Bryen Willems

Genre: Country
Secondary Genre: Blues Seven Hills, New South Wales Australia Contact

Music redolent of humid backwoods lethargy where even the most foot stomping track is delivered with a laid back drawl; music that is rugged, unpretentious, honest, and real.

Artist Information

Biography

BRYEN WILLEMS

Bryen Willems (a.k.a. “the Swamp Duck”) fronts a five piece band called Bryen and the Bayou Boogie Boys - playing a mix of originals and drawing from a virtual treasure trove of the best country, blues, swamp and southern rock from the last 50 years.

Bryen’s second album was released in January 2012, titled NO BAND HERE TILL FRIDAY. Recorded at Unit 4 Studios, with producer Gary Brown – the album is a honky-tonkin’ collection of originals, obscure covers and well known classics.

In addition to fronting his own band, Bryen also has the privilege of playing bass or guitar and providing backing vocals for one of Australia’s top vocalists Nicki Gillis with whom he’s worked for a number of years. He also sings and plays resonator bass in Karen Willems’ bluegrass band “Stonesthrow.”

Bryen also works with Bruce McCumstie doing a "Willie & Kris" acoustic show - presenting the songs of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson and they also work with Rob Wilson and Daniel Thompson presenting the "4 Highwaymen" Show - songs of the Highwaymen - even viewed and enjoyed by Amy Nelson (daughter) and Cathy Guthrie personally on their last visit to Australia!

Bryen has worked as an announcer in country radio on Sydney's 2RRR88.5FM and at Festival 101.5FM during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

His musical interest was sparked only after settling down in Australia, having moved from his Louisiana home with wife Karen. An Australian citizen for a number of years now, Bryen’s musical influences are of bayou heritage with an Australian flavour.

His second album NO BAND HERE TILL FRIDAY is a fine addition to any Honky-Tonker’s musical library. The album features self- penned tracks HELLO BEER and co-write LET’S BE IN LOVE. It also includes two co-writes with multi-award winning writer Allan Caswell including his first single TWO FOR ONE COCKTAILS and SHE LET HERSELF GO.

Also featured is LONESOME HIGHWAY BLUES, a song written by Barry Tashian (from “The Remains” and “Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band”). The track has Barry and Holly Tashian doing the guitar work on the track recorded when they were last in Australia.

He’s thrown in a couple of duets with The Harmonators and local Sydney Country Chanteuse Mary-Anne Burton, and the final track of the Mel Tillis penned HONKY-TONK SONG with Mr. Redd Volkaert doing the honours on lead guitar and some new interpretations of some classics by Steve Earle, George Strait and Johnny Paycheck. As country as country gets…!

His debut album TOO COLD AT HOME, features self-penned tracks HONKY-TONK SONG, BEER AND LIPSTICK, co-writes DEEP DOWN I’M SHALLOW, BABY ARE YOU RUNNIN’ and the beautiful duet AS LONG AS I LIVE with songbird Nicki Gillis.

Bryen and the Bayou Boogie Boys shows are just the thing when you need to hear some of that hard core honky-tonk - Of course, if you'd rather have some nancy-boy, sissy, pseudo-country pop stuff you'll have to look elsewhere - none of that around here!

Bryen resides in Sydney, Australia with his lovely (and patient) wife Karen and two great kids (who aren’t kids anymore!) Jacqueline and Jake.

“In a country music scene where authenticity is gauged by how strine your vowels can get, Bryen Willems is the real deal. He is transplanted to Australia from Louisiana, which only goes part of the way to explain the immediate charm, impact and realness of Too Cold At Home.The real kicker is Willems’ voice – a shivering, righteous baritone so crunchy it makes Dale Watson sound like Charlie Louvin. The arrangements and production, courtesy of the late, great Les Scott and Gary Brown, sizzle like a juke joint barbeque. Bryen Willems is my new country music hero, just as he should be yours.” ***** Jason Walker, MusicAustraliaGuide

Instrumentation

Bryen Willems - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Glenn Skarrett - Lead Guitar, Mandolin
Gary Brown - Dobro and Lap Steel
John Lee - Fiddle, Mandolin
Al Tomkins- Bass
Greg McGrath - Drums

Discography

Album "Too Cold At Home" 2007
Single "Honky-Tonk Song" released On NFS March 2007
Single "Deep Down I'm Shallow" released on NFS July 2007
Single "Baby Are You Runnin'" released on NFS March 2008
Album "No Band Here Till Friday" released Jan 2012
Single "Two For One Cocktails" released CRS 155 Feb 2012


Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

bryen willems - 2 for 1 cocktails576.mov

King of the Road Music in the Mulga May 2011

Photo Gallery

Press

  • STACK Magazine Review Feb 2012 [+ Show ]

    "Willems is a Louisiana native who’s made Australia home, his interest in music ignited since his ar...

  • Rhythms Magazine Jan 2012 Review "No Band Here Till Friday" [+ Show ]

    Review - Rhythms Magazine - Jan 2012 - No Band Here Till Friday - LEAP Records 'Hello Beer' could...

  • Music Australia Guide [+ Show ]

    Bryen Willems Too Cold At Home Leap/Planet ***** In a country music scene where authenticity is ...

  • Rhythms Magazine [+ Show ]

    Review In Rhythms Magazine August Issue BRYEN WILLEMS Too Cold At Home Leap Records/Planet ...

  • Press Release [+ Show ]

    PRESS RELEASE BRYEN WILLEMS JOINS THE PLANET COMPANY Bryen Willems (a.k.a the Swamp Duck) is pro...

  • Hotsource Review [+ Show ]

    Bryen Willems - Review 10/05/2007 3:18:56 PM Review by Ronnie and Rossco (R & V Photographers) ...

