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"OUTSTANDING!" -- DIRTY LINEN MAGAZINE
Since 1994 the ROGUES have added to their ever-growing family of fans at music festivals, theaters, Highland Games, renaissance festivals, clubs, pubs, and corporate events -- anywhere that expressed a desire to present top-quality, high-energy music. This has included regular rotation on satellite radio station, XM, and appearances all over the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. The ROGUES have performed at numerous large events including the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the North Texas Irish Festival, the Chicago Highland Games, and the Texas Scottish Festival, among many others. They have shared the stage with many high-profile performers including the Battlefield Band, Bad Haggis, Natalie McMaster, Seven Nations, Rathkeltair, Enter the Haggis, the Paperboys, and the Glengarry Bhoys, to name but a few. They have also hosted their own exceptionally-well received variety shows, "Celtic Crossroads", which included superb performers from all over North America and Europe. The Rogues even appeared with Robert Duvall at the premier of his film, "A Shot at Glory". With a unique, multi-instrumental sound that crosses the musical landscape to include traditional and original songs, film soundtrack-ready music, and Irish-based foot-stompers, the ROGUES are proving they have the creativity and the drive to conquer the combined worlds of Celtic, Rock, Folk, Pop, and Classical music.
During their 15 year history the ROGUES have produced eight albums and two DVDs. Two of their most critically acclaimed CDs, Off Kilter and V.O., appear in the Grammy Book a combined total of six times in the categories of "Best New Artist", "Best New Album", and "Best Contemporary Folk Album". In 2003, with the release of their double-live album, "Made in Texas", and again in 2005 with the release of "Roguetrip", Celtic music magazine, Dirty Linen, had articles featuring rave reviews of the ROGUES. In 2008 Dirty Linen called "American Highlander", the Rogues' newest album, "Outstanding" and chose it to appear on their Editor's Choice CD with such legendary performers as Billy Bragg. Few bands like the ROGUES provide both the highly polished instrumentals that only elite musicians can perform, and the rousing songs that inspire crowds to sing. Indeed, listen to the audio tracks provided and you will see that the ROGUES are at least two exceptional bands in one.
Recently the ROGUES have continued to show their quality and versatility by beginning their symphonic concert series. In 2007 the band was invited to perform with the United States Air Force Orchestra, "America's International Musical Ambassadors". The show was at DAR Constitution Hall, the venue where U2, Frank Sinatra, and Earth, Wind, and Fire have performed and the site where Eddie Murphy's Delirious and Chris Rock's HBO Special were recorded. Performing before a large audience the ROGUES impressed long-time fans and newcomers alike who were awed by the power and beauty of pipes & drums standing alongside the string, wind, brass, and percussion sections of the orchestra. The success of this concert has inspired the ROGUES to take the musical scores they had professionally arranged for the Air Force show and perform with symphonies around the world.
"...amazing (what else would you expect on this album?) musicians...
Lovely fun that takes Rogues fans where they seem more than willing to
go... Go to a set and enjoy the energy and craftsmanship of one of our
best. " — Becky Trotter, ROGUES New CD - American Highlander, Southwest Celtic Music Association
"... an impressive racket ... splendidly cacophonous duets ... All you kilted
cowboys pull on your boots and stomp along!" — Dirty Linen
Band Members' Bios:
Randy Wothke is a graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in Music Education. Randy was one of the founding members of The Rogues in 1994. In 2005, he had the honor of receiving an ASCAPLUS Award from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) for his original compositions. A former public school teacher, Randy began Scottish style drumming in 1986. He has competed at numerous Scottish Highland games throughout the United States in the open snare drum classification, and with the Hamilton Pipe Band from Houston, Texas when they became the Grade III World Champions in Glasgow, Scotland in 1998. Randy currently composes music for the Rogues.
