I See Hawks In L.A.
I See Hawks In L.A. | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Genres | Alternative country |
Years active | 2000 - present |
Labels | Ethic Records, Western Seeds Records, American Beat Records |
Associated acts |
Double Naught Spy Car Earthworm Ensemble Goin' South Band The Magic of Television Strawberry Alarm Clock Hank Thompson |
Website | www.iseehawks.com |
Members |
Rob Waller (vocals/guitar) Paul Lacques (guitars/vocals/dobro) Paul Marshall (bass/vocals) Shawn Nourse (drums) |
Past members |
David Jackson Anthony Lacques |
I See Hawks In L.A. is an alternative country group from Los Angeles, California founded in 1999 by Rob Waller and brothers Paul and Anthony Lacques with the support of established West Coast country rock bassist David Jackson. Their music incorporates the traditional elements of country music, vocal harmonies and traditional instruments including acoustic guitar and fiddle.
Their 2001 debut album, I See Hawks In L.A., (featuring ex-Dave Alvin and Dwight Yoakum fiddle player Brantley Kearns and an album cover designed by ex-Vision Street Wear artist Andy Takakjian) made the Alternative Country Chart and led them to perform regularly in country music clubs in California, joined by ex-Strawberry Alarm Clock and Hank Thompson bassist Paul Marshall and Dwight Yoakam's drummer Shawn Nourse. With this core line-up now established they went on to record four more albums (as of summer 2010) and tour more widely, including a 2006 tour of the US and Europe with Tony Gilkyson and another European tour in 2008. They have since opened shows for Lucinda Williams and Chris Hillman, the former Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers musician who played on I See Hawks in L.A.'s third album along with a number of respected country music session musicians such as Rick Shea, Tommy Funderburk, Cody Bryant and Danny McGough. The band continues to play regularly and has become one of the best-known country music acts in Southern California.[1][2][3] Their albums have had country music chart success and they were named Best Country Artist by the L.A. Weekly in 2002 and 2003. From 2003 to 2006 they enjoyed a residency at Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet in downtown Los Angeles and they regularly appear at The Echo (venue) in Echo Park, CA, and Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA. They have also appeared at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, the Gram Parsons tribute Gram fest in Joshua Tree, California, and the Seattle Hempfest.
Regarding the name they say, The band name was a code, a question, a diffident invitation: If you see hawks, then maybe we should talk. The topics of their lyrics include a bio-sketch of Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who stood up to George W Bush during the Iraq War
In 2013 Rob Waller appeared on the Carla Olson album "Have Harmony, Will Travel" singing "Look What You've Done" written by Wes Farrell & Bob Johnston and "Til The Rivers All Run Dry" (Wayland Holyfield & Don Williams). The first of which was a top 40 hit by the Pozo Seco Singers in 1967.
Discography
- I See Hawks In L.A.(1999) with David Jackson (bass) and Brantley Kearns (fiddle)
- Grapevine (2004)
- California Country (2006) with Cody Bryant (banjo), Tommy Funderburk, Chris Hillman (mandolin), Danny McGough, Rick Shea (mandolin), and Marcus Watkins ("Twin Patriotic Guitar")
- Hallowed Ground (2008) with Richie Lawrence (accordion/piano), Dave Markowitz (fiddle), Rick Shea (guitar), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), and Dave Zirbel (pedal steel guitar)
- Shoulda Been Gold (2010) (compilation with five new or unreleased tracks), with Carla Olson [4]
- New Kind of Lonely (2012) with Richie Lawrence (accordion), Dave Raven (drums), Cliff Wagner (banjo), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle)
- Mystery Drug (2013)
References
- ↑ Richard Cromelin, Los Angeles Times
- ↑ http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/i-see-hawks-in-la/1678456
- ↑ http://www.iseehawks.com/
- ↑ http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/15134470/
External links
- I See Hawks in LA collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive