Hacienda Brothers
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Hacienda Brothers

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"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Gram Parsons called his mélange of country, rock and soul “cosmic American music.” The Hacienda Brothers dub theirs “western soul,” but they both travel a similar dusty road from Memphis to Bakersfield. Fronted by roots rocking guitarist Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins) and singer/accordion player Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men, Cold Hard Facts) the Hacienda Brothers tap the common denominator between tex-mex, r&b and c&w. Perfectly produced by Dan Penn writer of such classic soul as “Cry Like a Baby” and “It Tears Me Up”—both covered here—this is leisurely, stark, emotionally stirring music created by veterans who understand that less is more. Think George Jones fronting The Flying Burrito Brothers; add a windswept spaghetti Western (“Son of Saguaro”) and a rousing Gamble-Huff cover (“Cowboys to Girls”) and you’ve got cosmic American music for the millennium. - American Songwriter Sept-Oct 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Gram Parsons called his mélange of country, rock and soul “cosmic American music.” The Hacienda Brothers dub theirs “western soul,” but they both travel a similar dusty road from Memphis to Bakersfield. Fronted by roots rocking guitarist Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins) and singer/accordion player Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men, Cold Hard Facts) the Hacienda Brothers tap the common denominator between tex-mex, r&b and c&w. Perfectly produced by Dan Penn writer of such classic soul as “Cry Like a Baby” and “It Tears Me Up”—both covered here—this is leisurely, stark, emotionally stirring music created by veterans who understand that less is more. Think George Jones fronting The Flying Burrito Brothers; add a windswept spaghetti Western (“Son of Saguaro”) and a rousing Gamble-Huff cover (“Cowboys to Girls”) and you’ve got cosmic American music for the millennium. - American Songwriter Sept-Oct 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

You’d be forgiven for thinking, just a minute or two into the opening cut here, that you’d mistakenly cued up a vintage platter cut back during the 1960s/’70s heydays of Muscle Shoals and Stax/Volt. “Midnight Dream” is a sleek slice of smoky soul aglow with an urgent vocal line, an insistent heartbeat rhythm, and deftly entwining guitar, piano, and Hammond B3. That it’s produced by legendary Memphis songwriter Dan Penn, a firsthand witness to the aforementioned golden era, makes matter all the sweeter.

Tucson’s Hacienda Brothers – formed a few years ago around the nucleus of singer-accordionist Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men) and guitarist Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins)—brand their music “western soul,” and it’s natural fit for a soul lifer like Penn. They even cover a pair of numbers he cowrote with partner Spooner Oldham: Box Tops hit “Cry Like a Baby” is subtly recast as a honky-tonker (the “western” part), while “It Tears Me Up” finds Gaffney channeling Percy Sledge (the “soul” component) so effortlessly that the only thing cluing you in to the tune’s contemporary origins is the steel guitar. A handful of other covers dot the disc, including the Intruders’ Philly soul classic “Cowboys to Girls,” which—again thanks to the pedal steel and Gaffney’ charcoal-coated throat—brings that Hacienda Brothers equation home. Notable among the band’s originals are “Midnight Dream,” the George Jones-like title track, and “Different Today” (a twangy tale of infidelity, with Gonzalez singing lead), all as seamlessly executed as the covers.

This set marks the second time Penn has gone to the well with the Haciendas. I caught him in concert with Oldham earlier this year, and had to tell him how much I’d enjoyed his protégés’ 2004 debut, The Hacienda Brothers. “If you like that,” Penn replied, grinning broadly, “you’re gonna flip for the new one.” Amen to that. - Stereophile September 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

You’d be forgiven for thinking, just a minute or two into the opening cut here, that you’d mistakenly cued up a vintage platter cut back during the 1960s/’70s heydays of Muscle Shoals and Stax/Volt. “Midnight Dream” is a sleek slice of smoky soul aglow with an urgent vocal line, an insistent heartbeat rhythm, and deftly entwining guitar, piano, and Hammond B3. That it’s produced by legendary Memphis songwriter Dan Penn, a firsthand witness to the aforementioned golden era, makes matter all the sweeter.