Nelson Stewart has been performing for over twenty years in such diverse musical genres as rock, Celtic, funk, punk, folk, jazz and soundtracks. He was a founding member, singer, and songwriter of popular Celtic rock bands The Swinish Multitude and The FictionMakers, from Toronto, Canada. Prior to the Rogues show with the United States Air Force Orchestra, the highlight of Nelson's musical career was headlining gigs by the FictionMakers at the Horseshoe Tavern, the Opera House, and the El Mocambo, site of legendary shows by U2, the Rolling Stones, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He continues to write, produce and record in his own facility, Mayhem Studios. The new FictionMakers album, Plead Like Angels, will soon be released on Mayhem Records, an indie label Nelson started to help unsigned bands in Canada. Nelson also composes music for the Rogues.
Lyric Todkill is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s music conservatory and only the second person in the world to hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music performance on the bagpipe. Under the direction of famed Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies, Lyric received his degree with honors in 2003. During his stint at Carnegie Mellon, Lyric performed with a variety of musical groups including double Grammy winning string quartet Quarteto Latino Americano and modern dance sensation Attack Theatre. After a successful amateur career, including overall wins at the George Sheriff, Nicol-Brown, and United States Piping Foundation, Lyric went professional in 2003. He has been a member of the Toronto based grade 1 Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band since 2003 and is regular on the solo competition circuit in the US, Canada, and Scotland. Lyric developed his own piping studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2002. After three successful years, he accepted a job instructing the juvenile band program at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School in Houston. In 2006, St. Thomas’ won its most recent of 5 World titles.
Corey Walden's life was destined from a very early age to be centered around music. A by-chance demonstration of stringed classical music by local music students in his Kindergarten class initiated his love affair with the violin from almost before he can remember. Soon he joined the Kensington Classical Quartet as First/Second Violin, all the while continuing lessons with well-known classical instructors in Oakville, Burlington and Toronto. Over time he was a Violinist for the Halton Youth Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and a student guest violinist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. But Celtic Rock has, in recent years, become his passion. Several years ago Corey became a founding member of Hunting McLeod, a premier performing group within the Celtic Rock genre. The opportunity for him to write, arrange, and perform in the Celtic Rock form, while still enjoying the fruits of the true classical background of his instrument, provide to him the ideal mix around which he centers his life.
Jimmy Mitchell's piping journey began in 1981 when he enrolled in 4th Grade at St. Thomas' Episcopal School in Houston, Texas. In the summer of 1985, just after he had finished 8th Grade, the school's piping instructor Mike Cusack, took the band over to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships. The band placed 1st in the Juvenile Division and this marked the first time an American band had ever won a World Pipe Band Championship. During his years at the University of Houston, and after graduating, he was a member of the Hamilton Pipe Band in Houston. He competed with the band when they won the Grade III World Pipe Band Championships in 1998.
Doug MacRae is originally from London, Ontario where he first received tuition from John and Archie Cairns. He has experienced a successful competitive career as a consistent prize-winner through the ranks. Some of his accomplishments include the Pipers' and Pipe Band Society of Ontario Champion Supreme Award for Junior and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd. In 2004, Doug took first prize in the Professional Piobaireachd event at the North American Championships. He now lives in Houston, Texas working as a director of the five-time Juvenile World Champion, St. Thomas’ Episcopal School Pipe Band. Doug is the former Pipe Sergeant of the St. Thomas Pipe Band (Ontario), and is now in his ninth year with the Scottish Lion - 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. Doug is also a certified adjudicator for the PPBSO.
Michael Kenny began piping at age 9 as a student at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, TX. Although presently attending Texas Christian University pursuing a double major in accounting and finance, he already has 2 piping World Championships under his belt with St. Thomas in 2004 and 2006. Michael also served as pipe major of the band from 2006-2007. When he’s not performing with The Rogues, he enjoys water sports, hunting/fishing, and spending time with his friends and family.
Rogues Discography:
American Highlander (2008)
Roguetrip (2005)
Made in Texas (2003)
V.0 (2001)
Off Kilter (1999)
Live in Canada, Eh? (1997)
Hollerin' for Haggis (1996)
The Scottish Rogues (1995)
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