Purty Mouth

Artist Information

Biography

Purty Mouth, Seattle's camped-up country-tonk combo: a little Haggard, a little Hedwig, a little Hee Haw, a lotta heart. The countrypolitan outfit has been performing in the Seattle area since 2002, their unique take on country and pop music dialed in from an alternate (better) universe where Brokeback Mountain shares equal space alongside John Wayne.

The combo's current lineup includes Lori Ramon (vocals), Mikey Budd (vocals and guitar), Graham Short (vocals and guitar), Walter Harley (bass), and Mark Drake (drums). The Purty Mouth sound features three-part vocal harmony, classic melodic songwriting, musical references to classic honky-tonk, countrypolitan, and rock 'n roll, and lyrics containing gender-bending twists, tongue-in-cheek fun, while still remaining heartfelt and at times emotionally direct.

Purty Mouth has headlined shows at the Tractor Tavern, the High Dive, the Mars Bar, Jules Maes Saloon, the Blue Moon Tavern, Highway 99 Blues Club and the Comet Tavern. As support, Purty Mouth has proved itself as an exotic and entertaining opener for local and national touring acts, including Neko Case, the Hidden Cameras, Momus, the Moondoggies, the Meat Purveyors, Carolyn Mark, El Vez, the Ditty Bops and more.

Local acts sharing bills with Purty Mouth have included the Wakefields, Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers, the Half Brothers, Brent Amaker & the Rodeo, the Rainieros, Jo Miller and Her Burly Roughnecks, and many, many more.

Purty Mouth is a regular at local festivals, and supports queer events as often as possible, including the Northwest Bear's Spring Thaw (2005), Seattle Pride (2006), Portland's BearTown MusicJam (2007), Gay & Lesbian Softball World Series block party (2008), and in 2004, at the Freedom to Marry benefit WEDrock, in Washington D.C., where they shared the stage with Henry Rollins, Sandra Bernhardt, Bob Mould, and Hedwig creator John Cameron Mitchell.

From 2007-2010 Purty Mouth had a monthly residency at the Highway 99 Blues Club. In addition to occasionally transforming their monthly nights into special events (with the Heavenly Spies burlesque and drag MCs), the club managers, Ed and Eric Maloney, regularly invited the band to participate and often headline benefits, including those for the Dunshee House, Home Alive and the Rat City Rollergirls.

In 2010 vocalist Alyssa Keene left the band to focus on her many other talents (and impending marriage). Thankfully her lovely vocals and songwriting are featured on their first full-length CD, A Night at the Opry, as a fitting testament to her talent and contribution to the band. Soon joining the ranks was drummer Mark Drake of local Americana combo Thornton Creek.

With Mark safely in the pocket, band leader Graham Short stepping up on vocals to keep the three-party harmony approach intact, and with enough material to easily make another full-length, Purty Mouth shows no signs of discontinuing their colorful campaign of country music inclusivity. Come join the party!

Seattle Weekly, Aug 20-26, 2008: "Purty Mouth play up the humor of the stereotype with their entertaining lyrics, but never let the joke railroad their polished handle on their particular brand of country-tonk."

Seattle Sound Magazine, December 2007: "There is something for everyone at a Purty Mouth show as long as you like fun and cowboys. And having fun with cowboys. Especially if you are another cowboy."

Instrumentation

Mikey Budd - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Mark Drake - Drums, Backing Vocals
Walter Harley - Bass Guitar
Lori Ramon - Vocals, Percussion
Graham Short - Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Lap Steel

Discography

In 2011 Purty Mouth started work on their first self-published full length record, A Night at the Opry, featuring 11 original songs plus one cover tune chosen from their live repertoire. On the production end was Jamie Jones, producer and engineer at Tinderbox Productions, and Christian Heilman, independent producer/engineer (and veteran of Teatro ZinZanni). They also invited a number of friends and extended family to participate, including Paul Anastasio on fiddle (Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard), and Bill Rieflin on drums (ex-R.E.M drummer and producer). A Night at the Opry is scheduled for release on April 27, 2012.

From the Seattle Weekly, May 2, 2012: "Purty Mouth, A Night at the Opry (out now, self-released): A solid old-school effort from twang purists Purty Mouth. Featuring dueling male and female vocalists, there is no "alternative" in this band's brand of country, as reverent to George Strait as to George Jones."

Leadoff track South Tacoma received airplay on Seattle's independent radio station 90.3 FM, KEXP.