Tucson’s Hacienda Brothers – formed a few years ago around the nucleus of singer-accordionist Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men) and guitarist Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins)—brand their music “western soul,” and it’s natural fit for a soul lifer like Penn. They even cover a pair of numbers he cowrote with partner Spooner Oldham: Box Tops hit “Cry Like a Baby” is subtly recast as a honky-tonker (the “western” part), while “It Tears Me Up” finds Gaffney channeling Percy Sledge (the “soul” component) so effortlessly that the only thing cluing you in to the tune’s contemporary origins is the steel guitar. A handful of other covers dot the disc, including the Intruders’ Philly soul classic “Cowboys to Girls,” which—again thanks to the pedal steel and Gaffney’ charcoal-coated throat—brings that Hacienda Brothers equation home. Notable among the band’s originals are “Midnight Dream,” the George Jones-like title track, and “Different Today” (a twangy tale of infidelity, with Gonzalez singing lead), all as seamlessly executed as the covers.

This set marks the second time Penn has gone to the well with the Haciendas. I caught him in concert with Oldham earlier this year, and had to tell him how much I’d enjoyed his protégés’ 2004 debut, The Hacienda Brothers. “If you like that,” Penn replied, grinning broadly, “you’re gonna flip for the new one.” Amen to that. - Stereophile September 2006


"Bottom line: Piston the night away: Country-soul mixture is a nice ride. (Live Show Review)"

In the era when rhythm & blues led directly to rock 'n' roll, the automobile provided a symbolic link between the music and the culture. Much like the cars they addressed, Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" and Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" were brash, shiny and potentially dangerous.

So, too, was some of the music that came from the honky-tonks in that era, and it's that flashy, supercharged spirit that drove the Hacienda Brothers in Friday's performance at Cozy's.

Backing a new album, "What's Wrong With Right," the Haciendas have a retro soul, similar to cult guit-steel player Junior Brown. Much of the night's lengthy set list harkened back to the smoke-filled dance halls that bred Bob Wills' country-jazz hybrid, Western swing and Ray Price's two-step-ready shuffle beat. With occasional forays into rock, R&B and the blues, the band offered as much sonic swagger and energy as one associates with some of those classic pioneering rock records and the V8 engines that populated the roads.

Primary singer Chris Gaffney has a Johnny Paycheck air about him, not only in the tough-but-vulnerable quality of his voice but in the mixture of quiet slurs and bitter attacks he used to alternately punctuate his phrasing. Occasionally, he embodied country relics Wynn Stewart or Freddie Hart, and on several occasions he pulled out surprising guttural sounds a la Bobby "Blue" Bland.

But what really distinguished the Haciendas' vehicle was the pacing of instrumentalists David Berzansky and Dave Gonzalez. Despite his rather unassuming demeanor, Berzansky provided the chrome-and-tail fin flash, using crafty slides and bends on steel guitar to effect the same dramatic sadness that John Hughey achieved in Conway Twitty's earliest country hits. But Berzansky also demonstrated an impressive flexibility, segueing from blasts of sound to understated chicken-picking with a showy ease.

Gonzalez offered the power under the hood, girding the sound chassis with the same sinewy guitar sounds that Jimmy Colvard applied to Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," which the Haciendas appropriately covered. Gonzalez also veered into blues and rock territory, approaching his instrument with much the same authority as B.B. King, occasionally hitting top speed but more often cruising confidently through the material.

The quintet stamped its three sets with enough soul influence to remind the house why people have often referred to country music as the white man's blues. A couple of songs with pulsing bass lines and call-and-response vocals felt like twangy Mel & Tim or countryfied Sam & Dave. The set list included an accordian-scented Tex-Mex version of Dan Penn's soul-pop song "Cry Like a Baby" and a lengthy segue into Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby."

It all fit together quite nicely. After all, the musical roots of the Haciendas are like a well-built engine: Properly maintained, they run well for a long, long time. - Hollywood Reporter Aug. 28, 2006


"Bottom line: Piston the night away: Country-soul mixture is a nice ride. (Live Show Review)"

In the era when rhythm & blues led directly to rock 'n' roll, the automobile provided a symbolic link between the music and the culture. Much like the cars they addressed, Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" and Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" were brash, shiny and potentially dangerous.

So, too, was some of the music that came from the honky-tonks in that era, and it's that flashy, supercharged spirit that drove the Hacienda Brothers in Friday's performance at Cozy's.

