Biography
Booking by:
Kenny Furr
Sapho, LLC
512.788.1641
kenny@saphorecords.com
T Bird and the Breaks
www.tbirdandthebreaks.com
T Bird and the Breaks have come on the Austin music scene strong over the past two years. They have seen the successes of their debut record consistently played on radio, sold out shows at the region’s top venues, endless write-ups on their big, blood boiling sound that makes any audience move, and a buzz that has people talking from Austin to London, England. T Bird and the Breaks have recently embarked on a singles campaign, where they will release a two-song single every month starting in November ’09 and ending in April ’10. They will be self-released and are available on 7” vinyl and digitally. Their story is one of a man with a vision and homegrown hard work, as told by the following passage written by their Bass player.
I met Tim in August of 2007. I was playing bass and was invited by a friend to audition for this new band. As soon as I walked in the door of the house on east 9th, I knew it was authentic. There was no TV, just an old beat up piano. A pile of pages torn from various notebooks contained the lyrics that would play over and over in my head for weeks. There was very little small talk. Tim had a vision.
After learning some songs for a while, I was snooping around and found his records. James Brown, Otis, the O’jays, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Dylan, Tom Waits. His room was a mattress on the floor, some old flyers on the walls, and crate after crate of all my favorite records. This dude knew his shit.
I’m not exactly sure when I met T Bird. I imagine it was after a night of beers at the rehearsal space. Or maybe it was when we were tossed out of a SXSW party in suits and ties and Bird spent the rest of the night hopping fences while making sure not to scuff his Stacy Adams’. Countless times over the past few years I have been mid conversation with Tim and something initiated a transformation. He is Jekyll and Hyde. I’ve noticed a few things that act as the catalyst to his metamorphosis. First: girls. He can’t resist a short skirt. Second: an argument. Give him a legit reason and he is unstoppable. Third and most importantly, is singing. He can play just about any instrument in the band, but his medicine is singing. He walks around the house all day crooning Sinatra. Singing is the one thing that turns Tim into T Bird every night like clockwork. On stage he is a monster. He is a mad scientist and the studio his laboratory. He is equal parts Al Capone, Tom Waits, James Dean, and the Wolfman.
There is no doubt about Tim’s talent, but what sets him apart is his drive. He arrived in Austin and immediately set his mind to building his band. On guitar is John Allison from Lampasas, Tx. John dresses better than just about anybody in town, can dominate most sports from Basketball to Ping-pong, and plays guitar like it’s a weapon all without breaking a sweat. Sammy P plays skins and doubles as our in house engineer. Bird’s ideas matched with Sammy’s know-how create that raw sound that people can’t seem to get enough of. Next, we’ve got Stephen Beasley on the Baritone Sax. He keeps us from killing ourselves on the road and honks those low-end notes that you feel in your bones. Matt Price, on trombone, is the secret weapon. He lays down that wah solo on Blackberry Brandy, but also has an arsenal of Michael Jackson moves and has been writing some crazy electro-funk in his spare time. Then you’ve got H-town. Houston Rawls is the tenor sax player. This dude lives and breathes soul and funk. Its all he talks about, ever, and it comes through in his playing.
Sasha Ortiz is one of the biggest young talents in Austin. Her voice has a reputation of its own. You can find her sitting in with all the old school Austin greats or fronting her own band, Blues Mafia. Stephanie “Mos Steph” Hunt is the young’un. She is a rhythm machine. Steph has made the tambourine a lead instrument. She is also a successful actress and screenwriter. I guess that leaves me. I grew up in west Texas listening to equal parts Hank Williams and Sly Stone. Playing with these people has been the highlight of my creative life so far. The reputation and international attention is the icing on the cake. Nothing beats playing these songs with my friends, be it at a sold out show at the Continental or in my living room for weekly rehearsals.
I am proud to know our music is legit and our shows are moving from beginning to end. That’s why we do it. I love playing all the great clubs in town with their impressive histories, but my favorite is the low down house party type gigs. No cover. Bring your own booze. No closing time. Just people dancing their asses off for hours. That’s the kind of band we are. We just love layin it down for the people who really love gettin down.
CFurr
Bassman
Manager/
Booking Agent:
Kenny Furr
Sapho, LLC
512.788.1641
kenny@saphorecords.com
Media Contact:
Jill McGuckin & Heidi Labensart, McGuckin Entertainment PR, 512.478.0578; info@mcguckinpr.com
www.tbirdandthebreaks.com
www.myspace.com/tbirdandthebreaks
www.sonicbids.com/tbirdandthebreaksepk (EPK)
Instrumentation
Tim Crane: Lead Vocals
Stephanie Hunt: Vocals
Sasha Ortiz: Vocals
John Allison: Lead Guitar
Sam Patlove: Rhythm Guitar, Drums
Cody Furr: Bass Guitar
Matt Price: Trombone
Stephen Beasley: Baritone Sax
Houston Rawls: Tenor Sax
Discography
"Monkey Wrench", Single, 7" Vinyl, (October 2009)
"Learn About It", Full Length, (January 2009)
"Learn About It", Full Length, Vinyl, (October 2009)
"T-Bird & The Breaks", EP, (2008)
Links
| http://www.tbirdandthebreaks.com |