Aaron Benolkin - Lead Guitar, Lap Steel, Banjo, Vocals James Dommek Jr. - Drums, Guitar, Vocals Evan Phillips - Vocals, Guitar, Harp Ivan Molesky - Bass
Influences
Uncle Tupelo, The Allman Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, Blue Mountain, Wilco, Neil Young, Jay Farrar, Lucero, Spiff & Cole, The Beatles, Gram Parsons, J. Garcia, Flying Burrito Bros., Drive By Truckers, Tim Easton, Two Cow Garage, Jackhead, Moby Grape, The Jayhawks (& don't forget Golden Smog), Son Volt, The Creekdippers, Crazy Horse, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Derek Trucks Band, Blind Melon, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Robert Randolph, Ben Harper, Anne McCue, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House, Hoe Slinger, The Rolling Stones.
Sounds Like
"Neil Young rides shotgun with The Drive By Truckers." Josh Niva-Anchorage Daily News
Cold winter nights and long summer days are not a secret in Alaska, but rather an accepted reality to those who call it home. The Whipsaws are among those residents of the far North who embrace this natural, bipolar cycle. Relentlessly touring for the past five years, they have played smoke-filled saloons and have packed concert halls and theaters, successfully captivating a broad and dedicated fan base with a style that is truly Alaskan.
Since the early day of developing their musical identity, The Whipsaws have fine-tuned their sound into an original blend of Americana & Roots Rock, heavily dosed in twang, crunchy guitars, and lap steel that the band calls Alaskan Rock n' Roll.
The release of their highly-anticipated 2006 debut album, Ten Day Bender, earned The Whipsaws a great deal of press attention in the United States and Europe, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Great Britain. Americana UK declared Ten Day Bender, "Amazingly diverse and accomplished for a debut. If they were from anywhere but Alaska, they'd be huge." On the radio, the album proved successful, reaching 133 on the AMA chart, 28 on the Roots Music Report for Roots Rock, and debuting at 12 on the Euro Americana chart.
While their Alt-Country/Southern Rock debut album was attracting attention both at home and in Europe, the band started gathering material for their follow-up album. With a new bass player, and a hunger for a louder, more dynamic rock n’ roll sound, The Whipsaws recorded 60 Watt Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska in early 2007, with a guest appearance by Tim Easton (New West Records). 60 Watt Avenue, mixed by renowned engineer/producer John Agnello (Son Volt, The Hold Steady, Sonic Youth), brings The Whipsaws to a whole new level with its straight-from-the-gut lyrics, and big, driving sound.
In January 2008, The Whipsaws released 60 Watt Avenue to sold out crowds throughout Alaska, and then launched a six week Lower 48 tour, taking The Whipsaws down the west coast, over to the Midwest, and as far east as Cleveland, OH. The Tour ended in Austin, TX at the SXSW Music Festival, where they gained respect from fellow musicians and industry professionals alike, while winning countless new fans that were fascinated by their original blend of hard-driving, twang-filled rock n’ roll.
On Americana radio, 60 Watt Avenue successfully outperformed their debut record, reaching 2 on the Roots Music Report for Roots Rock, 24 on the AMA Internet chart, 51 on the AMA Terrestrial chart, and 7 on the Euro Americana chart.
Currently touring full-time in the lower 48, with plans to tour Europe in early 2009, The Whipsaws plan to spread their floor-stompin' Rock to places far and wide.
60 Watt Avenue NOW available on MILES OF MUSIC (Click Album Cover to Purchase):
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i know we havent heard you guys in a while but i'm pretty sure you sound better than ever. great stuff last night. i like the acoustic thing cuz you can hear all the little musical details. happy friday.
you guys rocked the brown bear. too bad they can't knock out that back wall so everyone can dance in the dirt in the back yard and drink beer instead of listening out front with no beverages in hand. x chan
Welcome Home. You guys sounded great last night! Thanks again for the opportunity to let us open for ya. We'd love to do it again sometime, somewhere. Have a great AK summer guys.
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