Backing a new album, "What's Wrong With Right," the Haciendas have a retro soul, similar to cult guit-steel player Junior Brown. Much of the night's lengthy set list harkened back to the smoke-filled dance halls that bred Bob Wills' country-jazz hybrid, Western swing and Ray Price's two-step-ready shuffle beat. With occasional forays into rock, R&B and the blues, the band offered as much sonic swagger and energy as one associates with some of those classic pioneering rock records and the V8 engines that populated the roads.

Primary singer Chris Gaffney has a Johnny Paycheck air about him, not only in the tough-but-vulnerable quality of his voice but in the mixture of quiet slurs and bitter attacks he used to alternately punctuate his phrasing. Occasionally, he embodied country relics Wynn Stewart or Freddie Hart, and on several occasions he pulled out surprising guttural sounds a la Bobby "Blue" Bland.

But what really distinguished the Haciendas' vehicle was the pacing of instrumentalists David Berzansky and Dave Gonzalez. Despite his rather unassuming demeanor, Berzansky provided the chrome-and-tail fin flash, using crafty slides and bends on steel guitar to effect the same dramatic sadness that John Hughey achieved in Conway Twitty's earliest country hits. But Berzansky also demonstrated an impressive flexibility, segueing from blasts of sound to understated chicken-picking with a showy ease.

Gonzalez offered the power under the hood, girding the sound chassis with the same sinewy guitar sounds that Jimmy Colvard applied to Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," which the Haciendas appropriately covered. Gonzalez also veered into blues and rock territory, approaching his instrument with much the same authority as B.B. King, occasionally hitting top speed but more often cruising confidently through the material.

The quintet stamped its three sets with enough soul influence to remind the house why people have often referred to country music as the white man's blues. A couple of songs with pulsing bass lines and call-and-response vocals felt like twangy Mel & Tim or countryfied Sam & Dave. The set list included an accordian-scented Tex-Mex version of Dan Penn's soul-pop song "Cry Like a Baby" and a lengthy segue into Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby."

It all fit together quite nicely. After all, the musical roots of the Haciendas are like a well-built engine: Properly maintained, they run well for a long, long time. - Hollywood Reporter Aug. 28, 2006


"Live Show Review"

(Tractor) Last time Hacienda Brothers passed through Seattle, the gig went unmentioned in this rag—and a regular Border Radio reader took me to task for that oversight. Oh, have I seen the error of my ways; the Haciendas' sophomore full-length, What's Wrong with Right, is one of my favorite records of 2006. This Tucson, Arizona, quintet marries the best of country and old-school soul, with able assistance from producer Dan Penn (who authored such classics as "Do Right Woman" and "Dark End of the Street," as well as the Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby," which the guys give a good going-over live), propelled by the complementary rough and smooth vocals of Dave Gonzalez and Chris Gaffney, plus the liveliest accordion this side of prime-era Los Lobos. If you miss this show, you better have a doctor's note ready come Monday. - The Stranger (Seattle) Aug. 10-16, 2006


"Live Show Review"

(Tractor) Last time Hacienda Brothers passed through Seattle, the gig went unmentioned in this rag—and a regular Border Radio reader took me to task for that oversight. Oh, have I seen the error of my ways; the Haciendas' sophomore full-length, What's Wrong with Right, is one of my favorite records of 2006. This Tucson, Arizona, quintet marries the best of country and old-school soul, with able assistance from producer Dan Penn (who authored such classics as "Do Right Woman" and "Dark End of the Street," as well as the Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby," which the guys give a good going-over live), propelled by the complementary rough and smooth vocals of Dave Gonzalez and Chris Gaffney, plus the liveliest accordion this side of prime-era Los Lobos. If you miss this show, you better have a doctor's note ready come Monday. - The Stranger (Seattle) Aug. 10-16, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

“Western Soul” is what the Hacienda Brothers call their music, and there isn’t a more appropriate description. Throughout their stellar sophomore disc, they bridge the gap between Memphis and Bakersfield.

Roots-rock veterans Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men) and Dave Gonzalez (Paladins) head the Hacienda Brothers, and they’ve brought back producer/writer Dan Penn to produce them again. Given their credentials, it’s no surprise the music sounds so authentic.

