Dirtfoot

Artist Information

Biography

"Here's their deal: Imagine Nick Cave on a bed of rusty nails, the cover of "Gin and Juice" often mis-attributed to Phish (it was actually the Gourds), some old-timey "Dem Bones," Old Crow Medicine show culture-clash, and that subtle fecal stench of Mr. Bungle skronk sax craziness: Get theses elements, let them stew in an oaken barrel for a number of years and out comes Shreveport, Louisiana's Dirtfoot." - Spencer, Synthesis.net

Dirtfoot has recently released their 3rd album, Live and In Prison. Recorded live at Wade Correctional Facility in front of 300 inmates, it features 10 Dirftoot favorites and 2 previously unreleased tracks. Also released, a DVD featuring the entire live performance, a behind the scenes documentary showing how we put this together, our music video featuring William Sadler and more.

Winner of Vox Populi Award for Short Form Film category of the Independent Music Awards 2012.

Toured as main support with Primus May 2011
Toured as main support with Rev Horton Heat Jan-Feb 2011

Opened for The Band Perry, Primus, Meat Puppets, The Rev Horton Heat, Cracker, Southern Culture on the Skids, Cowboy Mouth, The Wood Brothers, Rebirth Brass Band, Col. Bruce Hampton, Split Lip Rayfield, Lucero and many more.

Whether performing on big stages at festivals, or playing intimate setting in pubs and the finer taverns all over the mid west & south, Dirtfoot puts on an uproarious show. The crowds come to take part in the fun and chaos, hollering to all the calls and responses, shaking their beancans, and getting down with the infectious grooves. There is only one Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie band in the land - Dirtfoot.

How it began:

In April 2000, a tornado blew through Shreveport. Matt's home was a victim of the fury and J, a curious neighbor, came walking by and initiated conversation amidst cracked counter tops and scattered shingles. The two musicians quickly became friends.

It's more than a bit ironic that a powerful, hard-to-predict weather system marks the creation of Dirtfoot. Their music can be as dizzying as a twister, volatile and uproarious.

It is their lack of restraint, their raw musical impulsiveness and high energy delivery that can be so arresting to the people who have heard them play. Matt makes primal noises and stomps his feet, leading the group like a mad conductor. The members of Dirtfoot seem to follow his lead, mixing the diverse flavors and styles of each player into a new sound and feel, completely unique to this band.

Though all of their instruments are acoustic, their energy and ingenuity will make you swear they are using something else. Featuring instruments ranging from an acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass, pots n' pans, drums, bells, saxophone, and beancan shakers, this band has a truly engaging and eclectic sound! They are a delicious, spicy, dirty band that will make you stomp your feet, shake your ass and yell like a lunatic on a full moon night.

For more info please contact J Bratlie at 318-560-1466

Dirtfoot
P O Box 44052
Shreveport, LA 71134

or

dirtfoot@gmail.com

Instrumentation

Matt Hazelton - Guitar, Vocal
J Bratlie - Banjo, Backup Vocals
Scott Gerardy - Backing Vocals, Saxophones
Nathan Woods - Bass
Daniel Breithaupt - Percussion
Derek Russell - Drums

Discography

"5 song Demo" released Spring 2005
"Sneak Peak" released Summer 2006
"Entertain Me" released December 2006
"Bone Sessions" released November 2008
"Live and In Prison" released Dec 2011
"Live and In Prison" DVD - Released Dec 2011

Radio Play - My Girl, Back of a Stranger
89.9 KDAQ - Shreveport, LA
91.3 KSCL - Shreveport, LA
98.1 KTAL - Shreveport, LA
98.9 KTUX - Shreveport, LA
89.1 KLPI - Ruston, LA
89.3 WKRF - Baton Rouge, LA
91.5 WTUL - New Orleans
91.7 KVRX - Austin, TX
99.9 KANM - College Station, TX
90.7 KVNF - Paonia, CO
90.7 WJSC - Johnson, VT
96.3 Spaceradio.org - Eau Claire, WI
91.1 WDBX - Carbondale, IL
88.3 FM KXUA - Fayetteville, AR
kccaferadio.com - Kansas City, MO
CSJW - 90.9FM - Ontario, Canada

Streaming - "Entertain Me" entire album - all outlets
- "Bones Sessions" entire album - all outlets

"My Girl" - Track of the Day -Garageband.com 7/26/07, 10/30/07
Track of the Week - Dec 3, 2007
"Rest My Head" - Track of the Day - Garageband.com 9/1/07
Sonicbids Band of the Week - Sep 2008
8th Independent Music Awards - Finalist Alt Country Song - Devil Don't Care
Relix - Jam Off Runner Up - Apr/May 2009
SpinEarth.tv's - "12 singles from Rising Bands" Nov 2009
Song "Bathroom Sink" featured on PBS Roadtrip Nation
Season 5 -2009
9th Independent Music Awards - Finalist Alt Country Song - Rhinestone Ring
Interviewed and performed for PBS show "Music Voyager" to be released Nov 2010
Featured on web series "Groovable Feast"
11th Independent Music Awards - Vox Populi Winner - Short Form Video for - Cast My Plans - Live and In Prison

Venue History

Shreveport, LA:
Red River Revel (2006-9)
James Burton Guitar Festival
Mud Bug Madness
Holiday in Dixie
Golddome
Artport
Highland Jazz and Blues Fest
Red River Rumble
Krewe of Highland Parade
Musician's Townhall Meeting
Shreveport Sports Ballgame
Municipal Auditorium
The Warehouse
Marilynn's Place - Mardi Gras
Tiki Lounge
Bear's Oyster House
El Dorado Casino - Celebrity Lounge
The Capri
Noble Savage
Artspace
Lil Joe's Tavern
Sully's Tavern
Columbia Cafe
Chicagoï
516 Soundstage
No Cover - KDAQ
KTAL Morning Show
KRMD Radio Interview
Debbie Harold Benefit
Actor's Cafe - Miss Mary Benefit
Scott Griffin Benefit
Red River Radio Benefit
Benefit for Tommy Welch

Bossier City, LA:
Saddleridge

BAFB, LA:
Airmen Appreciation Party

Ruston, LA:
Rabb's Steak House
Sundown West Tavern

Monroe, LA:
Blue Monkey Tavern

Baton Rouge, LA:
Red Star Bar
Chelsea's Cafe

Lafayette, LA:
Grant St Dancehall

New Orleans, LA:
Voodoo Music Festival
Cutting Edge Music Fest (2007-9)
Howlin Wolf - Spicy Rock Fest
Hi Ho Lounge
Tipitinas Uptown
Zeitgeist Arts Center
Blue Nile
Cafe Negril