Official Website

http://www.purtymouth.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Love of My Life
  Listen  
• A Close Approximation (Of the Real Thing)
  Listen  
• South Tacoma
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Marry You
• Be That Girl
• She Plays Rugby (I Play Hard to Get)

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• A Night at the Opry review [+ Show ]
  

  From the Seattle Weekly, May 2, 2012: "Purty Mouth, A Night at the Opry (out now, self-released): A ...From the Seattle Weekly, May 2, 2012: "Purty Mouth, A Night at the Opry (out now, self-released): A solid old-school effort from twang purists Purty Mouth. Featuring dueling male and female vocalists, there is no "alternative" in this band's brand of country, as reverent to George Strait as to George Jones."

• Seattlest [+ Show ]
  

  Aug 20, 2008: "The band name Purty Mouth sounds like a bad, bad joke, but the music is excellent. Th...Aug 20, 2008: "The band name Purty Mouth sounds like a bad, bad joke, but the music is excellent. The adorable Alyssa Keene and Lori Ramon have the sweetest voices since Jo Stafford and the whip-smart lyrics will have you smiling all night long.

• Seattle Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  Aug 20-26, 2008: "Purty Mouth play up the humor of the stereotype with their entertaining lyrics, bu...Aug 20-26, 2008: "Purty Mouth play up the humor of the stereotype with their entertaining lyrics, but never let the joke railroad their polished handle on their particular brand of country-tonk."

• Seattle Sound Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "These days, playfulness and touching ironies seem the mainstays of Purty Mouth's music" (February 2..."These days, playfulness and touching ironies seem the mainstays of Purty Mouth's music" (February 2008)

• Seattle Sound Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "There is something for everyone at a Purty Mouth show as long as you like fun and cowboys. And hav..."There is something for everyone at a Purty Mouth show as long as you like fun and cowboys. And having fun with cowboys. Especially if you are another cowboy." (December 2007)

• The Stranger [+ Show ]
  

  "If you haven't already witnessed the genius that is "Seattle's premier almost all-gay country band,..."If you haven't already witnessed the genius that is "Seattle's premier almost all-gay country band," you'll thank me for the tip. While their set puts a new spin on some time-tested gems, PM have been spreading their wings and adding some great originals to the mix. Catch 'em in a small club while you can!"

• Seattle Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  "Perched somewhere between cornpone kitsch and hardcore honky-tonk, local combo Purty Mouth certainl..."Perched somewhere between cornpone kitsch and hardcore honky-tonk, local combo Purty Mouth certainly have found a unique niche in an otherwise crowded roots scene"

• The Stranger [+ Show ]
  

  "the genius behind Purty Mouth is the band's respect for the music and the theatrical opportunities ..."the genius behind Purty Mouth is the band's respect for the music and the theatrical opportunities afforded by love songs that tell stories"

• MetroWeekly (Washington DC Gay & Lesbian Magazine)
  

  "gay and lesbian alt-country band from Seattle. They're sort of like Hee Haw meets Queer Eye"

Setlist

Purty Mouth's program consists of originals by Graham & Mikey, with covers drawn from the catalogs of Dolly Parton, Kirsty MacColl, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Bush, Loretta Lynn, the Kendalls, the Beatles, with nods to the Nashville and Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtracks.

Covers include:

Girl Don't Have to Drink (To Have Fun) (Wanda Jackson)
Living with the Shades Pulled Down (Merle Haggard)
Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad (Tammy Wynette)
You're Not Woman Enough (to Take My Man) (Loretta Lynn)
Sugar Daddy (from the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack)
Tapedeck in His Tractor (from the Nashville soundtrack)
Heaven's Just a Sin Away (the Kendalls)
Teenager In Love (Kirsty MacColl)
I Don't Want to Throw Rice (Dolly Parton)
I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton)
Run for Your Live (the Beatles)
Whiskey River (Johnny Bush)

Originals include:

Love of My Life (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
A Close Approximation (to the Real Thing) (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Be That Girl (Kurt B. Reighley/Purty Mouth)
I Don't Get Lonesome Anymore (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
South Tacoma (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Sunday Morning, Saturday Night (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Real Thing (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
You Shouldn't Do That To Me (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
He Plays Rugby, I Play Hard to Get (Graham Short & Alyssa Keene/Purty Mouth)
Preacher with an iPod (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
Had it with Love (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
Don't Break My Heart (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Marry You (Mikey Budd/Purty Mouth)
Gonna Finish Me (Before I Even Start) (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
(This Time I'm) Leaving this Town (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Blue Baby (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Reasonable Doubt (Alyssa Keene/Purty Mouth)
I've Got a Hunch (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)
Country Moon (Graham Short/Purty Mouth)

Basic Requirements

Calendar