The Big Hurt

Artist Information

Biography

Not confined to one musical style or genre, Lessons, the debut release from The Big Hurt melds elements of Alternative Rock, Reggae, Acid Jazz, Hip-Hop, Funk, Drum-n-Bass, Ska, Punk, Latin, and Go-Go. Recorded at Waterford Digital in Pasadena, MD with producer Frank Marchand (Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, The All Mighty Senators) The Big Hurt went into the studio with a batch of songs reflecting each of the band members diverse musical influences. The album’s 10 songs range from Smashing Pumpkins type rock styling to Acid-Jazz melodies over Hip-Hop beats to break neck Punk/Ska interludes. Although touching on many different musical styles, the result is a singular sound that is at the same time musically complex and refreshingly accessible. This is Lessons, if they were easy they’d be forgotten.

The original core of the band began On Kent Island, MD in 1998. Vocalist Billy Martin, Guitarist Will Sutton, Bassist Tim Johnson, and DJ Frank Kanady began to fuse elements of Rock with Reggae and Drum-n-Bass. With the additions of Baltimore, MD Drummer Jamie Kelley, and Waldorf, MD Percussionist Matt Costello, the group began to incorporate even more musical styles and rhythms including Funk, Acid Jazz, Hip Hop, Go-Go, Jungle, and Trip Hop. The result is an accessible blending of many musical influences into one groove known as The Big Hurt.

Key selling points:

* Independently financed the production and release of their debut album

* Were selected from over 1,000 bands for the WHFS big break contest

* In store play copies/Live appearances available

Instrumentation

Billy Martin: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Will Sutton: guitar and vocals
Tim Johnson: bass and vocals
Matt Costello: percussion and vocals
Jamie Kelley: drums
Frank Kanady: turntables and sounds
Bob Akins: guitar and bass

Discography

Debut album Lessons released 10/15/2005

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Big Hurt brings its 'Lessons' home [+ Show ]
  

  "We were dive-bombed by bees from an abandoned house seconds after the lights came on," says Billy M..."We were dive-bombed by bees from an abandoned house seconds after the lights came on," says Billy Martin, lead singer for The Big Hurt, recalling the band's first official show.
  
  "We built a stage right next to this giant, abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. It was us and 350 kids all out in a field," he adds. Not only did the music bring out angry bees, it evidently riled some neighbors. "We played four songs before the cops came," Martin adds with a chuckle.
  
  One year later, the band had established its own label, Stay Humble Records, and had brought aboard seasoned producer Frank Marchand to do the same sort of work for their first album that he had done for Jimmie's Chicken Shack, The Toadies and the All-Mighty Senators.
  
  The band steps into a headliner spot for a gig at Towson's Recher Theater Oct. 15, celebrating the new album's release.
  
  Natives of Kent Island, Md., the first of many small towns across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, The Big Hurt moved west to the concrete jungle of Baltimore seeking exposure Ð and a percussion section. Founding members Billy Martin, guitarist Will Sutton, and Tim Johnson (bass guitar) had already established an eclectic funk/So-Cal rock foundation with the help of Frank Kanady on the turntables.
  
  The band struck proverbial gold when Matt Costello and Jaime Kelley took a chance and answered the group's Internet calls for percussionists.
  
  "When we found Jaime and Matt, we got more serious," Martin says. With their very different influences and personalities, Costello (conga drums) and Kelley (drums) helped round out the band's sound and performance dynamic.
  
  "I like go-go and hip-hop. Jaime is all about drum 'n' bass. The rest of the guys are aficionados of pretty much everything else," Costello notes. Kelley, who studied percussion at Johns Hopkins' Peabody Institute, is the band's resident industry veteran.
  
  "I learned a lot from my former band. We were signed but didn't have the drive to take it to the next level," Kelley says. "From the beginning, I knew The Big Hurt was good."
  
  With its cast complete, The Big Hurt set itself to the task of producing something worth promoting. Costly studio time necessitated that the band try to nail each of the album's 10 songs in three takes or less. Four months later, "Lessons" was finished.
  
  Kicking off the album is the head- banger "Hooligans," that begins with a Porno for Pyros-like intro that gives way to more soothing, polished lyrics. Though the rock sound is dominant throughout, this opening track is hardly an indication of what is to come.
  
  Fans of the group Sublime might mistake the album's third cut for a lost live recording by those kings of Long Beach. But Sublime hasn't produced anything as catchy as "Nina" in almost 10 years. Penned by bass guitarist Johnson, the song's subject is as straightforward as that one-word title.
  
  "Nina was a bartender," Johnson begins as way of explaining, then quickly shakes his head. "She was the ideal - probably the love of my life. I will never meet anyone like her."
  
  The album's title track, "Lessons," sends a deeper message in its solid conga beat, though it doesn't reveal the band's full range until a second or third listen. While the track is well written and is clearly a band favorite, the second-to-last song, "Ditty," surfaces as one of the best offerings on the debut album. One can hear Kanady keeping the melody together with strategic spinning.
  
  Altogether an impressive first album, "Lessons" just scratches the surface of the band's musical range. That is best demonstrated in concert as each member grows increasingly more animated as the show progresses. The energy is infectious.
  
  Whether there are eight or 800 people in attendance this Saturday at the Recher, it's pretty sure that The Big Hurt will have the dance fans moving - and that "Lessons" will have a proper send-off.
  
  
  The Big Hurt will be playing at the Recher Theatre, 512 York Road, Towson, Oct. 15. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 ( older than 21) and $15 (18 and older). A copy of "Lessons" is included with the ticket price. For more information, call the Recher Theater at 410-337-7210 or log onto www.bighurtband.com.
  

Setlist

Sets are made up of originals and covers and can be fully altered depending on the amount of time given and the audience. The Big Hurt can play 2+ hours of music and can carry three 45 minute sets.

Basic Requirements

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