Biography
"Balancing on the slide of Landry McMeans' lap steel, the Lonesome Heroes' sad and forlorn country cry walks the dirt road from West Texas desert to a poor man's urban dwelling. Singer Rich Russell's Brooklyn upbringing marries Willie Nelson to Will Oldham on the Heroes' debut EP, and when McMeans' delicately airy voice opens up "Oyster," tears roll." (The Austin Chronicle.)
Proclaimed as "rewriting the rules of alt country" by the Austin Chronicle, The Lonesome Heroes have emerged as a singular talent out of Austin's music scene. Songwriters Rich Russell and Landry McMeans founded the Heroes in 2005, and the pair has cultivated their New York and Texan roots into a unique sound that unites Indie Rock, Folk, and Country.
The Heroes' songs evoke a Western Americana landscape littered with broken hearts, abandoned shopping malls, and crooked highways. Their lyrics have been hailed as rivaling "the best in the country world" (Smother Magazine). But their sound reaches beyond country music. McMeans' lilting voice, meshed with Russell's drier vocals sits atop a multilayered nest of acoustic guitar, reverb-laden steel, and atmospheric sounds. The result is a haunting city-meets-country feeling, like a chance meeting between the Velvet Underground and Patsy Cline.
2010 will bring the release of the Heroes' first Music Video and full-length record, riding on the success of their two critically acclaimed EPs and three national tours.
Influences:
Beck, Gram Parsons, The Silver Jews, Johnny Cash, Smog, Lou Barlow, Wilco, The Velvet Underground, My Morning Jacket, Lil' Cap'n Travis, The Magnetic Fields, Hank Williams, Luna, Yo La Tengo, The Flaming Lips, Patty Griffin, Galaxie 500, Will Oldham, Woody Guthrie, Gillian Welch, Iron and Wine, Jimmie Rodgers, Emmylou Harris, The Flying Burrito Brothers...
Touring:
The Lonesome Heroes Play over 150 shows a year both locally and nationally. With a loyal following across the country the Heroes play a wide range of venues ranging from Honky Tonks and Acoustic rooms to Indie Clubs. The Heroes have preformed recently at:
Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY.
Emo's, Austin, TX.
The Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX.
The Rodeo Bar, NY, NY.
Luckenbach, TX.
The Continental Club, Austin, TX.
The Luna Lounge, NY, NY.
Piano's, NY, NY.
The Sidewalk Cafe, NY, NY.
The Hole in the Wall, Austin, TX.
Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY.
Flipnotics, Austin, TX.
The Silver Dollar Bar, Jackson Hole, WY.
The Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA.
Amnesia, San Francisco, CA.
The Makeout Room, San Francisco, CA.
Threadgills, Austin, TX.
The Attic, Santa Cruz CA.
The Stork Club, Oakland CA.
Jambalaya, Arcata, CA.
Fernwood Lodge, Big Sur, CA.
The Mucky Duck, Houston, TX.
The Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA.
The Knotty Pine, Victor, ID.
Contact:
(303) 726 9406
P.O Box 41484, Austin, TX. 78704
thelonesomeheroes@gmail.com
www.thelonesomeheroes.com
www.myspace.com/lonesomeheroes
EPK: www.sonicbids.com/lonesomeheroes
Label: Floodwater Records
P.O. Box 2083, St. Paul, MN.
www.floodwaterrecords.com
Label Contact: Andrew D. Visser (651) 329 2024 info@floodwaterrecords.com
Instrumentation
Current lineup:
Rich Russell: Vocals, Guitar, and Lap steel.
Ms. Landry McMeans: Vocals, Lap steel, Dobro, and Guitar.
Jeff Jonston: Bass.
Chuck Fleming: Drums
Kullen Fuchs: Trumpet, Vibraphone, Accordion, Keys and textures.
Discography
Don�t Play to Lose EP � 2006 Floodwater Records, Minneapolis, MN.
Crooked Highway EP. Self Release 2007
Live From Austin TX, 2009.
�Tricks,� Element Skateboards Video, Directed By Michael Kershner, � 2003 Element Skate Boards, features two songs by Rich Russell.
�Count Me In, The Story of a Swing State,� Directed By Daniel Stolzman, � 2004 Frameless Productions, Features one song by Rich Russell.
Links
| http://www.thelonesomeheroes.com |