Hot Springs, AR:
Valley of the Vapors
Maxine's
Bridgeview Tavern

El Dorado, AR:
El Dorado Music Fest
Main Street Battle of the Bands
Eintsein's

Little Rock, AR:
Sticky Fingerz
White Water Tavern

Ozark, AR:
Mulberry Mountain Harvest Festival (2007-11)
Wakarusa 2009-11

Fayetteville, AR:
George's Majestic

Ft Smith, AR:
Landry's

Russellville, AR
Bugsy's

Breckenridge CO
Three20South

Colorado Springs, CO
Black Sheep

Crested Butte, CO
Eldo

Denver, CO
Cervantes Other Side
Bluebird Theater
Ogden Theater

Durango, CO
Abbey Theater

Ft Collins, CO
Hodi's Half Note
Aggie Theater

Steamboat, CO:
Ghost Ranch Saloon

Atlanta, GA:
The Masquerade

Des Moines, IA
Vaudeville Mews

Iowa City, IA:
Gabe's Oasis

Carbondale, IL
Hangar 9

Chicago, IL
Kinetic Playground

Chillicothe, IL
Summercamp

Indianapolis, IN
Murat - Opening for Primus

Lawrence, KS:
Wakarusa Music Festival (2007-8)
The Granada
The Bottleneck
Chompdown

Manhattan KS
Kat's

Wichita, KS:
The Cotillion
Rock Island Live

Lexington, KY:
Cosmic Charlies

Bloomfield MO
Bloomheavy Hammock Ride

Blue Springs, MO
Trouser Mouse

Cape Girardeau, MO
Pitters Cafe
Big Muddy Spook Heavy

Columbia, MO:
Bacchanalia
Blue Note
Mojo's
Pedalers Jamboree
Underground Cafe

Kansas City, MO
Crossroads KC
Crosstown Station
The Czar Bar

Lone Jack, MO:
Dawg Dayz of Summer

Pleasant Hill, MO:
MoKan Music Fest

Springfield, MO:
Outland Ballroom
Patton Alley Pub

St Louis, MO:
Cicero's
2720 Cherokee

Jackson, MS:
Martin's Lounge

Raleigh, NC:
Berkeley's Cafe

New York City, NY:
The Living Room

Thornville, OH:
All Good Music Festival
The Werk Out Fest

Oklahoma City, OK:
Farmers Market

Stillwater, OK
Eskimo Joe's

Tahlequah, OK
Riverstomp Music Fest

Tulsa, OK:
Cains Ballroom
The Flytrap
The Shrine
Mercury Lounge
D-Fest
Mayfest

Lincoln, NE:
Bourbon Theater

Charleston, SC
The Pourhouse

Columbia, SC:
House 5 Points

Greenville, SC:
The Handlebar

Memphis, TN:
Minglewood Hall - Opening for Primus
Folk Alliance
Hi-Tone
The Buccaneer
Otherlands
Ardent Studios

Nashville, TN:
The Basement

Austin, TX:
Stubbs Ampitheater - Opening for Primus
Lamberts
Republic of Texas Biker Ralley
Nuno's Upstairs
Hole In the Wall
Ruta Mayas
Art Outside Fest

Bryan, TX:
Revolution Cafe

Dallas, TX:
The Palladium - Opening for Primus
Trees
The Cavern

Denton, TX:
Dan's SIlverleaf
NXNW Music Fest

Driftwood, TX:
Old Settlers Music Fest

Fort Worth, TX:
Lola's on Sixth
Longhorn Saloon
The Aardvark

Frisco, TX:
Lochrann's Pub

Houston, TX:
Verizon Wireless Center - Opening for Primus

Lubbock, TX:
Tequila Jungle

Rockdale TX:
Art Outside Fest

Richmond, VA:
The Canal Club

Charleston, WV:
Sound Factory

Official Website

http://www.dirtfoot.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Dirtfoot's Official Website
• MySpace

Audio

• No Good Man
  Listen   Download
• Cast My Plans - Bone Sessions
  Listen   Download
• Rhinestone Ring - Bone Sessions
  Listen   Download
• Footsteps - Bone Sessions
  Listen   Download
• My Girl - Entertain Me
  Listen   Download
• Rest My Head - Entertain Me
  Listen   Download
• Little Bit of Rum - Entertain Me
  Listen   Download
• Entertain Me - Entertain Me
  Listen   Download
• Watusi
  Listen   Download
• Gonna Get Ya
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Cast My Plans - Bone Sessions
• Rhinestone Ring - Bone Sessions
• Blue Eyes - Bone Sessions
• Sun Don't Come - Bone Sessions
• Footsteps - Bone Sessions
• My Girl - Entertain Me
• Rest My Head - Entertain Me
• Devil Don't Care - Entertain Me
• Little bit of Rum - Entertain Me
• Entertain Me - Entertain Me
• Bathroom Sink - Entertain Me

Video

Dirtfoot - Cast My Plans Music Video - Live and In Prison.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• More Wakarusa reviews: Dirtfoot, Edward Sharpe and Balkan Beat Box [+ Show ]
  

  On Thursday night, Dirtfoot put on a heckuva performancein the Outpost Tent. The Shreveport band cal...On Thursday night, Dirtfoot put on a heckuva performancein the Outpost Tent. The Shreveport band calls their musical style "Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie." With six members on guitar, banjo, saxophone, upright and electric bass, drums and various percussion instruments, Dirtfoot is known for its awesome shows with an eclectic sound and raucous stage presence.
  
  The audience seemed plenty familiar with the band, and loved every minute of the late night, let's-get-rowdy set. The fans also seemed pretty excited about Dirtfoot's announcement that they're playing two sets at Yonder Mountain String Band's Harvest Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain, scheduled for Oct. 11-13.

• Wakarusa Interview: J Bratlie of Dirtfoot [+ Show ]
  

  Dirtfoot, a six-piece gypsy punk rock band from Shreveport, LA, has become a staple of the Wakarusa ...Dirtfoot, a six-piece gypsy punk rock band from Shreveport, LA, has become a staple of the Wakarusa Music Festival. Furthermore, they’re strong supporters of the unofficial festival Chompdown (a free breakfast by the people and for the people of Wakarusa) where the band provides morning entertainment as hungry campers file in for Friday morning grub. After this year’s Chompdown came to a conclusion, Dirtfoot vocalist and banjoist J Bratlie took a few minutes to chat with me about their recently released high-profile music video, the band’s ongoing involvement with Wakarusa, and explains how the beginnings of Dirtfoot were born of a tornado tragedy more than ten years ago.
  
  MOJO: Tell me about the video for “Cast My Plans” from your newly released album. The concept for a prison narrative was discussed as an idea that quickly turned into storyboards. Then, suddenly, you had big names involved in all aspects from cast to crew.
  
  J: We’re friends with William Sadler, the actor who played the warden. He was filming The Mist in Shreveport about four years ago and caught one of our gigs and just started sending us emails every once in a while. He writes songs, so he would send us these songs saying, “This sounds like a Dirtfoot tune. If ya’ll wanna use it, you can use it.” He’s a real cool cat and a funny guy. All of his music has a funny quality to it. So we called him up and said, “You wanna be the warden in our video?” and he said, “Get me there and I’ll do it.”
  
  We rented a 35 millimeter film camera and shot the entire video on it. That, and getting Bill to the set, were our only real expenses. Everything else (AD work, assistant directors, producers, camera operators, etc.) was all donated time. Everybody just wanted to work on the project. The guy that ran our camera actually worked for the movie Wolverine. The fight scene with Daniel was choreographed by an actual stunt coordinator. There were all these big-time movie guys going, “Dirtfoot’s doing a video?! RIGHT ON!”
  
