| Caddle High Powered Alt Country Music Band |
photo by Jason Hamric
| www.caddlemusic.com copyright 2006 updated 4-3-2008 webmaster |
CADDLE - dirty south rock, high powered alt country - MUSIC
Bama band finds middle
ground between country
and rock
By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com
The Alabama ensemble known as Caddle
has infused everything from snarling punk
themes to heartache country lines, bluegrass
breakdowns and furious Southern rock
backbeats in their music, while steadily
expanding their profile and ”
ground between country
and rock
By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com
The Alabama ensemble known as Caddle
has infused everything from snarling punk
themes to heartache country lines, bluegrass
breakdowns and furious Southern rock
backbeats in their music, while steadily
expanding their profile and ”
audience the past two years through extensive touring and serving as the
opening act for everyone from Hayseed Dixie and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Webb
Wilder, Bobby Bare, Jr. and Billy Joe Shaver.
They’ve also become very popular among Nashville audiences due to several
appearances on Billy Block’s Western Beat, where they return for another
engagement tonight at 12th and Porter.
“Nashville has become one of our most significant stops,” lead vocalist Phillip
Hyde said. “Appearing on Western Beat has helped us sharpen and better
define our core sound, which is really country with a Southern rock
underpinning. In the beginning we got called kind of a country-punk band
because of our attitude on stage, which is very energetic and almost kind of ‘in-
your-face.’ But musically, there’s not really much of the punk sound happening
anymore, much more country and Southern rock, presented in a fierce fashion.”
Interestingly, getting the right sound combination has also resulted in
considerable personnel tinkering. “We went through about quite a few bassists
and drummers before we really got the type of musicians that understand
exactly what the Caddle sound is all about,” Hyde added.
With guitarists Drew Akin and Eric Watters each capable of doing explosive
solos or exciting accompaniment, and bassist Chris Pottratz and drummer
Finney James proving a capable and challenging rhythm section, Hyde’s now
free to move in almost any vocal direction.
Hyde adds that the varying audiences they’ve been appearing before recently
have also helped sharpen their musical focus, something that’s evident on
their recent debut CD produced by Grammy winner Don McCollister.
“When we were opening for Billy Joe Shaver it was an older crowd and we did
an acoustic set,” Hyde continued. “But when we’ve worked with groups like
Hayseed Dixie or the Burden Brothers, younger audiences also really enjoy the
blend of country and rock. The key thing we’ve discovered is that it really isn’t
that much of a stretch between a lot of the elements in the Southern rock wing
and in really rocking country. Everyone responds to honest, driving music, and
that’s what we’re emphasizing now, both in our show and on our disc.
opening act for everyone from Hayseed Dixie and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Webb
Wilder, Bobby Bare, Jr. and Billy Joe Shaver.
They’ve also become very popular among Nashville audiences due to several
appearances on Billy Block’s Western Beat, where they return for another
engagement tonight at 12th and Porter.
“Nashville has become one of our most significant stops,” lead vocalist Phillip
Hyde said. “Appearing on Western Beat has helped us sharpen and better
define our core sound, which is really country with a Southern rock
underpinning. In the beginning we got called kind of a country-punk band
because of our attitude on stage, which is very energetic and almost kind of ‘in-
your-face.’ But musically, there’s not really much of the punk sound happening
anymore, much more country and Southern rock, presented in a fierce fashion.”
Interestingly, getting the right sound combination has also resulted in
considerable personnel tinkering. “We went through about quite a few bassists
and drummers before we really got the type of musicians that understand
exactly what the Caddle sound is all about,” Hyde added.
With guitarists Drew Akin and Eric Watters each capable of doing explosive
solos or exciting accompaniment, and bassist Chris Pottratz and drummer
Finney James proving a capable and challenging rhythm section, Hyde’s now
free to move in almost any vocal direction.
Hyde adds that the varying audiences they’ve been appearing before recently
have also helped sharpen their musical focus, something that’s evident on
their recent debut CD produced by Grammy winner Don McCollister.
“When we were opening for Billy Joe Shaver it was an older crowd and we did
an acoustic set,” Hyde continued. “But when we’ve worked with groups like
Hayseed Dixie or the Burden Brothers, younger audiences also really enjoy the
blend of country and rock. The key thing we’ve discovered is that it really isn’t
that much of a stretch between a lot of the elements in the Southern rock wing
and in really rocking country. Everyone responds to honest, driving music, and
that’s what we’re emphasizing now, both in our show and on our disc.
For the time being, please
visit www.myspace.com/ caddle
for up-to-date tour dates.
visit www.myspace.com/ caddle
for up-to-date tour dates.