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Andy Somers
The Agency Group
(310) 385 2800

TOADIES

The Toadies "Possum Kingdom" is in the Top 30 Gold Alternative Radio Chart along with Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Green Day, getting 600+ spins a week and is in rotation in over 75% of all Alternative and Active Rock Stations.

Why is it such a big deal that the Toadies are back? The band rose to fame in the 90's when their debut album, Rubberneck, went platinum on the strength of two smash singles “Possum Kingdom” and "Tyler." It then took a long seven years for their follow up album, Hell Below/Stars Above to be released. Shortly thereafter, bassist Lisa Umbarger quit the band. The remaining members played a few farewell shows, before going their separate ways. Vocalist Vaden Todd Lewis started a new band, The Burden Brothers, drummer Mark Reznicek began playing with Eleven Hundred Springs and guitarist Clark Vogeler moved to LA to start a career in film.

It wasn’t until 2005 that the band got together again for a one off show on St Patrick's Day in Dallas. In 2006, they reunited once more for a string of sold out shows in Dallas, Austin and Houston. Vogeler says, “The fan response really surprised us all. I had no idea that people would show up in the numbers that they did. Clearly, people still wanna see a Toadies show." Lewis adds “After the first show, we started getting more offers for the Toads. I like to work. A lot. So we did a few more shows during my time off from the Burden Brothers. They turned out to be a gas.” So what's next for the Toadies? “Expect lots of rock. And maybe even new Toadies releases in the future. Whether that involves putting out some unreleased archival stuff, or even recording new material... who knows?” says Reznicek.

Let’s face it; the music industry isn't the same as it was 10-15 years ago. They just don't make 'em like they used to. Remember when the rock/alternative scene was good? It was a long time ago, I know. Bands don't sound like The Toadies, or The Pixies, or Nirvana, or the old Pearl Jam (before becoming political activists) anymore. Now we have to live with, and listen to generic crap rock, nu metal & American Idol rejects. Music needs redemption, dammit. Vogeler says, “I've realized that trends in popular music come and go, but hardcore fans of a band stick around for the long run. The Hell Below era reminds me of what a struggle it can be for a band who just wants to record albums and tour. These days the band gives me a sense of optimism that perhaps we can play music on our terms.”

What better reason for the Toadies to pick up their guitars and re-tune the strings?

"The Toadies – my favorite band of all time. Todd Lewis' voice, I just love that it's sexy, dirty, drunk, broken. Anything about rock swagger, I learned from them." –Kelly Clarkson

"Vaden Todd Lewis simply scorches." –SPIN

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Shelby Vanek
KB Talent - Austin
(512) 382 6827
kbtalent.com

ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS

“Eleven Hundred Springs - a standout country band that, unlike the majority of corporate-Nashville’s offerings, is actually informed by country music’s traditions while sounding modern, present, and new.” 9513Country Music

Eleven Hundred Springs plays real country music. The kind Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings played. With their classic country sound EHS are part of a current semi-rebellious Texas music movement to "Take Country Back" from Nashville much like the Outlaw music movement did back in the 1970s.

With the release of their sixth full length studio album, This Crazy Life, Eleven Hundred Springs carries on their musical tradition, blending influences ranging from classic country, country rock, swing, rockabilly, and bluegrass yet still sounding distinct and original. This Crazy Life is the follow up to 2008’s release Country Jam, which was produced by Lloyd Maines. While writing songs for their next album, the band was approached by Smith Entertainment. Having already had a long and friendly relationship with Smith this seemed like a great partnership. This time, however, the co-founding members, Matt Hillyer and Steve Berg, decided to put Maines’ valuable production lessons to work and produce This Crazy Life themselves.

The album was recorded in the heat of the summer in Ft. Worth, Texas’ Wavelight studios. From the opening title track, (a lament of life on the road) to the hard-driving party anthem “Great American Trainwreck”; This Crazy Life gets off to a toe-tapping start. The album’s first single “Show Me The Money” speaks to an emotion that people in these troubled times are sure to relate to. This Crazy Life also offers stand out tracks for fans of the more “Singer- Songwriter ” type of music in “There’s A Place For You” and “O.G. Blues”.

Of course it wouldn’t be an Eleven Hundred Springs album without the traditional country sounds the band cut its teeth on. “Some Things Don’t Go Together” and “I’ll Get On To Getting Over You Tomorrow” are some of the best Swing and Honky Tonk Texas has to offer. While the influences and sounds cover a wide range, two elements run throughout This Crazy Life; solid song-writing and great performance.