  • Sound Advice - Deborah Minter [+ Show ]

    TOO COLD AT HOME - BRYEN WILLEMS (Independent) Bryen Willems is a Louisiana-born Aussie who bro...

Setlist

Song
1 Here in the Real World
2 She's Got the Rhythm
3 Don't Rock the Jukebox
4 Who Says You Can't Have it all
5 Pop A Top
6 A Little Bluer Than That
7 Ramblin' Man
8 Third Rate Romance
9 Fake it Till I Make It
10 Last Letter Home
11 Let your Love Flow
12 Georgia on a Fast Train
13 Long Haired Country Boy
14 Kiss an Angel Good Morn
15 Barlight
16 Rodeo Man
17 Lodi
18 Bad Moon Rising
19 Proud Mary
20 RoadTrain
21 Cheatin' Heart Attack
22 I Hit the Road
23 Don't Make a Cowboy Cry
24 Six Days on the Road
25 Tennessee Whiskey
26 The Ride
27 Please Come to Boston
28 I Can't Stop Loving You
29 Warm Red Wine
30 Driving Nails in my Coffin
31 I Love You Because
32 Two More Bottles of Wine
33 Cowboys and Angels
34 Right Where I need to be
35 Farewell Party
36 She thinks I still Care
37 Keep Your hands to yourself
38 Lonesome I Could Cry
39 Jambalaya
40 Hey Good Lookin'
41 Satin Sheets
42 Amos Moses
43 He'll Have To Go
44 Margaritaville
45 T for Texas
46 Broken Hearted Side of New Orleans
47 Country Roads
48 Folsom Prison
49 Big River
50 Ring of Fire
51 Long Black Veil
52 As Long As I Live
53 Jackson
54 Take this Job and Shove It
55 Drinkin' and Drivin'
56 11 Months and 29 Days
57 Freeborn Man
58 Sad Songs & Waltzes
59 The Gambler
60 Reuben James
61 Summer Wine
62 I Never Go Around Mirrors
63 Blue Bayou
64 Too Cold at Home
65 Brother Jukebox
66 Workin' Man Blues
67 Swingin' Doors
68 Sixteen Tons
69 She Couldn't Change Me
70 Honky Tonk Song
71 Lonely Hearts Waltz
72 Beer and Lipstick
73 Long Gone
74 Red River Girl
75 Time Flies
76 Goin' South
77 Deep Down I'm Shallow
78 Whiskey on the Wound
79 Truck Drivin' Man
80 Highway Junkie
81 Take Another Swing
82 Don't Get Above Your Raisin'
83 Don't Cheat in Our Hometown
84 Hillbilly Highway
85 King of the Road
86 Sweet Home Alabama
87 Freebird
88 Stuck in the Middle
89 Guitar Town
90 Poke Salad Annie
91 I'm Going to Love You Anyway
92 One More Last
93 Waymore's Blues
94 Good Ole Boys
95 Dreaming My Dreams
96 Ramblin' Man
97 Are You Sure Hank
98 Stop the World
99 Luchenbach, Texas
100 Black Rose
101 Honky Tonk Heroes
102 Clyde
103 Lonesome On'ry & Mean
104 Good Hearted Woman
105 Honkytonk Song
106 I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink
107 Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
108 Little Ole Winedrinker Me
109 You Win Again
110 Together Again
111 5 O'Clock Somewhere
112 Gumbo John
113 I Ain't Drunk, I'm Just Drinkin'
114 Gimme Three Steps
115 Got My Mojo Workin'
116 Crosseyed Cat
117 Come Monday
118 Six Pack To Go
119 Me an Bobby McGee
120 Help Me Make It Through the Night
121 Why Me, Lord?
122 Lonesome Highway Blues
123 Hickory Wind
124 Crazy Arms
125 Best of All Possible Worlds
126 She's Gone, Gone, Gone
127 The Race is On
128 Jesus was a Capricorm

Basic Requirements

Calendar

DateTimeVenueCity
May 25, 2012 Friday 7:00 PM Jazz Apple Kitchen Glenbrook, NSW, AU
May 26, 2012 Saturday 8:00 PM East Cessnock Bowling Club Cessnock, NSW, AU
May 27, 2012 Sunday 2:00 PM Belrose Country Music Club Sydney, NSW, AU
Jun 1, 2012 Friday 7:30 PM Wallacia Panthers Golf Wallacia, NSW, AU
Jun 2, 2012 Saturday 8:00 PM Ramsgate R.S.L. Memorial Club Sydney, NSW, AU
Jun 8, 2012 Friday 8:00 PM Seabreeze Hotel Nelson Bay, NSW, AU
Jun 9, 2012 Saturday 12:00 PM The Marina Nelson Bay, NSW, AU
Jun 10, 2012 Sunday 4:30 PM Marrickville Bowling Club Marrickville, NSW, AU
Jul 28, 2012 Saturday 8:00 PM Katoomba R.S.L. Bowling Club Katoomba, NSW, AU
Jul 29, 2012 Sunday 2:00 PM Penrith RSL Club Penrith, AU
Aug 1, 2012 Wednesday 7:30 PM The Standard Hotel Fitzroy, VIC, AU
Aug 3, 2012 Friday 7:30 PM Pascoe Vale RSL Pascoe Vale, VIC, AU
Aug 16, 2012 Thursday 8:00 PM Rooty Hill RSL Club Sydney, NSW, AU
Sep 8, 2012 Saturday 6:00 PM Private Function Berry, NSW, AU
Sep 9, 2012 Sunday 4:30 PM Marrickville Bowling Club Marrickville, NSW, AU
Dec 23, 2012 Sunday 4:30 PM Marrickville Bowling Club Marrickville, NSW, AU