Matthew Burke (voice, accoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica)
Daniel Burke (bass guitar, voice)
Jean-Paul Beaubien (drums, percussion)
Nathaniel Oliver (elec. guitar, lap steel, voice)
Joshua Hernandez (viola)
Scott Anderson (elec. guitar, lap steel)
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"HGWT's freshly minted full-length debut, Casting Shadows Tall as Giants, ranks with anything on the national Americana charts. Its gorgeous acoustic guitar-based melodies are fleshed out with back-porch banjo, lap steel, viola, piano and harmonica. A taut rhythm section that occasionally operates in subdued rock mode propels the songs. The mostly traditional instrumentation, arrangements and production provide a supreme backdrop for Matt Burke's reedy, intimate singing about charlatan preachers, finding solace in a lover's arms and facing up to the responsibilities of growing older."Wade Tatangelo, Creative Loafing Tampa"Local Americana aces Have Gun, Will Travel release their full-length debut Casting Shadows Tall as Giants. The swinger "Blessing and a Curse" starts in with a folksy singalong so good it may push that La Quinta jingle out of your head (finally). Sweet strums of the guitar, banjo, tight rhythms and viola abound, leaving no for time for misfire on this sparkling release."Carole Giambalvo, Tampa Bay Times
"...Casting Shadows is steeped in the country twinges of lap steel, harmonica, banjo, strings, and acoustic guitars. The record's true strength is its artful tributes to classic westerns, tying the album stylistically and thematically to the wild-west in all its gun-blazing glory... Burke's rich songwriting weaves classic western themes of life and death, honor, and morality throughout the record's narrative songs."Conor McKay, NPR
"The most important new alt-country ensemble in Tampa Bay" Creative Loafing Tampa
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL began as a vehicle for the songs of Matthew Burke, singer-songwriter and former frontman for Florida indie-rock trio The Chase Theory. Burke began writing and recording these songs at home, then performing them in front of crowds around the Tampa Bay area. By combining elements of folk, rock, punk, bluegrass, and traditional country music with an indie sensibility, the music takes on a style of its own.
Evan James from American Songwriter Magazine explains why HGWT's self-recorded, debut EP release was featured in the publication's "Under the Radar" section: "HGWT's self-titled EP is a testament to the fact that you don't need ostentatious artwork or $25,000 production to make it into Under the Radar; all you need is good songs."
NPR Music host Robin Hilton had this to say when recently introducing HGWT's "Blessing And A Curse" on NPR's "Second Stage" program; "Their music has a great energy to it with some infectious, sing along choruses and refrains.”
What started out as a solo, mostly accoustic project has since evolved into a full-band effort. With the help of brother Daniel Burke on bass, drummer JP Beaubien, guitarist Nate Oliver and Josh Hernandez on viola, HGWT rceieved the Critic's Pick for Best New Band in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay 2007. The song "Come, All Ye Sinners" (track 5 on HGWT's new full-length album) was the 1 song on Tampa's WMNF Community Radio 88.5 FM for four consecutive weeks after being featured on the BAAMO (Bay Area Arts & Music Organization) CD compilation Cheatin Heart: Tales of Lies & Love.
New record Casting Shadows Tall As Giants available now!
For my Americana radio show "Tupelo Honey" I just did my picks for best songs of the first half of '08. "Come, All Ye Sinners" made the top 20. The album is in serious contention for CD of the year.
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I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
What's up fellas? I've been to 2 of your shows aand got your cd, you guys rock. My favorite song is "It's not the heat, it's the humanity" and was wondering if you could put it on ypur page that'd be awesome. I was looking for it so I can put it on my page with the other ones. Well, keep on rockin! And I'll see you on the 19th.
Hey, glad I came across your page; really enjoying your music. Like how you've blended bluegrass and punk and bits and bobs; sounds great! Drop by anytime for a listen, All the best, Steve.
