The Boxmasters
The Boxmasters | |
---|---|
San Francisco, California, in September 2007 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Bellflower, California, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | Vanguard NDR Records Thirty Tigers |
Members | Billy Bob Thornton J.D. Andrew (guitar) Kirk McKim (guitar) Raymond Hardy (bass) Nick Davidson (drums) |
Past members | Micheal Wayne Butler Brad Davis Daniel Baker Teddy Andreadis Dave Fowler Eric Rhoades Marty Rifkin Mike "Bubba" Bruce Chuck Garric |
Website | theboxmasters.com |
The Boxmasters is an American rock band founded in Bellflower, California, in 2007 by Academy Award-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton and Grammy Award-winning recording engineer J.D. Andrew. The group has released thirteen albums, with another one being released on May 5, 2023
Before he formed the Boxmasters, frontman
History
Beginnings
Thornton brought in
Early career
The band started in
The group resumed
The band released Modbilly on Vanguard on April 21, 2009.
The group has
Aside from playing, Thornton has said that he plans on creating
Canadian touring and controversy
In April 2009, the band was scheduled to tour across Canada,
Ghomeshi, in introducing the band, mentioned the acting credentials of Thornton, but never based his questions to Thornton about his show business career. Thornton went on to say that Canadian audiences were generally reserved and that the band was used to playing in places where people move around and throw things at each other. He then added, "it's like mashed potatoes with no gravy." This caused an outpouring of criticism from across Canada and around the world for the star's behavior.[27][28]
The following night, the band opened for Willie Nelson at Toronto's prestigious Massey Hall. A series of boos and catcalls erupted mid-set, with people in the audience yelling "here comes the gravy!" when Thornton tried to explain he liked Canadians but not the CBC radio host. Before the show, when asked about his "gravy" comment, Thornton claimed he was talking about the radio host.[29] Local reviews of Thornton's Toronto performance were not positive.[30] Toronto Star called Thornton's voice a "high, tinny whine" and The Globe and Mail commented that "Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things".[23][31] On April 10, The Boxmasters dropped out of the tour early, announcing that they would not be playing with Nelson during subsequent concerts scheduled in London, Ontario, and Montreal. Thornton said that band members had come down with the flu. Willie Nelson's publicist had no comment.[30]
The band resumed touring in Stamford, Connecticut, on April 14.[32] In the aftermath of the controversy, Thornton appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and he said, "The fact that was news was astounding to me... But it gave humpbacked geeks all over the world something to do for a couple of days." He added that he only wants to be perceived as a musician in the context of the band, remarking that "I'm just in their band, I'm just one of those guys".[33]
Touring hiatus
In 2010, The Boxmasters ceased touring for almost five years. During that time Billy Bob Thornton wrote & directed the feature film Jayne Mansfield's Car.
Return to album releases and touring
In 2015 the Boxmasters returned with the album Somewhere Down The Road released by 101 Ranch Records. Rolling Stone said "This sprawling double album, which amazingly doesn't feel Use Your Illusion bloated, finds him and the ace 'Masters — who play the Grand Ole Opry on August 18th — mixing country noir with bright jangle pop. One disc is all Americana gothic, while the other is Nuggets by way of Liverpool. "Always Lie," from the twangy half of the project, is Thornton devilishly sharing his trick for dealing with the press and ranks with some of country's most honest songwriting. (Or does it?)"[34]
Also in 2015 The Boxmasters released Providence on their website as a download only album.
In 2016 The Boxmasters also released two albums, Boys and Girls...& The World and Tea Surfing, on NDR Records.
Members
- Current members
- J. D. Andrew – guitar, vocals
- Kirk McKim – guitar
- Raymond Hardy – bass
- Nick Davidson – drums
- Billy Bob Thornton (credited as "W.R. Thornton") – drums, vocals
- Former members
- Micheal Wayne Butler – guitar, lap steel
- Brad Davis – guitar, vocals
- Daniel Baker – guitar, vocals
- Eric Rhoades – drums
- Dave Fowler – bass
- Teddy Andreadis – organ, piano
Discography
- The Boxmasters (Vanguard, 2008)
- Christmas Cheer (Vanguard, 2008)
- Modbilly (Vanguard, 2009)
- Somewhere Down the Road (101 Ranch Records, 2015)
- Providence (self-released, exclusively available via theboxmasters.com, 2015)
- Boys and Girls... And the World (NDR Records, 2016)
- Tea Surfing (NDR Records, 2016)
- In Stereo! (NDR Records, 2018)
- Speck (KeenTone Records, 2019)
- Light Rays (KeenTone Records, 2020)
- Christmas On The Road (KeenTone Records, 2021)
- Help...I'm Alive (KeenTone Records, Apr 15, 2022)
- Boxmasters '66 (KeenTone Records, Dec 24, 2022)
- '69 (KeenTone Records, May 5, 2023)
References
- ^ Antonio (21 April 2021). "From Big Screen to Main Stage: Famous Actors who Released Amazing Albums". Electric Castle. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (23 April 2015). "Billy Bob Thornton on Media Lies, Musical Truths and New Boxmasters Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Rock with Billy Bob and the Boxmasters at Harris". Village Life. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Moore, Rick (2020). "Behind the Song: Billy Bob Thornton, "That Mountain"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
While the British Invasion-loving Boxmasters have been called everything from psycho-billy to country-rock
- ^ Moser, John J. (3 July 2019). "Billy Bob Thornton's band The Boxmasters taps Beatles' engineer to tell 'Speck' of a story on new disc". The Morning Call. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Amery, Richard (14 September 2016). "Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters play solid set of roots rock". The Lethbridge Alberta Beat. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ CMT.comPublished September 3, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2009.
- ^ Spinner.com. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
- Hearst Newspapers. Archived from the originalon 8 January 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Billy Bob and the Boxmasters bring modbilly to Beaumont Friday". Beaumont Enterprise. 19 March 2009.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (22 August 2008). "The Boxmasters". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (15 December 2008). "A very special Christmas list for fans of all musical genres". USA Today. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- CMT.com. Published November 14, 2008.
- CMT.comPublished February 26, 2009.
- ^ Listening Room: What's Been Tickling Our Earholes Lately. By Chris Gray. Houston Press. Published April 27, 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- ^ Modbilly. Prefix. Published April 22, 2009.
- ^ Collis, Clark (1 May 2009). "Quick Takes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ a b c Willie Nelson concert a country feast, with sour notes. Toronto Star. Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- Music Radar. Published June 3, 2008.
- UPI. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Thornton clashes with radio host. BBC News. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- Times Online. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Billy Bob Thornton Attempts To Outdo Joaquin Phoenix In CBC Interview By Daniel Kreps. Rolling Stone. Published April 8, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Billy Bob not done with the barbs. Toronto Star. Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ a b Billy Bob ends Canadian tour. Toronto Star. Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things. The Globe and Mail. Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Thornton’s Band Calls in Sick. The New York Times. Published April 12, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ VIDEO: Billy Bob Thornton 'Astounded' by Interview Fallout. By Howard Breuer. People. Published April 22, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ "30 Great Country Albums of 2015 You Probably Didn't Hear". Rolling Stone. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
External links
- Official website
- The Boxmasters discography at Discogs