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The best kept secret in music
Press
SURPRISE FAVORITE
I didn't know what to expect and I loved this CD. Unpretentious and biting and heartbreaking and interesting with every song.
Catch them before they are too big or burned out. This is a real work of art for me because every song is totally new, yet it feels like I have been listening to these songs forever. I haven't had that feeling in a long time. Bravo gents.
---Burn.com/au (Sep 5, 2005)
Not unlike the first self-titled album from this Woodstock, NY band known as Cactus Hunters, Something Gone offers a pleasing collection of gritty, soulful, sometimes funny and sometimes dark songs utilizing elements of rock, country, folk, roots, blues and all things Americana. Tracks like "Broken Down" and "One Way Town" sound a bit like electric Dylan as filtered through Lou Reed. In fact, thats how one might describe the performance style of lead Cactus Hunter Lance Juckas throughout their second release. Essentially Juckas, with the aid of brothers Fred (guitar) and Brad Scribner(drums), as songwriter, singer and producer, does find his own rolling growl of a voice throughout this self-produced CD-R. Guests include Chuck Prophet playing guitar on a track and his pal Max Butler (Red Meat) on pedal-steel and mando cello. Not to mention lots of great Hammond and Wurlitzer from Mike Emmerson.
---Miles of Music (Jul 24, 2005)
What a terrific debut album from this Hudson Valley, N.Y.- based band. The Cactus Hunters make instantly inviting music that sounds like The Band meets J.J. Cale. It's music that features the rootsy rockish grooves of Cale's best early albums with the earthy twang of The Band. Look at the lineup and you'll understand The Band connection. Aaron Hurwitz, who plays keys and accordion, has often produced the great group. But the Cactus Hunters are led by Lance Juckas, who uses his lonesome yearning voice to sing provocative lines like "Angels in the backseat/Driving me home/Going down all the wrong roads." The lineup is rounded out by such pros as Fred and Brad Scribner, John Rush and Jake Lee Rau.
---Times Herald Record
This is the self titled debut from this Woodstock, NY band and it's one fine CD at that. Their sound reminds me of a cross between The Band, Dr John and Little Feat. With maybe, just maybe, a little Skynyrd thrown in for good measure too. The guitar has a nice southern rock/Bakersfield twang to it. Kinda like if Robbie Robertson went out drinkin with Buck Owens and wound up passed out in New Orleans. The Keyboards conjure up memories of Billy Payne and Garth Hudson, not too mention Billy Powell. Well done gents. Hope to hear more in the future.
The band's site, and Rustic Records. Order from amazon.
Reviewed by Keith Robb
---Freight Train Boogie
The Woodstock, N.Y.-based Cactus Hunters' self-titled debut release reveals varied influences from the past, particularly that of previous Woodstock residents The Band.
The Band's impact is most strongly felt on the country weeper "Lonesome Cowgirl," the uptempo "Halfway To Texas" and the Dylanesque ballad "Roam."
It is also apparent that Johnny Cash is a favorite as "Rain, Rain, Rain" and "I Got The Bait" recall Cash's Sun days, and Cash is mentioned by name in "Lonesome Cowgirl."
Lead singer and songwriter Lance Juckas' vocals at times recall Ben Vaughn, particularly on the ballad "Heartbreakin' World" and the rockabilly "Sooner Or Later."
Elsewhere traces of the Rolling Stones can be heard in the rocker "Kicking The Mule," and the bluesy "Angels In The Backseat" is reminiscent of the Del Fuegos.
Though this may not be "Music From Big Pink" songwriter Juckas and the Cactus Hunters deliver an impressive and promising debut.