The opeing number, “Midnight Dream”, takes off on a “Trying To Live My Life Without You” riff to groove some sweet soul music. They switch back to their California country roots on the second cut, the first-rate honky-tonk lament “What’s Wrong With Right”. By the third tune, “Keep It Together”, they’re smoothly blending bluesy organ runs (courtesy of the Skeletons’ Joe Terry) with pedal steel fills.

They pay tribute to Penn with a rousing take on “Cry Like A Baby” (complete with a a Gaffney accordion solo) and a heart-on-a-sleeve rendition of “It Tears Me Up”. Gaffney’s accordion also stars int heir toe-tapping remake of Charlie Rich’s “Rebound”, while David Berzansky’s pedal steel brigns a little twang to the soul classic “Cowboys To Girls”.

Gaffney’s gruff vocals prove equally adept crooning soulfully or singing some classic country. Gonzalez’s guitar prowess punctuates several songs, most notable with the baritone guitar that rumbles thorugh “Different Today”. Fans of old-school soul and rough-hewn honky-tonk need look no further than this terrific merger of those two American music styles. - No Depression July-Aug 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

“Western Soul” is what the Hacienda Brothers call their music, and there isn’t a more appropriate description. Throughout their stellar sophomore disc, they bridge the gap between Memphis and Bakersfield.

Roots-rock veterans Chris Gaffney (Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men) and Dave Gonzalez (Paladins) head the Hacienda Brothers, and they’ve brought back producer/writer Dan Penn to produce them again. Given their credentials, it’s no surprise the music sounds so authentic.

The opeing number, “Midnight Dream”, takes off on a “Trying To Live My Life Without You” riff to groove some sweet soul music. They switch back to their California country roots on the second cut, the first-rate honky-tonk lament “What’s Wrong With Right”. By the third tune, “Keep It Together”, they’re smoothly blending bluesy organ runs (courtesy of the Skeletons’ Joe Terry) with pedal steel fills.

They pay tribute to Penn with a rousing take on “Cry Like A Baby” (complete with a a Gaffney accordion solo) and a heart-on-a-sleeve rendition of “It Tears Me Up”. Gaffney’s accordion also stars int heir toe-tapping remake of Charlie Rich’s “Rebound”, while David Berzansky’s pedal steel brigns a little twang to the soul classic “Cowboys To Girls”.

Gaffney’s gruff vocals prove equally adept crooning soulfully or singing some classic country. Gonzalez’s guitar prowess punctuates several songs, most notable with the baritone guitar that rumbles thorugh “Different Today”. Fans of old-school soul and rough-hewn honky-tonk need look no further than this terrific merger of those two American music styles. - No Depression July-Aug 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

The Hacienda Brothers introduced the concept of “Western soul” two years ago on their self-titled debut album. They’ve put a much larger dose of their country-meets-Motown creation on this follow-up. As they did in 2004, California based co-founders Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez convened in Tucson, where they both have roots, for inspiration from the desert. The recipe works well on album-opener Midnight Dream, which starts with old-school soul vocals before pedal steel and guitar add the Western edge. Keep It Together takes a more modern R&B approach, but a smooth pedal-steel solo by David Berzansky adds the twang. Gaffney pushes the emotion in his gritty voice on the horn-powered It Tears Me Up, the countrified What’s Wrong With Right and the dreamy Cowboys to Girls. His accordion puts a rootsy spin on Cry Like a Baby and If Daddy Don’t Sing. Gonzalez continues to sound like one of the best guitar players in the world of Americana Music. This hard-touring band is built for the long run. - Arizona Republic July 23, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

The Hacienda Brothers introduced the concept of “Western soul” two years ago on their self-titled debut album. They’ve put a much larger dose of their country-meets-Motown creation on this follow-up. As they did in 2004, California based co-founders Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez convened in Tucson, where they both have roots, for inspiration from the desert. The recipe works well on album-opener Midnight Dream, which starts with old-school soul vocals before pedal steel and guitar add the Western edge. Keep It Together takes a more modern R&B approach, but a smooth pedal-steel solo by David Berzansky adds the twang. Gaffney pushes the emotion in his gritty voice on the horn-powered It Tears Me Up, the countrified What’s Wrong With Right and the dreamy Cowboys to Girls. His accordion puts a rootsy spin on Cry Like a Baby and If Daddy Don’t Sing. Gonzalez continues to sound like one of the best guitar players in the world of Americana Music. This hard-touring band is built for the long run. - Arizona Republic July 23, 2006