  For anyone that’s interested, there is a special DVD that’s coming out soon that tells the whole story and includes interviews of all the people involved with the video’s creation. Visit their online store to order your own copy.
  
  MOJO: Dirtfoot has a pretty decent history with Wakarusa, correct?
  
  J: This is our fifth year at Waka. We actually got into Wakarusa through one of the Waka Winter Classic Competitions where they pick local bands and people vote. We came in third place out of five bands after driving from Shreveport to Tulsa, but we were happy with the response we got. After the gig, the guy running the thing said, “We really like you guys. You may be getting a phone call.” So a few months went by and we didn’t hear anything. Whatever, whatever. Then they called us up mid-April/early-May and said “Do you guys wanna play at 11 o’clock on Thursday on the little stage way out in the sticks for free?” and we’re like… “Sure!” We were happy to be involved and to say were going to be a part of the festival.
  
  So, then I had friended Jon Cabrera on MySpace who was doing the Chompdown. That was the first year for the Chomp and Jon was like, “Hey, you guys are kind of an acoustic band. You wanna set up and play with a breakfast?” We expected it to be 50 people, a friends-of-friends sort of thing. And this was when Waka was still in Kansas. It was back in a little corner of the campgrounds and everybody in that corner heard about it and came over. People actually brought food and it got bigger and we ended up feeding about 250 kids.
  
  MOJO: You guys have become a hugely popular band in a relatively short amount of time. How long has Dirtfoot been around?
  
  J: Well, the lead singer and I (who are kind of the core of the group) were brought together through a tornado in 2000. I lived down the street from the guy and didn’t know him. The tornado dropped a tree on his house. He was out front and I was walkin’ by and was just kind of like “You guys okay?” and he was like “Yea, sure. Wanna see the house?” So he showed me all the destruction and as I’m walking out of the front room, there’s a banjo and a guitar and an accordion. So we started jamming and it just grew from there.
  
  We had a revolving door of musicians for quite a while, about three years. We had numerous percussionists, bass players, drummers. But in the lineup we have now, the bass player is the newest guy. He’s been with us for about a year. Everyone else has been around about five or six years. We call our official start getting out there January of 2006. We won a Battle of the Bands in Shreveport that kind of helped get things going for us, and then from there we started trying to get into festivals.
  
  We got pretty lucky; the guy that runs Wakarusa kind of took a shine to us. And now he’s our manager. We signed with him at the first of the year and The Agency Group out of New York. But up until January 1st of this year, we’ve done everything ourselves- all the booking, promotion, making the CD’s. This CD we just did was all our ideas, our vision.
  
  MOJO: You seem to have a very loyal and devoted local (and growing) fan base.
  
  J: We did our kick start campaign for the new CD and it was interesting. We expected to see a few people, but there were a lot of folks that we thought were kind of the fringe of the circle that were really some of the best supporters. It’s always kind of funny when they say, “I’ve been following you since…” and it’s like “You heard us THAT long ago? Oh, that wasn’t even really a gig!” A guy named Kyle, he’s one of the Chompers, he and his wife asked us to play at their wedding reception. So we were just there in front of their family and friends, but we still have people from that come up to us and say “I saw ya’ll play a wedding reception in Columbia!”
  
  I guess because we’re such a multi-genre type of group, it’s like if people like country music, they call us a country group. If they like rock, they call us a rock band. So, these people from different walks of life walk away from our shows going, “Yea, I like that… alternative -country Dirtfoot.” Or, “I like that rockabilly Dirtfoot.” You know? But we’re not really bluegrass. We’re not really rockabilly. We’re not really… well, we just call it “Gypsy punk country grumble boogie.”

• Beancans, Tornadoes and Voodoo Boogie | an Interview with DIRTFOOT [+ Show ]
  

  At the core of one’s infatuation with music is the perpetual notion of the unknown melodies awaiting...At the core of one’s infatuation with music is the perpetual notion of the unknown melodies awaiting you around any city corner or prairie dive bar, any television commercial or radio station. The idea that the individual or group you may never (want to) get out of your head could be at the end of the next interstate exit or taking the stage coincidentally on the same night you have off and decided to hit the town.
  
  It is a unique and beautiful feeling, one that sends shivers down your spine and goosebumps up your arm. It is an unpredictable and chaotic feeling, one only found in the confines of live music.
  
  Wandering the mysterious and dark woods of northwest Arkansas last summer, I was curious with what Wakarusa had hidden for me to discover. Away from the main stage. Away from the masses.
  
  In the distance I saw a bright light illuminating the trees and faraway campsites. At the source of the light was Dirtfoot, a Louisiana voodoo-rock sextet (Matt Hazelton – lead vocals/guitar, J Bratlie – banjo/backup vocals, Scott Gerard – saxophone/backup vocals, Nathan Woods – bass, Daniel Breithaupt – percussion, Lane Bayliss – drums), headlong into their late-night set. Their presence took my senses by storm. Like a crisp fall breeze, the sound whirled around my body.
  
  Goosebumps quickly emerging from the depths of my body:
  
  “As Thursday night turned into Friday morning‚ I came across the biggest surprise of the weekend. Wandering down endless paths and into dark woods‚ I finally tracked down the Backwoods stage‚ a tiny wooden structure carefully tucked away from the swarms.
  
  Billed as “gypsy funk country grumble boogie‚” I eagerly stood and shook my bones to the tantalizing sounds of the Shreveport‚ Louisiana group. It was dirty. It was claustrophobic. It was voodoo rock as fire dancers twirled around the side of the stage.
  
  Their mix of psychobilly‚ blues and funk had my underwear all in a twist as I danced with reckless abandon to “Devoted Mama” or “Break My Bones” (which included the sounds of a rubber chicken‚ garbage cans‚ washboards and soup cans full of beans).”
  
  The group is currently recording their next album, which is predicted to be released by the end of 2010. For now, an endless tour schedule lies in their crosshairs, while the intent to push forth until they see the light at the end of tunnel fuels their souls.
  
  Garret K. Woodward: What is Dirtfoot?
  
  J. Bratlie: Dirtfoot is group of guys that makes crazy raucous front porch foot-stomping music.
  
  GKW: How would you describe the sound? Who are the influences?
  
  JB: The sound has been described as “gypsy-punk-country-grumble-boogie” by some and that is the handle we prefer. Our music has many influences from Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Morphine, to Beck and They Might Be Giants, and many more.
  
  GKW: What does improvisational music mean to you? How does it affect the approach of the band?
  
  JB: While most of our pieces are “written”, we do have a few songs that allow for real improvisation. We typically only pull these out when the feeling and vibes are right. Those are usually some crazy nights.
  
  GKW: How did the band come around?
  
  JB: The group began with a tornado. April 2000. Shreveport, Louisiana. Well, the actual band did not start then, but that was when Matt and I met and began a friendship that led to jamming and the band coming together. An Easter tornado had come through Shreveport and dropped a tree on Matt’s house. I was passing by, stopped, and started chatting. The rest is history. After jamming together for a year or two, what is now Dirtfoot began to form through a constant rotation of band members.
  
  GKW: What are you thoughts on the current music industry? How do you want Dirtfoot to be different, or contribute to the evolution?
  