- Robert Wooldridge
---Country Standard Time
De vanuit Woodstock, NY opererende Cactus Hunters zijn een zeskoppig gezelschap rond de uitstekende singer-songwriter Lance Juckas. Die verzamelde voor zijn debuut heel wat schoon volk rond zich. Met Fred Scribner (gitaar en zang) (Delbert McClinton), Professor Louie (keyboards en accordeon) (Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Mercury Rev), John Rush en Brad Scribner (drums) en Jake Lee Rau (backings) tekent hij op z’n titelloze eersteling voor een potje roots music van de bovenste plank. Sterke songs die voortdurend heen en weer snellen tussen genres als roots rock, Americana en country (folk) worden gebracht met zo’n lekkere hees-ruige stem, waaraan het bijzonder moeilijk weerstaan is. Nu eens klinkt Juckas daarbij als een leerling van Mick Jagger en z’n Stones ten tijde van “Honky Tonk Women”, dan weer richt hij de blik resoluut Texas-waarts (“Halfway To Texas”) of doet hij zelfs een weinig denken aan The Band (zoals in het frivole “I Got The Bait”).
Absolute hoogtepunten van dit bijzonder knappe visitekaartje zijn het aan Green On Red herinnerende, trage tweetal “Lonesome Cowgirl” en “Roam”, waarin respectievelijk het soulvolle orgel- en accordeonwerk van Professor Louie bijzonder functioneel - Reviews
SURPRISE FAVORITE
I didn't know what to expect and I loved this CD. Unpretentious and biting and heartbreaking and interesting with every song.
Catch them before they are too big or burned out. This is a real work of art for me because every song is totally new, yet it feels like I have been listening to these songs forever. I haven't had that feeling in a long time. Bravo gents.
---Burn.com/au (Sep 5, 2005)
Not unlike the first self-titled album from this Woodstock, NY band known as Cactus Hunters, Something Gone offers a pleasing collection of gritty, soulful, sometimes funny and sometimes dark songs utilizing elements of rock, country, folk, roots, blues and all things Americana. Tracks like "Broken Down" and "One Way Town" sound a bit like electric Dylan as filtered through Lou Reed. In fact, thats how one might describe the performance style of lead Cactus Hunter Lance Juckas throughout their second release. Essentially Juckas, with the aid of brothers Fred (guitar) and Brad Scribner(drums), as songwriter, singer and producer, does find his own rolling growl of a voice throughout this self-produced CD-R. Guests include Chuck Prophet playing guitar on a track and his pal Max Butler (Red Meat) on pedal-steel and mando cello. Not to mention lots of great Hammond and Wurlitzer from Mike Emmerson.
---Miles of Music (Jul 24, 2005)
What a terrific debut album from this Hudson Valley, N.Y.- based band. The Cactus Hunters make instantly inviting music that sounds like The Band meets J.J. Cale. It's music that features the rootsy rockish grooves of Cale's best early albums with the earthy twang of The Band. Look at the lineup and you'll understand The Band connection. Aaron Hurwitz, who plays keys and accordion, has often produced the great group. But the Cactus Hunters are led by Lance Juckas, who uses his lonesome yearning voice to sing provocative lines like "Angels in the backseat/Driving me home/Going down all the wrong roads." The lineup is rounded out by such pros as Fred and Brad Scribner, John Rush and Jake Lee Rau.
---Times Herald Record
This is the self titled debut from this Woodstock, NY band and it's one fine CD at that. Their sound reminds me of a cross between The Band, Dr John and Little Feat. With maybe, just maybe, a little Skynyrd thrown in for good measure too. The guitar has a nice southern rock/Bakersfield twang to it. Kinda like if Robbie Robertson went out drinkin with Buck Owens and wound up passed out in New Orleans. The Keyboards conjure up memories of Billy Payne and Garth Hudson, not too mention Billy Powell. Well done gents. Hope to hear more in the future.
The band's site, and Rustic Records. Order from amazon.
Reviewed by Keith Robb
---Freight Train Boogie
The Woodstock, N.Y.-based Cactus Hunters' self-titled debut release reveals varied influences from the past, particularly that of previous Woodstock residents The Band.
The Band's impact is most strongly felt on the country weeper "Lonesome Cowgirl," the uptempo "Halfway To Texas" and the Dylanesque ballad "Roam."
