Music
Press
“Second Hand Poets is an honest American rock band, in the time of so many new variations on the theme. With traditional lyrics and original compositions, this group isn’t afraid to deliver a pure, rock sound…”
-Andrea Rizzo, Digital City Chicago – Editor’s Pick
- Digital City Chicago
“Nearly every single track on here is so painfully sincere and beautiful that if the vocals of Dave Thomas don't make you wanna break down in tears over your favorite beer, you may have to check your pulse.”
-Dean Ramos, Illinois Entertainer
- Illinois Entertainer
"'Virginia City Lounge' continues in the tradition of the Second Hand Poets' delightfully unconventional sonic concoction."
-Shut Eye Records
- Shut-Eye Records
Wrapping up the colors and language of Old 97s, Whiskeytown, and Johnny Cash into a unique bundle of distinct, compact and juicy songs, Second Hand Poets
weave the best in alt country and roots rock. A must hear.
- CDbaby.com - CDBaby.com
"Second Hand Poets' new album, Virginia City Lounge , is one of the best indie rock albums I've ever heard, raising the bar of independent style for me. The innovation and style on this album is jaw dropping, so I suggest you check it out. It's a must have for Alt-Rock fans."
-Matt Armstrong, Soundclash Indie Music Webzine - Soundclash.com
"The Chicagoans warm to the task with...skillfull warbling and guitar work, raucous roadhouse rockers, and delicate banjo work; a nice variety of material wrapped around a restrained rockabilly, Wilco, Jayhawks vibe."
-Barry Fox, The Patriot News (Harrisburg, PA) - Patriot News - Harrisburg, PA
"'Virginia City Lounge' has the right combination of rock, twang, jazz, and heart to elevate it from being just another alt.-country album to being an interestingly diverse record."
-Paul Zimmerman, First Coast News (Jacksonville, FL) - First Coast News - Jacksonville, FL
Excellent alternative rock music with a tight sound and solid songwriting.
-RadioIndy.com – Gold Artist Award
- RadioIndy.com
“Their terrific debut Virginia City Lounge is good stuff. Just a touch sloppy with memorable songs. That sounds like a winning recipe for a lot of bands we love. You'll like the diversity and sincerity of what they do. Terrific disc."
-Richard Milne, WXRT’s “Local Anesthetic”
- 93.1 WXRT Chicago
“When you listen to music for a living, you learn to listen carefully, slowly. Things that grab you immediately are few and far between… Every now and then, a band comes along that captivates from the outset. Chicago’s Second Hand Poets are like that…”
-Laura Hamlett, Playback: stl (St. Louis)
- Playback: stl (St. Louis)
Discography
Independent Releases:
Virginia City Lounge (2004)
Afternoon in Aberdeen (2000)
Shut-Eye Records Coimpilations:
This Is Alt-Country Vol. 1 (2003)
A Low-Watt Document (2001)
The band receives airplay on the following stations:
XM Satellite Radio Unsigned Channel
93.1 WXRT Local Anesthetic - Chicago, IL
88.7 WLUW - Chicago, IL
90.1 WEFT - Champaign, IL
89.7 KMSU Minnesota State University - Mankato, MN
88.5 WUSM University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS
CW Junction: Michigan Grapevine Opry 104.7 WKJC
Off The Beat-n-Track 98.1 WKZE - Sharon, CT
88.5 WUSM South Mississippi
970AM WHA - Madison, WI
90.9 KRCL - Salt Lake City, Utah
Dark Side Of The Highway 107.7 WFCS - New Britain, CT
90.1 KZSU - Stanford, CA
91.1 WREK Atlanta, GA
100.3 WEBG Big 100.3 Orlando, FL
90.3 KBUT - Crested Butte, CO
97.9 WNCI Columbus, OH
89.5 WPKN Bridgeport, CT
Northern Illinois University Radio (nsradio.com)
OSH Radio (oshradio.com)
Roots Revival Radio Show, Radio Alt. Bree Belgium, Germany
Friday Flip Internet Radio Show (spiderbiteradio.com)
Roots Rock Radio (rrradio.com)
Radio Crystal Blue (radiocrystalblue.com)
The following songs are streamed from our website (www.secondhandpoets.com):
1. Dirty Lies, Filthy Schemes
2. A Lonely Valentine
3. College Radio Superstar
Photos
Bio
Second Hand Poets is a Chicago rock band that concocts a unique and twisted musical cocktail. One part off kilter, demented and quirky lyrics, one part country swing, a dose of punk blended thoroughly with the occasional washboard percussion, rockabilly guitar riff & vocal twang. Toss in a sprinkle of New Orleans jazz and blues and serve over a highly energetic pulsing live show.