  JB: The music industry is constantly changing and we are going with the flow. We have stayed a do-it-yourself band just for this reason. With modern technology, it’s very easy to get the music out to the people. The real trick is touring. With escalating costs for travel, it becomes more difficult for longer, drawn out tours, so we have to play harder and smarter. Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to build the Dirtfoot machine ourselves and one day if the right deal comes along, we may consider it.
  
  GKW: How receptive have audiences been to the creation onstage?
  
  JB: The audience is key to our show. Many of our songs are built on a “call and response” theme, where interaction is a must. We even make shaker cans, we call them beancans, because we take two soup cans, fill them some beans, and duct tape them together. We pass these out to the crowd and they become the seventh member, a giant percussion section. It’s an awesome sound to hear so many cans shaking at the same time.
  
  GKW: What do you like or dislike about being on the road constantly?
  
  JB: We love to travel and see the new sites. We recently gigged in New York City, a first time trip for many in the band, and it was a real adventure. Seeing the historic and famous sites, along with the people, the traffic, the food, etcetera. We will never forget it. It is hard being away from family and not sleeping in your own bed, but the road is a calling.
  
  GKW: What do you want the listener to ultimately witness or walk away with when they see you perform?
  
  JB: We want the people to leave our show feeling like they just did an aerobic workout of their body and ears. If you don’t walk out of our show utterly exhausted, we didn’t do our job. We also want the people to forget about their troubles for a few hours while they hang out with us. It’s too easy to get caught up in the daily grind, but, at a Dirtfoot show, you can be part of something larger, and forget about all your worries for a bit.

• The Alternate Root - Artists of the Week [+ Show ]
  

  There is this sound that opens Dirtfoot’s recent release, ‘Bone Sessions’. It’s the sound of a take ...There is this sound that opens Dirtfoot’s recent release, ‘Bone Sessions’. It’s the sound of a take off.......jet, car, etc. It fits. Even the quiet moments on ‘Bone Sessions’ push forward that is one part Sunday morning salvation and one fire and hellish rhythm that fills the air like audio brimstone. The six players group pick up saxophone, banjo, guitars, up right bass, pots ‘n pans, xylophone, drum sticks, bells and have at it. Dirtfoot does not have a rhythm section as much as they are a rhythm section. Their marching beat is more street parade for the most part. Things do mellow, the beat slows to a strut like on “Pullin’ Up the Stakes” and “Devoted Mama”, where the guys come on like some off- planet, Star Wars-type house band, or an almost whispered foot tap like on “Blue Eyes” and “Snappin’ Turtle”.
  
  For me, it’s when the band gets into the groove and connects the beats that things lock into place. The band describes their sound as a dose of Gypsy Punk Country Grumble boogie. Yeah, that! On songs like “Rhinetone Ring”, “Footsteps”, “Watusi”, “Cast My Plan”, Dirtfoot seduce on many levels with a beat that makes for good trance weather, plugging in and just letting it ride. Coming out of Shreveport, Louisiana, Dirtfoot play all acoustic instruments with an electric edge to the results.

• Dirtfoot to release its second album Saturday [+ Show ]
  

  Dirtfoot to release its second album Saturday Shreveport band hopes for great things By Alexandy...Dirtfoot to release its second album Saturday
  Shreveport band hopes for great things
  
  By Alexandyr Kent • akent@gannett.com • November 21, 2008 2:00 am
  
  With the release of their second album, Dirtfoot could head in one of two directions.
  
  "I personally think we're on the edge of something big," says lead vocalist Matt Hazelton.
  
  "It's either stardom or a train wreck," counters banjoist J. Bratlie. "One or the other."
  
  By superstition, bands don't seriously entertain bad predictions, and Hazelton laughs off Bratlie's sarcasm as something that shouldn't be printed in a newspaper. But there it is: a sharp truth that slices to the core of artistic potential.
  
  In the future, bands either fly or flounder.
  
  "Bone Sessions" represents Dirtfoot's bet on taking flight. The 51-minute album features the signatures that have earned the band its following.
  
  There is Hazelton's deep, growling voice that's equal parts delighted and demented.
  
  There are Bratlie's old-timey banjo and his tenor backup cries.
  
  There are the band's elder statesman, Lane Bayliss, 50, keeping order on drums; the youngest blood, Daniel Breithaupt, 24, adding percussive quirk with xylophone, vibraphone, congas, bongos, or pots and pans; and Eric Gardner plucking out soulful, up-tempo standup bass lines.
  
  And then there are Scott Gerardy's saxophone solos — their slow, smooth notes creeping behind melodies and suddenly overtaking them with accelerating, unrestrained swing.
  
  The band members don't want to define what they are doing, other than to playfully describe it as a "dose of gypsy punk country grumble boogie" on their Web sites.
  
  Whatever it is, Dirtfoot's music inspires a whole lot of boogie-on-down and bean-can shaking among listeners at their live shows.
  
  "It's fun," Hazelton, 33, says again and again, and part of what makes it so is how the six-member band relies on improvisation to make familiar songs surprising and inventive.
  
  "Out of nowhere, Scotty comes up with this incredible beast of a solo and then inspires Eric to change up his base line," Hazelton continues. "In the middle of what we think is a regular moment, it turns into a completely new animal."
  
  That transformation, however fleeting, is what each member prizes.
  
  "Our music is one of the most original things I've been a part of, or heard," claims Gerardy, 31.
  
  "When we're on stage, you really get to live in the moment," believes Gardner, 29. "I almost feel like I'm a different person."
  
  "Once it starts, it's all good," extolls Breithaupt.
  
  Dirtfoot's music features no electric guitars. Nearly no effect pedals. No samples of prerecorded music. No distortion of what instruments traditionally sound like.
  
  The acoustic music is free-spirited and raucous, and sounds as if it were pouring out the broken window of a roadhouse planted in a swamp.
  
  "It's real," says Bayliss. "It's certainly not slick and the same every single time."
  
  The way the music is finished is also very democratic. Songs originate from Hazelton — who writes the lyrics and sets them to guitar — and are then fleshed out by the band during practice sessions.
  
  "I bring the raw meat and we cook it," Hazelton says. "I'm the only the one in the band that is not a true musician in sense of musicianship. I never took any lessons, so I don't really understand the lines I need to live in."
  
  Instrument by instrument, layer by layer, band members add their touches to finish a song. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes. Sometimes it takes longer than a two-and-a-half hour practice session.
  
  Hazelton acknowledges that creative visions clash sometimes, but "somehow, someway, it works. "» . It helps that they know they rules, because that's what makes the songs complete."
  
  While Dirtfoot members feel confident they're on to something irresistible in their music, they also feel certain they are only beginning to tap their audience. Dirtfoot has spent many weekends of the past 20 months touring far away from Shreveport in towns like Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Fayetteville, Memphis, Columbia, Springfield, Lawrence and Wichita.
  
  "Whether it's 10 people out there or 4,400, they're having a great time," says Bratlie, 36. "We give people a chance to go out there and shake their booty."
  
  The question remains, however, as to whether or not those booty-shakers will grow and part with more loot.
  
