The Natalie Wells Band

Artist Information

Biography

The Natalie Wells Band is a blues rock trio hailing from Northern Kentucky. The band is fronted by twentysomething guitarist/singer/songwriter Natalie Wells. At the drum throne is Michael Hodges, a veteran of the music scene who has played on world tours with David Bowie and guitar great Adrian Belew.

They play a mix of original songs, as well as covers by Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, etc. Their live show has gained them a growing fanbase throughout the OH, KY, IN, WV regions; as well as a number of fans in Europe, Australia, South America and other parts of the U.S., due in large part to the internet.

The band has played many festivals and club dates, and have opened for and/or shared the stage with artists such as Elvin Bishop, Little Ed and the Blues Imperials, Magic Slim, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Devon Allman, etc.

In November of 2011, they also released their first album, "Mind the Gap", which was produced and recorded by legendary Dutch producer Erwin Musper (Scorpions, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Jeff Beck, etc.). The album contains nine original tracks as well as a rocked up cover of "Hey Bulldog" by the Beatles. The album has already been receiving some favorable press in local/regional publications and airplay on local radio stations.

A live album was released in March of 2012, containing their take on some classic rock tunes.

Instrumentation

Natalie Wells - Guitar
Michael Hodges - Drums

Discography

"Mind the Gap" - YeaYeaYeah Records, 2011
"Live from Earth" - self released, 2012

Official Website

http://www.nataliewells.net

Audio

• 1 Happiness is a Minefield
  Listen  
• 8 Hey Bulldog
  Listen  
• 2 Nightmare or Hell
  Listen  
• Day of the Eagle
  Listen  

Video

The Big TV

Natalie Wells Band at Hard Rock Cafe - Sky is Crying

Photo Gallery

Press

• Spill It - Soundtracking the War on Christmas [+ Show ]
  

  "Last but far from least, gifted young Blues/Rock singer/guitarist Natalie Wells and her band presen..."Last but far from least, gifted young Blues/Rock singer/guitarist Natalie Wells and her band present a holiday shindig at Oakley’s 20th Century Theatre on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Wells just released her magnificent full-length album Mind the Gap, an instantly alluring, soulfully heavy affair dripping with inspiration from some of the all-time Blues and Rock greats, from The Beatles (one of the more obvious influences, especially on the cover of the legends’ “Hey Bulldog”) and Cream (and the ’60s/’70s Blues Rock explosion, in general) to contemporary acts like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. (Keep an eye on the music blog at citybeat.com for a full review.) There are often a few records that are released right before the end of the year that catch me off guard and instantly end up shooting up the rankings in CityBeat’s annual “Year in Local Recordings” feature (running in next week’s issue). This year, Mind the Gap leads that class by a long shot." -Mike Breen

• Top 25 local music releases of 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  "Natalie Wells – Mind The Gap The young Blues/Rock singer/guitarist’s debut was a revelation, showc..."Natalie Wells – Mind The Gap
  The young Blues/Rock singer/guitarist’s debut was a revelation, showcasing her diverse songwriting and stylistic influences (from The Beatles to Cream to The White Stripes, with many stops in between)."

• Ear candy: songs we like [+ Show ]
  

  “Okie doke, people. Get ready for some guitar shredding from one talented chick. Natalie Wells rele...“Okie doke, people. Get ready for some guitar shredding from one talented chick. Natalie Wells released this album last weekend with a good old-fashioned release party, so it’s hot off the presses. This particular track, according to Ms. Wells, is about addiction and “that inevitable point an addict gets to when it all just stops working.” This one also features local musicians Bob Nyswonger (the Raisins) and Ricky Nye. Just listen, and be in awe. Then purchase the album, of course.”

• Natalie Wells at Vandalia Lounge [+ Show ]
  

  "Move over, Nancy Wilson. Move over, Bonnie Raitt. Hell, move over Jimi Hendrix. There's a new kid i..."Move over, Nancy Wilson. Move over, Bonnie Raitt. Hell, move over Jimi Hendrix. There's a new kid in town and she's smokin'. Never in my life have I seen a female guitar player play with such technique the way Natalie Wells did on Friday night.
  
  I walked into the bar after work at midnight when the entertainment is usually packing up for the evening. This 22-year-old woman and her Cincinnati-based band (known appropriately enough as 'The Natalie Wells Band') were raring to go with another set that absolutely blew me off my seat.
  
  I read that she played the blues, but with her double-braided hair and headscarf, I assumed that she would pull out a Grateful Dead tune or three. Much to my surprise and to the astonishment of the rest of the audience, she instead, among other songs, played Hendrix's 'Manic Depression'. This chick, who has only known how to play guitar for almost five years, pulled out riffs that, as someone who has been playing guitar for 17 years, I could only dream of playing. I daresay she even puts Hendrix himself to the test.
  
  Wells was so impressive that her band, which was extremely talented in their own right, was almost overlooked. You have to be one hell of a musician to be able to play along to what this prodigy had to offer up. The performance was mind-boggling."

• Review - Freewheelin' Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "The truth be told, I'm really better at writing about music than I ever will be playing it. There i..."The truth be told, I'm really better at writing about music than I ever will be playing it. There is a new band on the block fronted by a 22-year-old prodigy named Natalie Wells. If you have not had the chance to hear this lady play the Blues, well, you're in for a treat; she's HOT!"

• Goddess of Electric Guitar - Best Bet [+ Show ]
  

  "Guitarist Natalie Wells, who brings her self-named, Cincinnati-based blues trio to Vandalia Lounge,..."Guitarist Natalie Wells, who brings her self-named, Cincinnati-based blues trio to Vandalia Lounge, 212 Hale St., 9 p.m. Friday, should be known as Natalie “Janie Hendrix” Wells. She is a woman possessed on electric guitar, her complicated runs racing up and down the fretboard (and maybe behind, for all we know) then back up again. Her eyes roll up in her head at the most intense of these finger fireworks, her lion’s mane of braided, black hair whipping along with the musical meltdown underway. Good rock and blues vocals, too."

Setlist

A mixture of original material and songs by artists such as-

Led Zeppelin
Rory Gallagher
Robin Trower
Jimi Hendrix
Cream
Buddy Guy
King Crimson

Basic Requirements

Calendar