It is also apparent that Johnny Cash is a favorite as "Rain, Rain, Rain" and "I Got The Bait" recall Cash's Sun days, and Cash is mentioned by name in "Lonesome Cowgirl."
Lead singer and songwriter Lance Juckas' vocals at times recall Ben Vaughn, particularly on the ballad "Heartbreakin' World" and the rockabilly "Sooner Or Later."
Elsewhere traces of the Rolling Stones can be heard in the rocker "Kicking The Mule," and the bluesy "Angels In The Backseat" is reminiscent of the Del Fuegos.
Though this may not be "Music From Big Pink" songwriter Juckas and the Cactus Hunters deliver an impressive and promising debut.
- Robert Wooldridge
---Country Standard Time
De vanuit Woodstock, NY opererende Cactus Hunters zijn een zeskoppig gezelschap rond de uitstekende singer-songwriter Lance Juckas. Die verzamelde voor zijn debuut heel wat schoon volk rond zich. Met Fred Scribner (gitaar en zang) (Delbert McClinton), Professor Louie (keyboards en accordeon) (Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Mercury Rev), John Rush en Brad Scribner (drums) en Jake Lee Rau (backings) tekent hij op z’n titelloze eersteling voor een potje roots music van de bovenste plank. Sterke songs die voortdurend heen en weer snellen tussen genres als roots rock, Americana en country (folk) worden gebracht met zo’n lekkere hees-ruige stem, waaraan het bijzonder moeilijk weerstaan is. Nu eens klinkt Juckas daarbij als een leerling van Mick Jagger en z’n Stones ten tijde van “Honky Tonk Women”, dan weer richt hij de blik resoluut Texas-waarts (“Halfway To Texas”) of doet hij zelfs een weinig denken aan The Band (zoals in het frivole “I Got The Bait”).
Absolute hoogtepunten van dit bijzonder knappe visitekaartje zijn het aan Green On Red herinnerende, trage tweetal “Lonesome Cowgirl” en “Roam”, waarin respectievelijk het soulvolle orgel- en accordeonwerk van Professor Louie bijzonder functioneel - Reviews
Discography
Cactus Hunters (2003)
Something Gone (2005)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
With the release of their second album titled “Something Gone”, the Cactus Hunters continue to bring a rich musical history and tradition into the brave new century.
Like the earlier self-titled debut album, “Something Gone” is distinguished by its honest, stark, and diverse songs and songwriting as well as its sweet, raw, and emotional guitar and musicianship throughout. With the song writing of Lance Juckas and brothers Brad and Fred Scribner,(Little Sammy Davis, Levon Helm, Delbert McClinton) the Cactus Hunters conjure a collection of gritty, soulful, often funny and unsettling songs that weld together elements of rock and roll, country, folk, roots, rockabilly, blues and anything else dragged up from the great Americana scrap heap.
As the debut album had long-time friend and Woodstock institution Professor Louie (The Band, Rick Danko, Mercury Rev, Levon Helm, Dave Brubeck) adding keyboard, accordion, mixing, and his technical skills. The new album has West Coast friends Max Butler (Red Meat, Chuck Prophet, Kelly Willis) on Pedal Steel and Mando Cello, Teal Collins (The Mother Truckers, Third Eye Blind) singing back-up, Mike Emerson on keyboards, and Chuck Prophet sits in for a song on guitar.
Songs of the Cactus Hunters tell resonant stories that are testimonials to desolation, dislocation, impossible love, resilience, bold stupidity, and while always trying hard to avoid it--transcendence.
Throughout North America, the Cactus Hunters have received critical acclaim and have been generously embraced by a wide variety of radio stations ranging from commercial and progressive country to alternative college radio. And thanks in part to word of mouth and devoted DJs and fans, the Cactus Hunters have seen their popularity grow in Europe and Japan with little promotion. The debut album has also charted on the AMA, FAR, and Roots Rock charts. Now, settled on the West Coast, the Cactus Hunters are preparing to tour in support of their sophomore album, ''Something Gone" on Dirt and Honey Records (dirtandhoney.com).
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