  Dirtfoot, now six years, gallons of sweat, measly profits and hundreds of bean-can shakers into their history, feels as if they have put in the work to make it on their music alone. The band members want the public, and a record label, to buy into their passion.
  
  "We see the response from people," Gardner says, and it's good. "To me, it's a dream of doing this for a living and not having a day job."
  
  As Bratlie hopes, "We're ready for the machine to step in and help us move along like we need it to."
  

• Dirtfoot thrills Memphis, Prepares to Release New Album [+ Show ]
  

  Dirtfoot thrills Memphis, Prepares to Release New Album July 24th, 2008 by Rachelandthecity Whil...Dirtfoot thrills Memphis, Prepares to Release New Album
  July 24th, 2008 by Rachelandthecity
  
  While it can sometimes be hard to express the music of many bands in words, there seems to be no lack of colorful adjectives to describe Shreveport, LA's Dirtfoot. From their own distinctive explanation of Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie to the less over-the-top designation of jug band style folk mixed with jazzed-up Americana, they cover a wide array of musical territory. Mixing banjo, guitar, upright bass, drums, sax and percussion, with special guest appearances by everything from xylophones to pots and pans, they are a band that can grab your ear with their unique sound, but shine the brightest when they are playing live. Last weekend their current tour brought them to Otherlands in Memphis, and their entertainingly chaotic set was definitely a crowd pleaser.
  
  As legend has it, Dirtfoot was birthed in the aftermath of a tornado, which seems not only totally believable based on where the are from but perfectly appropriate. From laid back odes to liquor and lovers, to foot-stomping sing-a-longs their sound manages to be effortlessly their own. With the abundance of musical acts on the scene these days, they are certainly a refreshing alternative. Not to mention, it is almost impossible not to at least tap your foot, but more likely jump up and dance along. It is also not surprising that their audiences are often filled with fellow musicians, as was the case in Memphis.
  
  Led by songwriter Matt Hazelton, the sextet have cultivated a style that is soaked in traditional Cajun-tinged instrumentation while still sounding contemporary. Unfortunately, a casual examination of the group could easily result in them being lumped into the hippie-dippie jam band genre. I have to admit, the first time I caught their act that is what I expected. Admittedly, there are certainly some similarities. However, while it is often hard for me to appreciate the meandering musical improvisation of many bands, when Dirtfoot colors outside the lines, the qualities that set them apart result in the music being more enjoyable than annoying.
  
  With two albums and an EP under their belt, the spreading of the gospel has kept them steadily touring, playing everything from pubs to coffee houses, to festivals and music halls. Last year the band was the winner of the "Play Voodoo" contest, garnering a main stage slot at Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans. Currently they are working on a new album, recording with Chris Bell at Luminous Sound in Dallas, TX. The new album will continue to capitalize on each member's individual yet complimentary styles. They are aiming for an end of summer release date. Dirtfoot's tour schedule has mostly kept them in the south and the Midwest but their route is continuing to widen as they attempt to win new fans one-by-one. In the coming year, look for the bands name on a marquee near you and don't pass up the opportunity to be impressed.
  
  Link to original release:
  
  http://scenestars.net/2008/07/dirtfoot-thrill-memphis-prepare-to-release-new-album.php
  
  

• Random Surprisingly Good Band of The Day: Dirtfoot [+ Show ]
  

  By now I’ve learned not to give too much credence to first impressions. Though I’ve hung around too ...By now I’ve learned not to give too much credence to first impressions. Though I’ve hung around too many hippies in my life to have high hopes for a band named “Dirtfoot,” and listened to one too many coffee shop crooners to take notice of a song titled “My Girl,” you know what they say about book and their covers.
  
  Here’s their deal: Imagine Nick Cave on a bed of rusty nails, the cover of “Gin and Juice” often mis-attributed to Phish (it was actually the Gourds), some old-timey “Dem Bones,” Old Crow Medicine show culture-clash, and that subtle fecal stench of Mr. Bungle skronk sax craziness: Get theses elements, let them stew in an oaken barrel for a number of years and out comes Shreveport, Louisiana’s Dirtfoot.
  
  I’m glad I got past the fat of their wordy band bio. They should have started their pitch with the Tornado that helped form the band:
  
  Seven years ago when a tornado blew through Shreveport, Matt was standing on his porch, shortly after a tree decided to test the landlord’s homeowner’s policy. J walked up and initiated the conversation, after spotting Matt immediately following the disaster. Amidst cracked countertops and scattered shingles, conversation ensued and the two musicians became friends.
  
  But whatever, it’s all about Dirtfoot’s music, which you can sample here (www.dirtfoot.com).

• Voodoo Music Experience Ignites an 'Artist Revolution' [+ Show ]
  

  Voodoo Music Experience Ignites an 'Artist Revolution' October 22, 2007 Festival officials c...
  Voodoo Music Experience Ignites an 'Artist Revolution'
  
  October 22, 2007
  
  Festival officials construct platform for budding artists, open video and audio archives.
  
  In an effort to aid aspiring artists, officials for Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans' landmark music festival slated for Oct. 26-28, have unveiled 'The Artist Revolution,' a new website offering recording artists an alternative outlet to sell their music with neither censorship nor need for approvals. The groundbreaking venture, which will also showcase video and audio offerings from the nine-year-old festival's archives, encourages artists to take their career into their own hands, allowing freedom of expression sans third party record labels or business affiliates. With no registration fees, theartistrevolution.com is active now.
  
  "The revolution is in progress already, this isn't a novel idea," Stephen Rehage, curator of 'The Artist Revolution,' said in a statement. "Prince, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Radiohead and many others have taken advantage of developing technologies to create their independence. 'The Artist Revolution' was designed for emerging artists and for those whose catalogs don't have mainstream distribution. It is for the next Prince who doesn't want to end up as a 'symbol' of an antiquated business model."
  
  To commemorate the site's debut, theartistrevolution.com will offer an exclusive digital release of songsmith Dan Dyer's latest LP 3, which will also be rerecorded live next weekend at the southern festival and distributed via the fresh online venture. Furthermore, the new web site is now showcasing tunes from "Play Voodoo" contest winner Dirtfoot, selected from over 250 bands in Voodoo's talent contest, and set to grace the festival stage's Oct. 26-28.
  

• Organizers call this year’s Wakarusa Fest a ‘harmonious’ event [+ Show ]
  

  By Jon Niccum June 15, 2007 Advertisement A peace sign mowed in the grass decorates the l...
  
  By Jon Niccum
  
  June 15, 2007
  
  Advertisement
  A peace sign mowed in the grass decorates the lawn at the Wakarusa Camping & Music Festival last Friday evening.
  
  Photo by Thad Allender
  
  A peace sign mowed in the grass decorates the lawn at the Wakarusa Camping & Music Festival last Friday evening.
  
  For as much effort as organizers of the Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival have put into distancing themselves from the “hippie music” label, it appears this year things turned out pretty groovy, man.
  
  “I think we made huge strides with the traffic, lines, parking, security and the idea that we were trying to create a more harmonious environment,” says Wakarusa organizer and founder Brett Mosiman.
  
  “We definitely felt the love again this year. It’s like we resurrected our brand. A lot of people were on the fence whether we were the good guys or the bad guys. I think the message was received on both sides.”
  