"Live Show Review"

I saw the most wonderful show last week at Joe’s Pub: Dan Penn warming up the Hacienda Brothers. I can’t remember ever seeing notice of a Penn performance in NYC, and what a thrill. Dressed in overalls and playing an acoustic guitar, he just sat there and sang soulful versions of the song that somehow came out of his head forty years ago like “From the Dark End of the Street,” “Do Right Woman,” “Cry Like a Baby,” etc, etc. Sure I would have liked to have heard Janis, Otis, Aretha, James Carr, Arthur Alexander, etc sing ‘em too, but hearing the old redneck-looking guy sing them and knowing his history, it was unspeakably affecting. Then came the Hacienda Brothers, who are an alt-country band that plays soul music, produced by Penn. Terrific musicians, dripping with inventiveness and integrity; I can’t think of another newish band I like so much. I just love their “Cowboys to Girls,” I couldn’t get over how screwed up the world was that I was sitting there with about seventy people who paid, I think, twenty bucks, while a bit uptown, 20,000 people were jumping up and down to Madonna for $375 a ticket. Anyway, once again, trust me on the Hacienda Brothers' new CD, and also the terrific live acoustic show by Penn and Spooner Oldham, recorded in Dublin. - MSNBC.COM July 18, 2006


"Live Show Review"

I saw the most wonderful show last week at Joe’s Pub: Dan Penn warming up the Hacienda Brothers. I can’t remember ever seeing notice of a Penn performance in NYC, and what a thrill. Dressed in overalls and playing an acoustic guitar, he just sat there and sang soulful versions of the song that somehow came out of his head forty years ago like “From the Dark End of the Street,” “Do Right Woman,” “Cry Like a Baby,” etc, etc. Sure I would have liked to have heard Janis, Otis, Aretha, James Carr, Arthur Alexander, etc sing ‘em too, but hearing the old redneck-looking guy sing them and knowing his history, it was unspeakably affecting. Then came the Hacienda Brothers, who are an alt-country band that plays soul music, produced by Penn. Terrific musicians, dripping with inventiveness and integrity; I can’t think of another newish band I like so much. I just love their “Cowboys to Girls,” I couldn’t get over how screwed up the world was that I was sitting there with about seventy people who paid, I think, twenty bucks, while a bit uptown, 20,000 people were jumping up and down to Madonna for $375 a ticket. Anyway, once again, trust me on the Hacienda Brothers' new CD, and also the terrific live acoustic show by Penn and Spooner Oldham, recorded in Dublin. - MSNBC.COM July 18, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez spent a couple of decades each on the roots-rock circuit before teaming up to form The Hacienda Brothers, with the invaluable input of country-soul legend Dan Penn, who produced the band's eponymous debut and the follow-up What's Wrong With Right (Proper American). The latter picks up where the former left off, presenting simple, gospel-tinged vamps with a plume of Southwest smoke, anchored by Gaffney's raspy twang and Gonzalez's resonant picking. The new album's statement-of-purpose cover is a swinging take on Gamble & Huff's Philly soul classic "Cowboys To Girls," which explores how western archetypes and sounds continue to affect us… A- - The Onion July 12, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez spent a couple of decades each on the roots-rock circuit before teaming up to form The Hacienda Brothers, with the invaluable input of country-soul legend Dan Penn, who produced the band's eponymous debut and the follow-up What's Wrong With Right (Proper American). The latter picks up where the former left off, presenting simple, gospel-tinged vamps with a plume of Southwest smoke, anchored by Gaffney's raspy twang and Gonzalez's resonant picking. The new album's statement-of-purpose cover is a swinging take on Gamble & Huff's Philly soul classic "Cowboys To Girls," which explores how western archetypes and sounds continue to affect us… A- - The Onion July 12, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

The award for cover of the year goes to: The Hacienda Brothers for “Cowboys to Girls.”

I’ve never heard of any kind of musical awards for cover songs, but if there was such a prize, the Haciendas would take it hands-down for their countrified version of Gamble & Huff’s soul classic.

