Mike (drums), Derek (bass, vocals), N.T. (lead guitar), and Dave (rhythm guitar, lead vocals)
Influences
Old 97's, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Bob Wills, The Kinks, Beatles, X, Pixies, Cheap Trick, Ken Bethea, Murry Hammond, Rhett Miller, Philip Peeples
America's finest Old 97's tribute band, since 1994!
Inspired by a new Dallas band, the Old 97's, these four high-school friends first struck out on their adventure in 1994 under the moniker of the 504's, then as the Bel Airs, and later as The Timebombs, only to discover that other bands had been performing under the latter two names since the 1980's. Later, after short stints as the The Oppenheimers, Oppenheimers U.S., and as the Idiot Speakers, the boys took their longest-lasting name, the Satellite Riders, in honor of the Old 97's critically acclaimed 2001 album Satellite Rides.
As the Old 97's took their 2002 hiatus, the Satellite Riders plugged on, but the pressures of day jobs, night-school, kids, wives, and girlfriends (though usually not all at once) took their toll, and little did they know that after weeks of practice, a fiery, sold-out set at Dallas' Sons of Hermann Hall on one hot May night in 2003 would be their final gig for over five long years.
Then earlier this year, spurred by the release of the Old 97's latest album, Blame It On Gravity, and after weeks of rehearsals (during which they briefly changed their name to the Easy Ways and The Fools) the Satellite Riders are back, and now they're hitting the road, with their "Comeback Special" set for the August 31 at Seattle's Tractor Tavern!
Just as they did in 1994-2003, the Riders will be putting on an Old 97's-style show in the types of intimate venues like The Tractor, where the Old 97's themselves haven't played in years. If you always wondered what it like to see the Old 97's in their Bloodshot days, before fame and fortune, and music promoters whisked them into the bigtime, well now's your chance!
Hey boys, don't know where you are hunkered down tonight, but just in case... I'm visualizing you lovingly embraced by Tina Turner, 'cause I think she knows how to handle a crazy Ike.
great job at the tractor...i felt like i was back in tx. how about making some satellite riders t-shirts? if you do, put me first on the list to get one...
Great show! Thanks so much for playing here and rockin' the tractor! I'll be sure to catch you guys again when you are in town whether you are being called the Riders or the 97's!