  Festivalgoers at the four-day event at Clinton State Park were down from nearly 15,000 to 12,000 per day in comparison to 2006. (The park reduced the attendance cap from 15,000 to 13,500 this year.) But complaints were low and spirits were high during the fourth annual gathering.
  
  Last year’s invasive law enforcement presence and surveillance tactics made many patrons second-guess attending again. Mosiman admits that obviously hurt the turnout, but it had some constructive effects as well.
  
  “The positive part of the law enforcement last year was it sent a loud, clear message that if you’re going to come to Kansas to profit (from drug sales), stay at home. And they did. That’s good for us,” he says.
  
  Organizers also observe how the demographics of the audience changed.
  
  “I seemed to notice a lot more children on the scene,” says Wakarusa media coordinator Heather Lofflin. “There aren’t any figures for that, but it was just more visible — both backstage and on the concert field.”
  
  As always, the organizers emphasize how the musical highlights balanced out any negative facets of the festival’s execution.
  
  Lofflin cites “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Ozomatli, Grace Potter, Les Claypool and Ben Harper as festival standouts.
  
  Mosiman says part of Wakarusa’s appeal is turning on veteran festivalgoers to new music.
  
  “The fun part for me is some of the Campground Stage bands like Tangleweed or Dirtfoot that nobody had ever heard of. We bring them in and a few 100 people stumble into it, then write a (Web site) thread like, ‘That melted my face.’ I’ve always thought that’s what Wakarusa was about, more than headliners,” he says.
  
  As for any potential changes next year, Mosiman considers many aspects very much up in the air.
  
  He says, “The future is bright, but we have to evaluate elements like how we produce it and where we produce it to ensure its profitability. This is a very risky venture, and millions of dollars are spent on it. We have to prevent big losses.”
  
  Originally published at: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/15/organizers_call_years_wakarusa_fest_harmonious_eve/

• Dirtfoot Invited to play National Music Festival [+ Show ]
  

  Dirtfoot invited to play national music festival May 17, 2007 By Stephanie Netherton snethert...Dirtfoot invited to play national music festival
  
  May 17, 2007
  
  By Stephanie Netherton
  snetherton@gannett.com
  
  Shreveport band Dirtfoot will join other groups, including Widespread Panic and Ben Harper, at this year’s Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival June 7-10 in Lawrence, Kan.
  
  The performance at the four-day festival will be the largest event the band has played.
  
  “Our show should have over 1,000 people standing there watching,” lead singer Matt Hazelton said.
  
  “This is a huge thing for us. There will be Bonnaroo scouts there so this is really our shot to get into bigger festivals and hopefully that is what’s going to happen.”
  
  Dirtfoot will perform from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. June 9 on the Campground Stage, one of five stages featuring live music.
  
  Dirtfoot traveled to Tulsa to compete in a battle of the bands to earn a spot on stage at Wakarusa. Even though the band placed third in the competition, they were invited to play the festival.
  
  “There were talent scouts there from Wakarusa and they told us, ‘We want you guys. It doesn’t matter if you won or not,’” Hazelton said.
  
  Dirtfoot has become a regular band at local festivals like Mudbug Madness and the Red River Revel. The band will perform from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 26 on the Swamp Stage at Mudbug Madness in Festival Plaza.
  

• Dirtfoot battles for spot as Shreveport's leading band [+ Show ]
  

  12/22/2006 Shreveport Times Preview It's called Grumble Boogie, but most describe Dirtfoot's soun...12/22/2006
  Shreveport Times Preview
  It's called Grumble Boogie, but most describe Dirtfoot's sound simply as different.
  In the past few years, the band has made a mark on the Shreveport music scene. After winning the Shreveport Times Battle of the Bands in January, 2006 and with their current debut album release "Entertain Me," Dirtfoot is proving it can contend as a local music heavyweight.
  Upright Bass player Eric Gardner compares the band to a gumbo, combining all sorts of ingredients into a rich roux of gritty Louisiana sound.
  "It brings all styles and sounds together to create something unique and honest," Gardner said. "I think that is what people get so attached to."
  On a recent Friday night, Ruston's young locals are drawn to the Sundown Tavern by the gritty sounds made by the Shreveport band.
  The bar quickly fills and the evening is typical. Students swap stories about finals and their plans for Christmas break over a pitcher of beer and darts.
  Dirtfoot's lead singer Matt Hazelton extends and invitation to the crowd gathered around the stage.
  "You're part of the band tonight."
  It doesn't matter so much to Dirtfoot if the crowd knows each word, but participating is key to the band's performance.
  "The crowd becomes another member of the band," Hazelton said. "We feed off their energy and they make the music better."
  As the band plays, the crowd dances and sings along to the music that is familiar, yet distinct from what most have heard before. In addition to Gardner and Hazelton, the band includes Scotty Gerardy on saxaphone, Lane Bayliss on drums, Daniel Breithaupt on percussion and J Bratlie on banjo. To those who have never heard Dirtfoot play, it sounds like a laid-back Saturday night on the bayou. The jambalaya of sounds blends the variety of instruments into a funky tapestry of Louisiana culture.
  Tammy Thompson, 26, and Amy Smith, 27, both of Ruston, have seen Dirtfoot perform at Sundown once before and came to hear the band again.
  "They definitely have their own style. It's not just a guy on stage with a guitar," Smith said. "The music alone is enough. But them getting the crowd so involved is an added bonus to the show."
  An important part to any Dirtfoot show are the bean can shakers. Handed out to audience members, it's amazing what two cans bound together by duct tape and filled with beans can add to a performance. A box of shakers accompanies the band wherever they play and have become a signature to the group's performances, but some fans have even started bringing their own cans to the shows.
  In recent months, Dirtfoot has added another dimension to their stage show. Dressed in wrestler's masks, white kitty head wraps and cow costumes, the band proves their anything-goes attitude by appearance alone.
  When asked about the costumes, the band laughs with no explanation, saying it is something that just happened but continues to entertain fans.
  "Entertain Me" is a representation of what the band can do musically. But capturing the spirit of a live performance is something Dirtfoot invites you to see for yourself.
  -story by Stephanie Netherton-

• Dirtfoot: Zydeco Voodoo Magic [+ Show ]
  

  ---Ginna Wallace I didn't meet Dirtfoot all at once; I first encountered two of the members playi...---Ginna Wallace
  
  I didn't meet Dirtfoot all at once; I first encountered two of the members playing with another musician I knew, backing him up and calling themselves the Dirty Toes. My musician friend told me he and the boys needed a place to stay for the evening, I'd loved what they played, the front musician was already a good friend of mine, and I consider myself a good judge of character, so I agreed. We closed down the bar, packed up the equipment, and headed to my house for an evening of drinks and video games.
  
  It was a really relaxed evening, and at one point I found one of the Dirty Toes in my kitchen, fiddling around on my laptop. The most amazing sounds were coming out of my computer, and I asked him what on earth he'd done to it. He explained that it was his band's demo album, that I should keep an ear out for them, that they'd be coming to Hot Springs soon and I should definitely try to make the show. After listening to the handful of tracks on the album, I gave my word I'd be there, would drag as many friends as possible, and would put the band up after the show.
  
