Search - Waydown Wailers :: Empty Promises

And here it is folks, the Waydown Wailers sophomore release on Woodstock Records, Empty Promises. We find the quartet led by brothers Dave Parker (guitar/lead vocals) and Christian Moe Parker (lead guitar) mining deeper into that rich upstate New York state soil that inspired The Band and many other great roots artists. Cultivating a sound described as the edge of the swamp rock, blues, and jam with just a healthy dash of Americana, their music has been baptized Outlaw Jam. The nine new songs range from present-day observations and social commentary on a national level, to recounts of past relationships and desires of us all. The opening track Don t Let Life Pass You By is a simple lesson we all should heed. Easy rocker Jealousy is a politically-charged rebuke hidden in a tongue twisting rhyme and the edgy title track Empty Promises testifies to life s struggles. St. Vraine paints a picture of sacred landscape the brothers cherish and the Parkers lovely Cajun flavored ballad Still Water, is a sweet sentimental journey home. The Waydown Wailers toss in a spicy cover of CCR classic Susie Q, and promise us that Whiskey & Cornbread, will get you by. Empty Promises is a portrait of how the 99% of us in America live. Another family affair (a North American tradition), brothers Dave (guitar/lead vocals) and Moe (lead guitar) were passionate about music at an early age. Michael Scruffy Scriminger (drums/percussion) and Connor Pelkey (bass backing vocals) welded the circle complete. Four guys carving individual niches into every nook and cranny of the North American music landscape, but collectively producing a dazzling band even stronger than the sum of its harmonies. Master musician Professor Louie, who produced this album and albums for The Band and many others, enhances these original tunes with Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer and accordion. Waydown Wailers are sure to please with ten songs that make you feel like you are part of the band. BIOGRAPHY After years of paths crossing and performing in a succession of bands, Waydown Wailers started based on the mutual desire by all four for an original sound and songs that were different. We wanted to be in an all original band and, together we decided to commit to a new band. We continued to work on some melodies together and arranging some music to go with some lyrical ideas that were swimming around in Daves head, says WW.
After performing with New Riders of the Purple Sage in Syracuse at Westcott Theater, Scruffy was talking to NRPS, who suggested contacting their label, Woodstock Records. CDs of live recordings were sent to Professor Louie. Songs were picked and worked on from afar and it wasn t until the first day of recording that Waydown Wailers and Prof Louie met face to face in the studio to work on the debut album, State Of The Union (2013 Woodstock Records). Aaron Professor Louie Hurwitz is a seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist and talented multi-instrumentalist (Hammond B3 organ, piano/keyboards, accordion, vocals). An award-winning recording producer and engineer, he has captured the talents of some of the world s most highly acclaimed musicians, including Graham Parker, Commander Cody, Dave Brubeck, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, Guy Davis, Oumar Konate, and, most notably, The Band For 15 years, Professor Louie served as co-producer, engineer and performer with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, teaming up with The Band for their last three group albums (Jericho, High on the Hog, Jubilation) and numerous solo for Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm.