Established in September of 1999, this Tampa, FL americana/roots rock/alt.country quartet is made up of atomic clock precision of Robert Hans Jolowski (drums and percussion), the driving bass lines of Steven Schumacher (bass guitar), the solid rhythm & sweet melodies of Michael Snayd (acoustic guitar & vocals), and the clean-picked leads & smooth harmonies of Kamran Mir (electric guitar & vocals.)
The Urbane Cowboys influences include The Old 97's, Cigar Store Indians, Whiskeytown, Johnny Cash, Social Distortion, Cracker and Hank Williams, Sr., just to name a few. Rich McSherry, former Tampa roots/americana promoter/supporter described them as: "... ass kickin', beer drinkin', boot stompin' rock n' roll. A definite SXSW contender."
In his feature article on the Cowboys in Tampa's local rag Weekly Planet, music columnist Scott Harrell had this to say: "... the presence of two primary songwriters in Snayd and Mir, lend The Urbane Cowboys a surprisingly broad signature. Some songs rock with roadhouse abandon, some would slide nicely into contemporary pop-country airplay, and still others ply into that surf-a-billy backbeat. By refusing to narrowly define what they do, the Cowboys have created a fun, eclectic, and widely appealing style."
In their years of existence, The Urbane Cowboys have gigged quite consistently around the Central Florida area with both local and national acts. They have played with local favorites Skinny McGee & his Mayhem Makers, The Camaros, Jet Set Six, The Deep Sixes, The Red Elvises, Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs, Cigar Store Indians, and in a major cross-genre coup for the Cowboys, Reel Big Fish. Recently, the Cowboys have shared the stage with the likes of Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad), Shinedown, Authority Zero, Yellowcard, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Art Alexakis of Everclear, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Mike Watt, Santana, Los Lonely Boys and scores more.
The (mostly) Tampa-based Urbane Cowboys have spent the past five years making the kind of American music that speaks to fans of Willie, Waylon and The Ramones. On the Cowboys' new LP ...Only Truth Tonight, listeners are treated to a collection of sincere, lovesick laments. The sonic structure is standard rock 'n' roll goosed with twangy guitar solos and the occasional pedal steel sweetness of Jim McNealon. Michael Snayd and Kamran Mir deliver warm vocals, and the lyrics provide telling observations, including the gem "30 Days," a moving evocation of beautiful despair. Review of "...only truth tonight" from Creative Loafing
...Claiming influence from Hank Sr. to Social D and including the one I can *really* hear, Whiskeytown, the Urbane Cowboys pump out a pop infused brand of alt.country/y’allternative/cow punk/what ever the cool kids are calling it these days. Only the Truth tonight moves effortlessly from the rock and roll riffs of Here We Go Again to the pedal-steel infused country melodies of 30 Days and through the shit-kicking instrumental Saddle Up the guys have definitely put together a collection of tracks to be proud of. Hell, there is even a wonderful cover of The Pixies song, Wave of Mutilation that will make you wish the original had a pedal steel in it.... You will not be dissapointed.
If a band has designs on being a credible country rock/cow punk act, there has to be an appreciation and understanding of both genres and the many gray areas in between. The names Hag, Cash and Hank should come up with the same frequency as Uncle Tupelo, The Replacements and Social Distortion. Tampa's Urbane Cowboys, formed in 1999, work the various Americana back roads that inform their twang 'n' bang with balanced assurance. In addition to being fluid interpreters, The Urbane Cowboys are also formidable songwriters. Their CD June to November is a taut affair of countrified rock riffs, chugging-down-the-track energy and astute observations that hark back to prime Bottle Rockets and Whiskeytown material. Weekly Planet/"Best Y'allternative Band"/Best of the Bay 2002
"Their shit-kickin' quotient may not be as substantial as sonic compatriots Hangtown, but the Cowboy's rootsy footing and classic backbeat are 2-kountry as any among the insurgency sphere. A twinge of twang graces Kamran Mir's clean-picked guitar, a touch of Tweedy-like deadpan depicts Mike Snayd's autobiographical notes, while bassist Steven Schumacher and [original] drummer Jeff Blackburn mix traditional two-steps with new fangled slams. Like their name hints, these are city folks taken with the music's compassion and natural feelings. However, the band's streetsmarts provide a new horizon line of modern issues and conflicting feelings that's a couple of rungs higher. Rather than alt.country's good-natured goober-thons, The Urbane Cowboys are worldly and enlightened in a style that usually avoids those characteristics." Review of "June to November"/Focus Mag (issue 178)
The Slackers on tour! Check out the slackers on tour for their new cd, "Lost & Found" available through www.interpunk.com and downloadable at www.whatevski.org
Dec 3 - San Antonio - White Rabbit Dec 4/5 - Austin - Flamingo Dec 6 - Houston - Meridian Dec 8 - New Orleans - one eyed jacks Dec 9 - Tallahasee - Engine Room Dec 10 - Tampa - Crowbar Dec 11 - Miami - Churhills Dec 12 - Orlando - The Social Dec 18/19 - Brooklyn, NY - - Knitting Factory Dec 20 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
I wanted to let you know that we're running a 15% off promotion this week on ALL services! :) This INCLUDES MySpace design, Twitter design, album design, and promotional services! Message us now!
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I am giving away free autographed CD's of my upcoming album before it is released. Read my profile, get a free full length 19 Tracks CD, for absolutely nothing. I mean nothing, like no shipping, no handling, no bull! The only catch is that I am running low, and my hand is getting tired from signing them. There is less than a thousand left, and if you don't get one now, you will have to wait until the official release in November. It will be available nationwide then. However, this one will be the collectible, so don't let it pass you by. How could you say no to FREE anyway?
Hey, this is a cool party goin' on :D Just lettting you and your frinds know about it... At least one of your friends will be performing at it. It's gonna be fun! All Ages (see details)/ Free Beer/ Music/ Art If you click on the flyer, you see more info.
When: Friday, February 13th 7pm - 11pm Where: Gallery Live (Ybor City) 1901 15th Street Tampa, Florida FREE ADMISSION! ALL AGES! LIVE MODELS! PHOTOSHOOTS!
VIRGIN 2. 0 - a Square One Creative Event When:THIS SATURDAY, December 6th, 2008 - 7pm to midnight Where THE RITZ YBOR 1503 E 7th Ave Tampa, FL 33605 FREE ADMISSION! OPEN TO ALL AGES!
Hi The Urbane Cowboys, Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving with your loved ones.
Wanted to remind you -- Take a minute to sign up for the FanClub. As a member, you'll be able to get a free download of my new Christmas song. And we'll be giving away a free mp3 player soon!
