Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is rolling into the Taft Theatre tonight on their Big Damn Blues Revolution Tour in support of their latest release, Between the Ditches!
With just under a decade of playing under their belt, the Indiana based trio has established themselves among the premiere purveyors of Americana Country Blues. At the same time they've also built a reputation as one of the hardest working acts in the business, playing some 250 dates a year. The band, fronted by "Reverend"Josh Peyton on guitar and vocals, his wife "Washboard" Breezy Peyton on washboard and vocals and cousin Aaron "Cuz" Persinger on drums, is truly a family affair. In many ways, the group, and the music they play, embody all of the down home idealism you'd expect from a Midwestern Americana act; Love of home, love of family, respect for tradition and hard work.
These ideals, combined with feverish passion and ability have enabled Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band to enjoy a level of respect from their musical peers that most bands only dream of achieving. In 2010 the won the Best Band of Warped Tour award as voted on by the bands, crew and promoters of the Van's Warped Tour. They've also had the pleasure of playing shows including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Telluride, Sturgiss and numerous other festivals in the US, Canada and Europe. Blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd described front man Josh Peyton this way. “He’s got an interesting sound. His playing is great, but the vocal is where it gets unique. Some people dig it, some people don’t. It’s hard to put a label on it. He sounds like a lumberjack singing. Try to picture some dude in a flannel shirt, walking through the backwoods with an axe and singing to himself. That’s what this is." (musicradar.com, November 2012)
While Peyton's gruff vocals are far from polished, there's a soulfulness that can only be found when there's true feeling behind the music. And it's this feeling that's earned them a loyal following around the world and the privilege of playing alongside acts like Flogging Molly, Clutch, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Mofro, Reverend Horton Heat and many others.
The good Reverend counts rocker Jimi Hendrix, songwriters Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and bluesmen BB King, Muddy Waters and Bukka White among his influences. However, it is the influence of the finger picking stylings of Charlie Patton that are most evident today. Peyton is masterful in his articulation of melody, bass lines and harmonics, giving the group a fuller sound than you might normally imagine coming from a 3 piece act without either bass or keys.
Their fifth album, Between The Ditches features a new level of craftmanship in both recording technique and songwriting. The Rev. feels that it’s their best album to date.”I’m very proud of this album, the songwriting and the playing.” The guitar playing alone should put the Rev. in the same class with his much revered idols. The songwriting boasts an added maturity and runs the gamut in subject matter from the barn burning, tongue in cheek, “Shut the Screen”, (where “It’s too dang hot and the bugs are too dang mean”) to the evils of strip mining, an issue close to the hearts of this Indiana born and bred band in, “Don’t Grind It Down”.
The raw energy and passion of Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is enough to draw even the most jaded hipster into the fold. If you've seen them before then you probably already have your ticket. If not, then go get one quick! The infectious blend of Americana, Folk, Country and Blues makes for a foot stomping good time!
