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Representing Texas with their original southern-rockin', genre-bendin' "Farm-to-Market Rock'n'Roll" style of music, The Dust Devils' sophomore release, Gathering Dust was recorded between Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studio in Spicewood, TX and Emerald and Masterfonics in Nashville, TN.
The CD swept the 2006 Texas Music Awards winning "Album of the Year", "Song of the Year" (Walk On), "Female Vocalist of the Year" (Barbara Malteze), and "Vocal Duo of the Year."
Some of the talent assembled to perform on the CD include such legendary figures and top Nashville studio musicians as Barry Beckett (Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams, Jr.) and Glen Duncan (Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard).
By a chance meeting, an instant friendship was formed with legendary photographer, Carl Dunn, (www.thisisrockandroll.com), who graciously offered up his services and contributed portrait photos of Malteze and Higgins for the CD's artwork package. Carl is known for his breathtaking photos of Led Zepplin, Janis Joplin, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Ritchie Blackmore, Aerosmith and most every rock icon of that era.
In 1998, Kevin Higgins and Barbara Malteze, (founding members of the group), hired their band, originally called The Cosmic Dust Devils, in Austin, while working on Higgins' solo CD, Dark Side of the Barn, which AllMusicGuide.com proclaimed was “…one of the classic country/folk/rock albums of that year.” The CD won “Album of the Year” at the 2000 Hill Country Music Awards. Higgins would go on to become a 2000 Kerrville “New Folk” Finalist later that year, earning the band a spot on the Main Stage at the 2001 Kerrville Folk Festival.
Kevin Higgins, (guitars/vocals/songwriter), was raised in El Paso, playing in cover bands until he decided to pursue a career in songwriting. He moved to L.A. in the early '90s where he met Barbara Malteze, who was fronting her own blues rock band at the time. After the couple moved to Austin and recorded Higgins' solo CD, they formed the Cosmic Dust Devils, performing over 100 shows a year, all over the state of Texas. The group released a self-titled CD in 2002 which received rave reviews, such as "Higgins is quite possibly the next great Texas songwriter," -(Rockzilla.com); and "...a sparkling and important release" –(AllMusicGuide.com). In 2004, Higgins' song, “Company Time”, was placed in the movie “A Day Without A Mexican” (and released on the EMI soundtrack).
In early 2005, Barbara Malteze,(vocals/keyboards/mandolin), was invited to perform the headlining tribute at the "18th Annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash" at the Port Arthur Civic Center. Back when Cashbox was the voice of the music industry, they wrote, "Barbara does know how to pump out ripping vocals." Malteze's past as L.A. heavy metal vocalist/songwriter for her self-titled band, Malteze, is still very much alive in Europe, as evidenced by a 3-page 2003 interview in Metal Maidens Magazine (Netherlands), the 2006 worldwide vinyl LP release of Count Your Blessings by Femetal Records, and a recent interview with "Heavy" Magazine (the 2nd largest heavy metal magazine in Germany), for the Nov. 2006 issue. Malteze continues to make waves in Texas, as she accepted the honor of "Female Vocalist of the Year" for two years in a row at the 2006 & 2007 Texas Music Awards, a feat of repetition that no other artist has accomplished thus far.
A Nashville music-industry showcase in 2006 garnered such reviews as “…they impressed at their showcase and are an act to watch.” –(CountryMusicFactsandNews.com). Founding member of Marshall Tucker Band, George McKorkle was on hand to introduce the band at the showcase.
XM Satellite Radio rotated cuts by the band on a regular basis beginning in Jan. 2006. In Sept. 2006, several Cumulus Broadcast stations picked up “Outlaw Girl” to brand their stations’ “outlaw” image. As of Feb. 2007, with practically no promotion, "Looking for Pearl" rose to 2 on the TexasTop40.com site, with over 5,000 downloads logged.
Critics have compared Higgins' songwriting to that of Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, Patterson Hood, and Red Stegall. "...the sound of the South never went away - it just got better with age..." (4-1/2 star review) -(AllMusicGuide.com). Higgins went on to win 2nd place in the coveted 2006 B.W. Stevenson songwriting contest held in Dallas, (just to keep the critics honest).
The Dust Devils’ industry showcases have included "Windows on Texas", (a Texas Hill Country event held in January, similar to Austin's SXSW); an “Official Texas Party” CRS-37 showcase at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville; “South by The Sons” showcase at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas; and non-sanctioned appearances in Austin at Waterloo Ice House and Flipnotics during SXSW.
During the 4th Annual “Coastal Bender” , a huge fan-appreciation party held in Port Aransas, TX, The Dust Devils released a CD recorded in a week's time, Change in the Weather. The excitement surrounding the CD created quite a stir, with articles appearing; (Sept. 2006, “Rising Stars” special feature, Best in Texas Magazine), (Oct. 2006 cover story, Hill Country Happenings) and (Oct. 2006 feature interview, The Stars of Texas Magazine).
At one point, Change in the Weather charted at 25 on the Roots Music Report , staying there for several weeks.
The fans have been describing The Dust Devils as "the Led Zeppelin of Texas", because the band has a distinct way of "genre bending." They can lay down a hot honky tonk number; a ripping 70's rocker; then a bluegrass groove; scream thru a blues tune; caress a ballad...you never know what to expect with this group. And they do it all with energy, feel, abandon and talent. This is Americana at it's best...no one else is kickin' up dirt this hard, creating the real melting pot that folks call "Texas music."
Greg Patterson, DJ, KHYI 95.3, (Dallas), says it best, "...the Dust Devils are the Cinderella band of Texas..."
Encouraged by his bandmates to release a solo cd, Kevin released FIND YOUR SHINE on Little Train Records in Feb 2010. Funded soley by investors from his fan base and recorded in seven days at East Austin's premiere analog studio under the guidance of producer Stephen Doster (Nanci Griffith, James Honeyman-Scott) the cd has been receiving international critical acclaim, as well as reaching #53 on the Americana Chart.
Awards:
Texas Music Awards "Song of the Year" ~ FIND YOUR SHINE
2007 Hill Country Happenings Magazine's Reader's Choice award:
Band of the Year
2007 Texas Music Award winners:
Female Vocalist of the Year
2007 Texas Music Award nominees:
Album of the Year (Change in the Weather)
Song of the Year (Amazing Sense of Calm)
Entertainer of the Year (Barbara Malteze)
Live Band of the Year
2006 Texas Music Award winners:
Album of the Year (Gathering Dust)
Song of the Year (Walk On)
Female Vocalist of the Year (Barbara Malteze)
Vocal Duo of the Year
The Dust Devils are currently seeking a major label team.
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