A staple of the country soul band’s brilliant live show, “Cowboys to Girls” is just one of the killer tracks on “What’s Wrong With Right,” the band’s second release and the record its fans had hoped it would make.

Balancing covers, including a great “Cry Like a Baby” and a pair of Charlie Rich tunes, with a handful of originals, “What’s Wrong With Right” captures everything that makes The Hacienda Brothers one of those rare special bands.

The hard country of “The Last Time” rubs up against the Irish-tinged “If Daddy Don’t Sing Danny Boy Tonight.” Classic Memphis soul slides into the west on “What’s Wrong With Right,” and the twangy instrumental closer “Son of Saguaro” comes right out of a spaghetti western.

Such is the range of the band fronted by Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez. While Gonzalez of Paladins fame takes the vocal lead on a few tunes, including the soul-drenched original “Keep It Together” and Rich’s swinging “Rebound,” Gaffney is the primary singer here — and his voice is pure soul, slightly gravelly and always connecting with heartfelt emotion.

Gonzalez’s Telecaster guitar leads the instrumental pack, which seamlessly combines the honky-tonk pedal steel with a Stax/Volt groove, creating a soulful mixture that’s perfectly blended by Dan Penn, the soul legend who co-wrote “Cry Like a Baby” and “It Tears Me Up” and whose sensibility perfectly fits The Haciendas.

If you’re among those who pack the Zoo Bar each time the Hacienda Brothers come through town, you’ll want to get “What’s Wrong With Right” right now. And if you haven’t heard them yet, the record is a perfect introduction to one of America’s great bands with a distinct, timeless sound. - Lincoln Journal Star July , 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

The award for cover of the year goes to: The Hacienda Brothers for “Cowboys to Girls.”

I’ve never heard of any kind of musical awards for cover songs, but if there was such a prize, the Haciendas would take it hands-down for their countrified version of Gamble & Huff’s soul classic.

A staple of the country soul band’s brilliant live show, “Cowboys to Girls” is just one of the killer tracks on “What’s Wrong With Right,” the band’s second release and the record its fans had hoped it would make.

Balancing covers, including a great “Cry Like a Baby” and a pair of Charlie Rich tunes, with a handful of originals, “What’s Wrong With Right” captures everything that makes The Hacienda Brothers one of those rare special bands.

The hard country of “The Last Time” rubs up against the Irish-tinged “If Daddy Don’t Sing Danny Boy Tonight.” Classic Memphis soul slides into the west on “What’s Wrong With Right,” and the twangy instrumental closer “Son of Saguaro” comes right out of a spaghetti western.

Such is the range of the band fronted by Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez. While Gonzalez of Paladins fame takes the vocal lead on a few tunes, including the soul-drenched original “Keep It Together” and Rich’s swinging “Rebound,” Gaffney is the primary singer here — and his voice is pure soul, slightly gravelly and always connecting with heartfelt emotion.

Gonzalez’s Telecaster guitar leads the instrumental pack, which seamlessly combines the honky-tonk pedal steel with a Stax/Volt groove, creating a soulful mixture that’s perfectly blended by Dan Penn, the soul legend who co-wrote “Cry Like a Baby” and “It Tears Me Up” and whose sensibility perfectly fits The Haciendas.

If you’re among those who pack the Zoo Bar each time the Hacienda Brothers come through town, you’ll want to get “What’s Wrong With Right” right now. And if you haven’t heard them yet, the record is a perfect introduction to one of America’s great bands with a distinct, timeless sound. - Lincoln Journal Star July , 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Though not related by blood, Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez lead the Hacienda Brothers with all the passion of two soulful siblings. Between Gaffney’s sun-cured vocals and Gonzalez’s heart-zapping guitar, there isn’t much the band can’t do. Looking at the pair’s pedigree, it all makes sense. Gaffney once led the Cold Hard Facts, L.A.’s best kept secret during most of the ‘80s. Their debut album on Rom is one of our great buried musical treasures. Gonzalez was the front man for the Paladins, and to many ears, always a guitar slinger of the highest order. Throwing together in the Haciendas, they’ve cooked up a sound called Western Soul, and damned if they aren’t right. It’s a moving mix of roots rock and Southern rhythm & blues, produced by Memphis legend Dan Penn to undeniable perfection. Gaffney’s voice, slightly grizzled though it may be, is on we should all be listening to. He sings with the authority of someone who has seen it all, but still appears ready to stay in the game. And to keep things hopping, Gonzalez also jumps in front on a few songs of his own. From Dan Penn-Spooner Oldham originals like “Cry Like A Baby” and “It Tears Me Up” to the Philly classic “Cowboys To Girls,” the material stays as inspired as the artists. Add an ever-present steel guitar on these gems, and this leads the list of local highlights this year, nudging its way toward national notice. Yow. - STUDIO CITY SUN / SHERMAN OAKS SUN / ENCIONO SUN | by Bill Bently, June 26, 2006


