Matthew Burke (voice, accoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica)
Daniel Burke (bass guitar, voice)
Jean-Paul Beaubien (drums, percussion)
Joshua Hernandez (viola)
Scott Anderson (elec. guitar, lap steel)
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HGWT's freshly minted full-length debut, Casting Shadows Tall as Giants, ranks with anything on the national Americana charts. Its gorgeous acoustic guitar-based melodies are fleshed out with back-porch banjo, lap steel, viola, piano and harmonica. A taut rhythm section that occasionally operates in subdued rock mode propels the songs. The mostly traditional instrumentation, arrangements and production provide a supreme backdrop for Matt Burke's reedy, intimate singing about charlatan preachers, finding solace in a lover's arms and facing up to the responsibilities of growing older.Creative LoafingLocal Americana aces Have Gun, Will Travel release their full-length debut Casting Shadows Tall as Giants. The swinger "Blessing and a Curse" starts in with a folksy singalong so good it may push that La Quinta jingle out of your head (finally). Sweet strums of the guitar, banjo, tight rhythms and viola abound, leaving no for time for misfire on this sparkling release.Tampa Bay Times
...Casting Shadows is steeped in the country twinges of lap steel, harmonica, banjo, strings, and acoustic guitars. The record's true strength is its artful tributes to classic westerns, tying the album stylistically and thematically to the wild-west in all its gun-blazing glory... Burke's rich songwriting weaves classic western themes of life and death, honor, and morality throughout the record's narrative songs."National Public RadioThese Tampa Bay upstarts combine chamber-pop melody and mood with folk-punk surge to compelling effect. Fans of Okkervil River and the Avett Brothers will find much to admire in their latest, Casting Shadows Tall as Giants. Metromix NashvilleAsk just about anyone connected with Tampa Bay's music scene and Have Gun, Will Travel's debut full-length inevitably comes up as the year's stand-out release. Matthew Burke's lyrics tell intriguing stories, and they're matched by the stories told by the band's music. Joshua Hernandez's viola adds drama and atmosphere. Have Gun, Will Travel view Americana as a starting gate, not a holding pen.TBOextra.com
2008 proved to be a productive year for Florida's HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. Since the release of their debut full-length album "Casting Shadows Tall As Giants" in May, the band has steadily been gaining momentum regionally as well as nationally. While the release was quickly becoming one of the most-played albums of the year on Tampa's WMNF 88.5 fm, HGWT's barroom stomp "Blessing and a Curse" was featured on National Public Radio's "Second Stage" program. "Their music has a great energy to it with some infectious, sing-along choruses and refrains," commented NPR host Robin Hilton.
At Creative Loafing's 2008 Best of the Bay Awards show held in Tampa, HGWT took home the Readers' Poll Award for Best Americana Act and Staff pick for Local CD of the Year. The band toured extensively through the fall in support of "Casting Shadows...", playing showcases at some of the major festivals and music conferences including the 2008 Americana Music Festival in Nashville, the Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta, Gainesville's "The FEST" and Orlando's Anti-Pop Music Festival among others.
Casting Shadows Tall As Giants available now!
Happy 2009 - I am looking forward to hearing more of your new material - please check out my post on your 12.27. 08 show on Creative Loafing's Tampa Calling blog. Hope to see you again soon!
just wanted to invite you to come party with us at the belmont in hamtramck this friday the 12th for our cd release. its gonna be a real blast. we got detroit blues man travelin' blues opening up the night.. which if you've never had a chance to see him def be there.. he'll knock your socks off (http://myspace. com/travblues) and then our buddy matt (mr. 31) playing some tunes and freestyling with the band... before our good friends, and my personal fav detroit band illy mack wiggle their way into your hearts. def def def don't miss the show its going to be a great time. let me know what you think of the album art too...
Thanks for the add! Please keep The Totally Awesome in mind for any of your upcoming merch needs! New specials will be posted soon, so keep checking back!
Veteran Corpus Christi DJ Tony Kinsel picked our song for the"Hossey Awards" at Hosstheboss. com week 1 1st place week 2 2nd place week 3 as of now 1st , let's distance ourselves!! week 4 need to be in the top 5 to qualify for "Song of The Year" in late Dec. could your spare a minute PLEEZE!! Reverend! Bretheren Sol E