  Talk about fortuitous moments! We breezed into the show and were promptly handed duct-taped tin cans by their then-promoter which, when shaken, produced a fabulous rattle. The boys kicked off the show with an energy that poured out of the venue and onto the street, we insiders watched as passers-by paused at a window and cocked ears up to the delicious sound before turning and walking up to the door to come on in.
  
  People try to describe Dirtfoot's sound, people may be trying for decades to come. The band describes themselves on their Myspace page (www.myspace.com/mydirtfoot) as being a dose of Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie. I tell my friends this when they ask me what Dirtfoot's like, and then follow it up by saying: They're definitely jazzy blues influenced, they're from Louisiana so they've got that zydeco voodoo magic, and they're a bunch of rowdy young men so they've got that fabulous hopped up energy. They're whiskey-drinking, foot-stomping, ass-shaking music, I tell people, and I dare you to leave their show even the least bit unsatisfied. In fact, I promise people I bribe to shows, if you can make it through even the first song without grinning like an idiot and tapping your foot like a jackhammer, your drinks are on me.
  
  Dirtfoot, my Dirtfoot, how do I love thee? I cannot count the ways. As far as local bands, or as yet unsigned and traveling bands, go, I've never heard better. Many of their songs are in keys you wouldn't normally hear people dancing to, minor or harmonic keys, but somehow they manage and it's amazing. There is a guitarist, a drummer, and a fellow on a big upright bass, a guy playing saxophone while wearing a Mexican wrestling mask (listen for his impression of a train on the only cover you'll hear them do, Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison), another dude beating on pots and pans, throwing confetti, and wearing a crazy animal hat, and one gentleman who manages car sales by day and picks Dirtfoot's banjo by night.
  Dirtfoot will be coming back to the Spa City on Thanksgiving weekend, November 25th, and playing at Maxine's - the best damn bar and live music venue in town (www.myspace.com/maxineslive). Tin cans will be rattled, booties will be shaken, feet will be tapped, and the smiles won't quit all night. And I'll make you the same deal I make everyone, if you can make it through the first song without enjoying it, well, drinks are on me.

• Dirtfoot plays winning notes in Battle of the Bands [+ Show ]
  

  January 29, 2006 Section: Local & State Page: 01B Dirtfoot plays winning notes in Battle of the...January 29, 2006
  Section: Local & State
  Page: 01B
  
  Dirtfoot plays winning notes in Battle of the Bands
  James Ramage
  
  By James Ramage
  jramage@gannett.com
  
  Dave Hall sat on a foldout chair alone in a drab 8-by-15-foot dressing room and tuned his guitar not 20 feet from Municipal Auditorium's main stage.
  
  The guitarist for the band The Situation looked down and started strumming a quiet tune. Outside, the hallway leading backstage was a hive of activity.
  
  "The heritage here," he began, "the feet that have stood on that stage before us, the opportunity to feel that minutes before going on stage is pretty amazing."
  
  The Situation is one of six Ark-La-Tex bands that competed Saturday afternoon in the first Battle of the Bands. It took on Dirtfoot, Gypsy Mountain and Reflections Burn, all based in Shreveport, Von Orange of Natchitoches and All Night Records of El Dorado, Ark.
  
  Four hours of studio time at Fairfield Studios was the top prize, but it was playing on the same stage where such music giants as Jerry Lee Lewis, James Burton and Elvis Presley performed and in front of hundreds of fans that brought the biggest thrill, many of the musicians said.
  
  "We've never played on a stage this big before," Scott Gerardy, Dirtfoot's tenor saxophonist, said outside the band's dressing room. "We're talking about the sound out there; it's going to be different from that sense. I've wanted to play on that stage forever. We're ready to play and "¦"
  
  Gerardy's eyes widened as he watched guitar legend James Burton walk by. From the hallway, first act Von Orange's sound on stage competed with Dirtfoot's Aaron Butler practicing his xylophone in the band's dressing room.
  
  As he listened to Von Orange while backstage, Burton leaned slightly forward. A muted purple stage light framed his silhouette.
  
  After finishing, drummer Michael Murphy stood and raised both arms. The group moved its instruments and other equipment as Gypsy Mountain walked on stage to set up its gear.
  
  Seated on an elevated dais overlooking the stage, Carla McKinney and her three sons waited for Gypsy Mountain to set up. Her husband, the band's singer and guitarist Wes McKinney, usually plays in clubs and other small venues. So the children rarely get to watch their father perform, she said.
  
  "Are you excited to see daddy," Carla asked 4-year-old Cody as she scooped him into her arms. Cody nodded and smiled excitedly in response.
  
  Von Orange members, standing in the hallway following their performance and sweaty from the lights, described the experience in a torrent of words.
  
  "Incredible."
  
  "A pure rush."
  
  "Adrenaline's just flowing."
  
  "Lights are really hot."
  
  "I'm kind of sad it was so short because it felt so good," keyboardist Joe Payne Cunningham said.
  
  "I hope they have this again next year and we get to come back," bass guitarist Richard Walsh added.
  
  A security guard standing in the hallway near the stage door showed others a pen-written signature near a shoulder on her yellow T-shirt that read: "To Theresa, I love you. James Burton '06."
  
  Outside their dressing room, Dirtfoot members discussed how to change one of their song's more profane lyrics. Later on stage, singer Matt Hazelton would settle on the drawn out, yet truncated word "bull."
  
  The band would win the grand prize as well as the crowd response category.
  
  Between sets, audience members Gary McCart and Keaton Smith talked quietly. The two 18-year-old Natchitoches residents were enjoying the music, soaking up the atmosphere and checking out the competition.
  
  They're members of the band The Warmup, which soon will start performing in their hometown and Texas, McCart said. "If they do this next year, we'll definitely participate."
  
  Burton came on stage between sets and offered some brief words. Later, near the auditorium's entryway, he spoke about the event's importance.
  
  "So far, this is very exciting; I'm really enjoying it," Burton said, holding a can of Barq's root beer. "They're all good in their own right. Everybody's got a sound that moves in a little different direction. We really need more support for our young, local talent."

• Digging in the Dirt [+ Show ]
  

  March 12, 2004 Section: Preview Page: 12E Digging in the dirt JD Ventura Staff Times=City ...March 12, 2004
  Section: Preview
  Page: 12E
  
  Digging in the dirt
  JD Ventura
  Staff
  Times=City
  
  Local band Dirtfoot experiments with sound and music
  By J.D. Ventura The Times
  
  A mosaic of sound. The soundtrack to mental collapse. A celebration of noise. This is what the band Dirtfoot is.
  
  They are not jazz, rock, punk, bluegrass, blues, gospel, soul, R&B, country or hip-hop. (Definitely, definitely not hip-hop).
  
  They are here in Shreveport, which is very, very strange.
  
  Strange because they are good enough to succeed somewhere else. At least the few people who have heard them in Shreveport think so. Strange in that something so strange could come from a city that seems unlikely soil from which such absolute strangeness could grow. But it did.
  