"What's Wrong With Right Album Review"

Though not related by blood, Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez lead the Hacienda Brothers with all the passion of two soulful siblings. Between Gaffney’s sun-cured vocals and Gonzalez’s heart-zapping guitar, there isn’t much the band can’t do. Looking at the pair’s pedigree, it all makes sense. Gaffney once led the Cold Hard Facts, L.A.’s best kept secret during most of the ‘80s. Their debut album on Rom is one of our great buried musical treasures. Gonzalez was the front man for the Paladins, and to many ears, always a guitar slinger of the highest order. Throwing together in the Haciendas, they’ve cooked up a sound called Western Soul, and damned if they aren’t right. It’s a moving mix of roots rock and Southern rhythm & blues, produced by Memphis legend Dan Penn to undeniable perfection. Gaffney’s voice, slightly grizzled though it may be, is on we should all be listening to. He sings with the authority of someone who has seen it all, but still appears ready to stay in the game. And to keep things hopping, Gonzalez also jumps in front on a few songs of his own. From Dan Penn-Spooner Oldham originals like “Cry Like A Baby” and “It Tears Me Up” to the Philly classic “Cowboys To Girls,” the material stays as inspired as the artists. Add an ever-present steel guitar on these gems, and this leads the list of local highlights this year, nudging its way toward national notice. Yow. - STUDIO CITY SUN / SHERMAN OAKS SUN / ENCIONO SUN | by Bill Bently, June 26, 2006


Discography

2005 Hacienda Brothers debut release on Koch Nashville
2006 What's Wrong With Right on Proper Records
2007 Music for Ranch & Town: Hacienda Brothers Live

Photos

Bio

What started in 2005, with the creation of the Hacienda Brothers self-titled debut, was a glimpse into a mixture of styles penned as “Western Soul.” Their sophomore release in 2006 – What’s Wrong With Right on Proper Records – perfected this burgeoning genre. Both albums produced by the respected writer/producer Dan Penn, highlighting the band’s penchant for writing songs that sound like they could be classics and covering songs that they truly make their own. Timeless sound and production were the barometers that guided the band through these sessions, with the intent that these recordings indeed stand the test of time.

On top of those two critically acclaimed records, what has set the Hacienda Brothers apart from their peers is their “no holds barred” approach to performing. As a guitar axe-wielding front man, who calls the steel guitar the sweetest sounding instrument ever made, Dave Gonzalez enlisted an unknown prodigy out of San Diego – David Berzansky – to play with the HBs. Immediately there were sparks flying between these two band-mates. Their intensity and level of skill is what has attracted the legions of admirers to their live shows. Throw into the mix vocalist Chris Gaffney, whom the Austin American-Statesman called “one of the finest singers on the planet,” and a red-hot rhythm section and you’ve got a band to reckon with.

Last fall the Hacienda Brothers released a special limited-edition live CD, Music For Ranch & Town, to commemorate their nomination for the 2007 AMA Award “Best Duo/Group of the Year.” The past year has indeed been eventful for the Hacienda Brothers, including an interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” a live appearance on “Mountain Stage,” R&R’s Americana Chart’s top 100 records of 2006 and No Depression’s Top 60 records of 2006. Dave Gonzalez of the Hacienda Brothers was also included in Guitar Player magazine’s “101 Forgotten Greats and Unsung Guitar Heroes.” During this time they have made separate trips to Spain, Northern Europe and Australia while also heavily touring the US. Last March they barnstormed their way through the inimitable SXSW music conference, moving writer/DJ Chris Morris, in an impromptu introduction of the band, to proclaim: “The Hacienda Brothers are one of the top five bands in America today.”