeon adds lots of depth to this, one of the finest opening cuts I've heard on a modern CD in a long time! Don't think it's all Blues here, it's not. The diversity of this band keeps you glued to the player trying to figure where they'll take you next. The routes this band travels from the beginning to the end of this disc are amazing. They take you from the Delta right into the Chuck Berry fun of 'The Flood,' and after the flood waters roll back, they drop you square in the center of the French Quarter in New Orleans with the nasty sax work of Ronald James Dziubla and a driving second-line groove of 'Party Car'. Stewart Jean knows his way around behind a drum kit, and his insistent and steady beats move things along on this downright funky, stinky, goodtime CD. It's enlightening to listen to a band with the diverse background Iko Iko has, and they never falter, regardless of what they put on the plate. The surf feel of 'Bag Me, Tag Me, Take Me Away' reminds you of Dick Dale guitar tunes, sand in your drawers, and Frankie and Annette movies! One of the true successes of this disc is the imagery that comes through each and every song, and it's not anymore evident than on 'I Got Gris Gris.' The talk of Van Van oil, and graveyard soil, hidden charms and false alarms, and everything in between comes to life. As a songwriter and his team behind him, Drout is a powerful master. The greasy feel of 'Gris Gris' floats like a crane over Lake Ponchartrain, and sinks you in the muck and mire on its shores. Larry Williams plays some damn fine guitar here and his myriad licks stand well enough on their own. Each track carries you to where the band is coming from. 'Walk With The Zombie' smells of late night New Orleans, and brought back personal memories of sitting alone as the moon gave way to a sunrise. Drout's vocals are deep and packed with emotion at every turn. Michael Mennell's rumbling bass tones run as deep as the Mississippi as the band funks it up for 'When The Devil Calls Collect.' Another highpoint is the incredible background vocal work here, the blending is spot-on. Like some jump Blues with your crawfish and Dixie beer? This is no "jump on the bandwagon and swing," it's nasty and rude on 'Living Outside The Law.' 'Jalapeno Be Thy Name' has the across the border feel of Mexico with Tony Luschen's trumpet rings as he sits in for some fun. '3 Fingered Fellers Named Shorty' is another work of deep and powerful image. Larry Williams guitar glides and slides through the track adding a feel of desperation as Drout sings a salute to the men who grease carny rides, shine shoes, and carry steel plates on the tops of their heads. It's unfortunate that it ends as quick as it started when they jump headfirst into 'Don't Drink The Strychnine.' A simple track with only percussion and the strong harmonies at work, it pulls you in, as they sing of the pitfalls and problems we all face. It's a great closer, and leaves you wanting more, and isn't that what every band wishes they could do? An outright success of musicianship, writing talents, strong voices and images as dark as a New Orleans graveyard at midnight. Like I said before, it ain't all Blues, but this is music, simply stated. They draw on their influences, but in the end, everything is indelibly stamped 'Iko Iko - Protected By Voodoo.' href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/Bronwyn20/Dad/?action=view¤t=Greenparrot019.jpg" target="_blank">
Sound Advice Blues Festival / Ft. Lauderdale Florida
River Walk Blues Festival /Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival / Montigo Bay, Jamiaca
Beale Street Zydeco Festival / Memphis. tn.
Chenengo Blues Festival / Norwich, NY
Musconetong Blues Festival / Hampton, NJ
Bluesstock / Memphis, Tn.
Molson Canadian Jazz and Blues Festival/ Toronto, Canada
Sunfest / West Palm Beach, Fl.
Havana Music Festival/ Havana, Florida
Opening of the Beaches 2002 / Jacksonville, Fl.
Royal Oasis Casino/ Grand Bahamas
Music In The Schools
Stardust and Ashes/ Provincialas Turks and Caicos Islands*
Extra Credit:
Florida Music Awards 2002 Best Blues Band
Blues Revue Magazine Hidden Treasures of the Blues 2001
Jam Entertainment Magazine Florida Music Awards Best Blues Band 1999
Voted Best Blues Band New Times Magazine Broward/ West Palm Beach 1999
Voted Best Blues Band New Times Magazine Miami-Dade 1989-1999
Featured on NPR's Crossroads and Music of the Sub- tropics
Performed Sheb Wooley's Purple People Eater with Jimmy Buffett for the film "Contact"
Appearance and inclusion of our song, "Don't Mess with the Voodoo" in the film, "Cape Fear"
Fourth Album Arrives January 2010! American Dollar MP3 Discography Special, Only $20 For All Four Albums! Go To: www.theamericandollar.info/merchstore.html Thanks For Listening!
Renegade Magazine's "Custom Culture Circus" Issue #10 is Now Available! Visit http://www.renegademagazine.com to get your copy now! Or Subscribe and never miss an issue!
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I no can do it, as I'll be in Orlando.
