Primus, Ween, Tool, Yes, 311, Frank Zappa, Modest Mouse, Pink Floyd, Cake, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie, Rush, Perfect Circle, Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Jethro Tull, Mason Jennings, Morphine, Drums and Tuba, Flaming Lips, Mr. Bungle, etc...
The MadHats were selected as one of the "Best of 2006" by DropHit.net and one of the best bands in the Black Hills by the "Rapid City Journal."
MadHat's music has seen countless airplay on the following radio stations and podcasts: Sirius Stars, The Creepy Sleepy Podcast, 89.1 The Buzz, 95.1 KSKY, City Vibe Radio UK, 87.7 Radio Tircoed, The Schwagcast, Soundtrip Podcast, Matchbox Radio 24, Radio Freakout, Hotel Coffee Podcast, Styrofoam Radio, Bad Dawg Radio, Antecubital Liposuction Podcast, Skye Radio, and many more!
The MadHats album, 'Songs for the Common MANiac,' is distributed through these great retailers: Itunes, emusic.com, cdbaby.com, amazon.com, musicgremlin.com, Borders Bookstores, Made in South Dakota Stores, aberdeenrecording.com, passalong.com, music.yahoo.com, rhapsody.com, music.aol.com, and local retailers like Black Hills Guitar, Global Market, and Spearfish Chophouse.
Music's mad scientist, Keller Williams, calls The MadHats "fantastic".
The MadHats have quickly become one of the premier live bands in the Midwest. Their high energy performances and deranged musical arrangements make them a one of a kind musical spectacle. The MadHat’s three piece lineup consists of Justin Olson on guitar and vocals, Mike Brennan on bass guitar, and Chris Tetreault on the drums.
The MadHat’s music offers an original sound in a mess of current pop music forms and stylings. Satirical lyrics blend with progressive compositions, while musicianship takes center stage. Constant rhythmic and dynamic changes and mixing of odd and even time signatures characterize The MadHat's sound. A "Hat’s" fan describes them as being a “smoothie blended on high…,” alluding to their mixing of a variety of musical forms. The MadHats are a totally improvisational experiment, and their music is an intoxicating, psychedelic marmalade with a hard blues/rock bite to it. A music critic for "The Rapid City Journal" describes The MadHat's music as an, "outrageous and totally unpredictable ride, rooted in a range of musical styles, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pink Floyd to Modest Mouse." "[The MadHats] turn music on its head. And with the band’s booming popularity, a new album in the works and a music video on the way, it looks like upside-down is the way to be." Even music's own mad scientist, Keller Williams, quoted The MadHats as being "incredible."
The MadHat's first full-length album, 'Songs for the Common MANiac,' was released in 2006 by the independent label, Aberdeen Originals. The band then released a live/animated music video for the single "Get On." The album has seen great reviews, radio play, and distribution with giants such as Itunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon. In 2007, came The Hat's sophomore project, 'Flight of the Jabberwock.' The MadHats are building a fanbase in the trenches by continually providing intense and mesmerizing live performances all over the Midwest. Keep your eyes on The MadHats as their career and endeavors continue to shake the world of music!
hey justin. wow. long time!! i cant belive its been two years since i left the black hills. Im glad to hear that you guys are still going strong. I went into chepo in st paul the other day and found your cd from a while back. It was really wierd... ah. good times...hope i see you guys play next time i'm in the BH. ~~~jessi
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