Eleven Hundred Springs was founded by Steve Berg (bass) and Matt Hillyer (Lead Guitar/Vocals). Playing the fiddle is the incomparable Jordan W. Hendrix. Burton Lee makes the pedal steel guitar cry in true country fashion and Brian Ferguson, a featured drum set educator for Vic Firth drumsticks, rounds out the line up on the drums. In the tradition of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys all of these accomplished musicians’ talents are featured.

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Dale Brock

SMILE SMILE

Blend hauntingly beautiful vocal lines with a modern folk sound, add emotionally bare, intimate lyrics…and the result is Smile Smile. The Dallas duo will release their sophomore album, TRUTH ON TAPE, via Kirtland Records on February 9th, 2010. A fitting description of Smile Smile comes from the band’s hometown newspaper Dallas Observer: “A sort of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/Mazzy Star hybrid of sing-along folk, buzzy-country leaning tunes and uptempo/downtempo swings, with brilliantly unconventional songwriting and smart harmonies anchoring the whole deal.”

Comprised of singer/guitarist Ryan Hamilton and singer/pianist Jencey Hirunrusme, Smile Smile’s music chronicles the personal lives of Hamilton and Hirunrusme, two musicians who fell in love and started a band. The pair released their first album, BLUE ROSES while planning their lives together: they got engaged, shared a home and looked towards the future as a married couple. Along the way infidelity ensued, the dream crumbled and the two ended their relationship, but not their musical ties. The songs on TRUTH ON TAPE detail the heartbreaking end of a union, emotions to which we all can relate.

Singer/pianist Jencey Hirunrusme commented, “The ironic thing about Smile Smile creating this album is that if we would have never broken up, then this album wouldn’t exist. I feel like these songs are hopeful, devastating and so personal to us. I hope that it can reach out and speak to anyone who has had their heart broken…” Singer/guitarist Ryan Hamilton added, “This record is a break-up record. It’s about our break-up. It’s our story and it’s true. We have no intention of being mysterious about what we are to each other or what TRUTH ON TAPE is about.”

Smile Smile has toured in the past with such diverse artists as Mat Kearney, Metric, Loretta Lynn, Simple Plan and is currently on the road with Bowling For Soup.

"This boy-girl duo give me goosebumps with their lovesick punch. Two voices, drum machines, a guitar and a keyboard equal undeniable chemistry. It's emotional without being in-your-face - almost like you're eavesdropping on some pillow talk." –Quick DFW

"A sort of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/Mazzy Star hybrid of sing-along folk, buzzy country-leaning tunes and uptempo/downtempo swings, with brilliantly unconventional songwriting and smart harmonies anchoring the whole deal." –Dallas Observer

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Andy Somers
The Agency Group
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BURDEN BROTHERS

"When former Toadies frontman Todd Lewis and former Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley decided to merge their angst, neither could have imagined how quickly their new band would entrench itself in the musical consciousness of Dallas. Or maybe they did. By tapping into the recognizable, male-centered passion of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Guns & Roses, Lewis knew that Dallas bands are not often known for subtlety or arty pretension. Buried in Your Black Heart, Burden Brothers' 2003 debut, was meat-and-potatoes rock with riffs hammered into your skull by sweat, volume and veteran dexterity. Mercy, the sophomore follow-up, showed the band expanding its range, however slightly, mixing in some somber reflections "Life Between" to go along with the expected snarl of "Shine" and "She's Not Home."

Live, Burden Brothers have created a buzz not heard around these parts since, well, the Toadies' halcyon days. When they play the line stretches seemingly to Fair Park and the shows become cathartic celebrations, linking fans of disparate ages in a communal sauna of familiarity and fury. The day after a Burden Brothers performance, once the hangover subsides, fans are never too far off claiming they've seen the best band in Dallas." –D.S.

The Burden Brothers released their debut cd, Buried in Your Black Heart in late 2003. The hit singles "Beautiful Night" and "Shadow" got tons of national radio airplay which, in part, led to tours with the likes of Velvet Revolver, Breaking Benjamin, Hinder, Papa Roach and Finger Eleven as well as an appearance at Lollapallooza.

The band's follow up Mercy was guided by Grammy-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (the Shins, White Stripes, U2, Beck, Hole) and David Castell (Blue October, Edie Brickell.) It included the singles "Everybody is Easy" and "Shine."

"Tough driving metal and head-bobbing arena rock " –MTV

"Fear-not this is hard rock at it's purest, laced with ripping riffage and Queen-like presence." –Download.com