  There is Matt Hazelton. Lead singer. A sort of Christ figure, his hair long, his eyes intelligent. A man who is the nucleus of this musical family. The others, like brothers, gather round him, to jam, disciples who get his groove. He holds his guitar lovingly, resting his arms on it, like it's a part of him, a finely tuned prosthetic device.
  
  There is Jason Bratile, the married guy, the white collar dude from Tulsa, Okla., who plays the banjo like a man who never has used a fax machine. He's doing something with Web sites for a living, for the paycheck, for his family: a beautiful, black-haired wife and their little girl. He shows up for practice in his business clothes, burgundy leather shoes shining. His pressed slacks and dry-cleaned shirt are possibly hiding something dark, maybe the part of him that longs to howl, like Matt does.
  
  And Eric Gardner, somewhat shy, a bit serious, quiet, a thinker. His stand-up bass, a big curvy thing, like two wooden question marks pressed together, leans slightly back in his arms, like a dance partner being dipped. He's a new member, hopeful, excited, but reserved, perhaps not willing to acknowledge he's hit on something good, pure, this band. By day he makes signs. By night he is all ears and eyes. His heart beats for music, and photography, another love.
  
  The drummer: Lane Bayliss. An Audi man. A slight guy with a sleek car. Older than the others, but a seasoned musician. A bit jaded. A seen-it-all percussionist who settled down to sell things. Sales. A steady paycheck. Strictly commission, he says. These kids can rock and that's why he has joined them. Their youthful energy is infectious.
  
  Lastly, there is Scotty Gerardy. He loves to cook, and to jam. Sometimes he does both in the cafe where he works. Smelling of food and sweating the music. For years he had put his sax away, until he met Matt, the pied piper, the music man. But first the tornado came through town.
  
  Kitchen chopped in half
  
  That's how it all began. Four years ago when a tornado blew through Shreveport, Jason found Matt, standing on his porch, shortly after a tree decided to test the landlord's homeowner's policy. "He looked like a good time," remembers Jason, after spotting Matt immediately following the disaster. Amidst cracked countertops and scattered shingles, conversation ensued and the two musicians became friends.
  
  It's more than a bit ironic that a powerful, hard-to-predict weather system in some sense marks the creation of Dirtfoot. Their music can be as dizzying as a twister, volatile and uproarious.
  
  One night, not long ago: here they are, jamming in the basement of a friend's loft. Eric and Lane are new to the band - which Matt says has been "a revolving door" with regard to its membership - and they are "learning" their parts to the group's 20 plus song list. Not learning in the way most people think about music, though. This process is more subtle than that. They improvise their way through the songs as only some musicians can. They feel each other. Some call it experimental music. It is, in that they are each experimenting with each others sounds, feeling their way through, like a blind man through a new room. And in that way, every song is fresh and original, as unique as a snowflake, or a tornado.
  
  "It's not like we are taking a saxophone and making it sound like a toilet," says Matt, during another practice session (he's chewing furiously on sunflower seeds in an earnest - but possibly futile - attempt to quit smoking). "It's experimental in that there aren't any rules. It's freedom. If you feel like growling, growl. Feel like barking, bark. Just do it."
  
  There is some structure. It's not musical anarchy. Like the black and white pictures in a new coloring book, Dirtfoot's repetoire consists of solid outlines. If you knew their songs, you could request them. But when it comes time to color those pictures in, all bets are off as to what you'll get. It could be neat, dark magic markers or finger painting in the psyche ward rec room.
  
  It is their lack of restraint, their raw musical impulsiveness that can be so arresting to the handful of people in town who have heard them play. It's also what is so off-putting to bars and nightclubs in town that tend to only book acts that either play covers or can appeal to a wider audience through clearly definable (and marketable) musical styles. They stomp their feet. Matt makes primal noises and intentionally mumbles his lyrics. They let otherwise well-rehearsed songs meander off the beaten path, or right off an auditory cliff, its finale laughably lost, the structure sacrificed for the sheer playfulness of it all.
  
  The soulfulness of silly
  
  Matt's lyrics have the sing-song quality of a nursery rhyme, only with his gruff, grumbling voice, they somehow aren't so innocent. In fact, as much as his words are an infantile excursion into absurdism, they are thoughtful, if not abstract, introspection, too:
  
  Turn off your TV and listen to me
  
  I've got stories and a little pony
  
  I'm gonna ride it from California to the Gulf of Mexico
  
  My teeth are shiny and they squeak
  
  I'm covered in dirt from my head to my feet
  
  I think that stink bugs really stink
  
  When they climb on the bathroom sink
  
  They mean something or maybe they don't. But, at its most elemental level, Matt's lyrics sound a certain way. To hear him perform is to know that he knows a thing or two about noise. When he was a school kid Matt would study with headphones on, each earpiece hooked up to a different radio. In one ear, music, in the other, NPR. Sound was the sugar of his youth.
  
  Growing up in Sonora, Texas, ("I hate saying it because I'm afraid I'll have to go back," he says.), Matt's songs were not hits with the girls in school because they hated his "cussing." And his musicianship, by his own admission, was not all that striking (Hazelton: "I'm really not that good").
  
  But as he got older his muses matured. "There is this other side of me that is extremely flowery and romantic," he says. "There was this hardened side, but it also was passionate. I wrote about how I loved women and how I hated them." In some sense it is probably that kind of dichotomy, that yin and yang, that sense of emotional conflict in his work that makes the raw sewage of his psyche so fun to build a musical score around. The members of Dirtfoot seem to all secretly delight in how different they are, in how something so oddball and outlandish can still be appreciated, if not entirely understood.
  
  Sitting around a loft they rehearse in, drinking beers and sipping wine, the band talks about exactly what they are. Of course, they are exactly nothing. Each one chooses interesting words and phrases. Eric says "carefree." Jason is a bit more ambitious: "Our goal is to take over Shreveport." Lane likes how they all "mesh" together musically. Matt says when they play it's "like a good conversation."
  
  That "conversation" is likely to continue. They hope to keep getting gigs, to perform in front of more people. They are taking it day by day, living in Shreveport, lost, for now, in the alluring ambiguity of their music, but open to helping each other grow as artists. They are a family in which no song idea is stupid, all sounds have a place somewhere and creativity leads to creation. With regard to the experimental conceptions of his peers, Scotty says, "Whatever you got, just bring it to the table and we will sort it out."

Setlist

Original Material:

Rest My Head
Devil Don't Care
Back of a Stranger
Entertain Me
Time to Be Your Friend Now
My Girl
Little Bit of Rum
Sees Me on TV
Pretty Pretty
Bathroom Sink
Cast my Plans
Rhinestone Ring
Devoted Mama
Gonna Get Ya
Blue Eyes
Sun Don't Come
Falling in Love
Sidesteppin
Footsteps
Pullin up the Stakes
Snapping Turtle
Watusi
Little Cowgirl
Underwater Turtle
Money and Pride
9th Ward Cat
What it Means
Break my Bones
Hypocrisy
Amelia Earhart
I'm Going Home
Sake of The Sound
Right to Breathe
Giving up on Love
This Old Pride
No Good Man
Giving up on Love

Covers:
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Lazy Bones - Leon Redbone
Honey - Spiritual

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Dirtfoot Input List.doc

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