Kevin Geil sings and plays acoustic guitar. Dennis Fallon plays electric and baritone guitar. Chris Rhoades sings background vocals and plays upright bass. Chris Dodds sings background vocals and plays drums/cymbals. Denny Mathis plays dobro, electric Hawaiian steel guitar and pedal steel guitar.
Sounds Like
TEXAS ROCKABILLY COUNTRY WESTERN SWING ROCK-N-ROLL 2-STEP ROOTS HONKYTONK
Long on talent and rebellious spirit, Two Tons of Steel has been entertaining audiences with their distinctive brand of Americana music for more than two decades. Based in San Antonio, the band has nine albums to its credit, legions of loyal fans and even a place in the history books.
Formed in 1991, the roots country trio was originally called The Dead Crickets. The band got a new name in 1997 after a phone call from Jerry Allison, drummer for Buddy Holly and the Crickets, who was worried about possible confusion among the fans of both acts. Inspired by founder Kevin Geil's restored '56 hardtop two-door Cadillac, the band became Two Tons of Steel.
Allison need not have worried about the two bands being confused with the other, though. Their sound, born deep in the hills of Central Texas, is theirs alone.
Geil, who plays acoustic guitar, sets the pace with his signature vocals that are fun, lively and infectious. Then there’s lead guitarist Dennis Fallon who provides just the right amount of twang to the band’s sound. Drummer Chris Dodds and upright bassist Chris Rhoades make up the band’s rhythm section, and they lay down a crisp foundation honed to perfection by long nights working spirited dance hall crowds.
Joining them at select gigs and on the band’s albums is virtuoso four-neck steel guitar player Denny Mathis, whose work with Willie Nelson in 1964, Ray Price in 1966, Charlie Pride in 1968-69 and Bob Wills in 1968 earned him a slot in the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
With so much talent on stage, it’s safe to say the boys are in demand, at home and abroad. Most notable is the band’s longstanding date with historic Gruene Hall. Since 1995, the Two Tons crew has made the state’s oldest dance hall their weekly summer home. Called “Two Ton Tuesdays,” more than 110,000 fans have made the trek to catch their electrifying show.
Outside of the U.S., Two Tons made history in 1997 when it became the first American band in 37 years to tour Cuba. Playing the Teatro Nacionel de Cuba (National Theatre) in Havana, the band introduced its audience to the band's distinctive brand of country-flavored rockabilly.
Two Tons got even more exposure five years later when the band hit the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, the first of many successful appearances at the esteemed venue. In 2005, Two Tons started touring Europe, playing shows in France, Norway, Spain, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. The band now calls Europe home at least once a year.
Even though they’ve toured the world, the Gruene Hall gig is the one the homegrown Texas band still relishes.
Amid all their touring, Two Tons managed to hit the studio in 2005 and record “Vegas,” with producer Lloyd Maines, their first album for Palo Duro Records, and it reached 7 on the Americana Muisc Chart. Palo Duro also added the band's 2004 disc, "Transparent," to its catalog and released the live DVD/CD “Two Ton Tuesday Live” in 2007.
Along the way, the band has collected a number of awards. To date, Two Tons has cleaned up at home, winning "Band of the Year" on 10 separate occasions and "Album of the Year" for its self-titled debut. Two Tons has also been named "Best Country Band" by the San Antonio Current eight times. Geil also has nabbed 'Best Male Vocal' honors four times.
Two Tons of Steel’s reach extends beyond their live gigs. In 2003, the band was filmed during a “Two Ton Tuesday” gig for the IMAX film, "Texas: The Big Picture," which can be seen daily at the IMAX Theatre in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. The band also has been featured as supporting characters in award-winning author Karen Kendall's romance novel, "First Date."
So what’s next for Two Tons of Steel? More music is on the agenda, the band will head into The Zone studio in Dripping Springs, Tx with longtime friend and producer Llyod Maines to record their tenth cd do out in the summer of 2009.
Last week state Rep. Wayne
Christian pulled a sly move in the legislature and created an exception
to the Texas Open Beaches Act that allows him and his neighbors on
Bolivar Peninsula to build houses on the PUBLIC BEACH.
This is bad news.
We have a campaign to convince Texas Governor Rick Perry to veto this bad bill.
This is very simple and your email could make the difference.
I just want to say I miss you guys soo much! I'm stuck up here in the north in Chicago :(
You guys need to play a gig up here ;) I'll rock some promotions for ya if you want!
I just wish i could make it to one of the two ton tuesdays at Gruene Hall... oh well hopefully a miracle will happen and i'll high tail it back to texas soon.
Hey Guys, Thanks for the add..I lived in San Antonio for 20 years and I just might be there visting my friends when you play at Cowboys..OR..Catch a show up this way maybe?..Thanks again...Ms. Hollywood
Hi Kevin!!! My bestfriend from Corpus Christi Texas, Carla, and I are making plans to be in Dallas to see and hear your gig!!! WE can't wait!!! See you soon!!!
Online Now!