Veterans of the Chicago music scene, the Poets have performed at many local Chicago venues including Schubas, Martyrs, Double Door, the Abbey Pub, the Hideout, and numerous others. On tour, the Poets have played in over 15 states and over 20 venues including Austin, TX (Vicci) Nashville, TN (Sutler) Atlanta, GA (Lennys) & Augusta, GA (Still Water), Indianapolis, IN (Birdys, Melody Inn, Locals Only), St. Louis, MO (Fredericks), Detroit, MI (New Dodge), Minneapolis, MN (Nomad), Charlotte, NC (UNC), Louisville, KY (Hard Rock), Madison, WI (High Noon), Harrisbug, PA (Marysville Tavern), Gainesville, FL (Purple Porpoise), Des Moines, IA (Keysters) & Iowa City, IA (Yacht Club & The Mill).
The Poets have also been featured performers at music festivals around the country including the 2006 Quadruple Bypass Heart of Texas Music Festival in Austin, TX; the 2005 Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA; the 2005 Motor City Music Conference in Detroit, MI; the 2005 Six Flags Music Festival & Conference in Louisville, KY; the 2005 Music Law Conference in Gainesville, FL; the 2004 MECA Conference in Chicago, and the 2004 Rock n Ride Festival in Louisville, KY.
The band has released 2 full length independent albums, Virginia City Lounge (2004), and Afternoon in Aberdeen (2000), and have been featured on two Shut-Eye Records compilation discs, This Is Alt-Country Vol. 1 (2003) and A Low-Watt Document (2001).
Their music is played nationally on XM Satellite Radios Unsigned Channel and on over 20 radio stations in 10 different states across the country including, 93.1 WXRTs Local Anesthetic (Chicago), 88.7 WLUW (Chicago), 98.1 WKZE (Sharon, CT) & 107.7 WFCS Dark Side of the Highway (New Britain, CT), 970AM WHA (Madison, WI), 90.9 KRCL (Salt Lake City, UT), 90.1 KZSU (Stanford, CA), 100.3 WEBG (Orlando, FL), 90.3 KBUT (Crested Butte, CO), 97.9 WNCI (Columbus, OH). Their music is also streamed over various internet radio sources including Roots Rock Radio (rrradio.com), Radio Crystal Blue (radiocrystalblue.com), Northern Illinois University Radio (nsradio.com), Spider Bite Radio (spiderbiteradio.com), Purevolume, and MySpace. The Poets music has even reached the European airwaves in Belgium, Germany on the Roots Revival Radio Show, Radio Alt. Bree.
Their TV & film credits include PBS Road Trip Nation, & Columbia College Television (Chicago). Their song Last Night in Georgia appeared in the independent movie Desert Cemetery by Flashdog Productions.
The Poets have received rave reviews from critics across the country including Richard Milne (WXRT 93.1 Chicago, IL) Paul Zimmerman (First Coast News Jacksonville, FL), Laura Hamlett (Playback: stl St. Louis), Barry Fox (The Patriot News, Harrisburg, PA), Tom Lounges (Midwest Beat Magazine), Dean Ramos (Illinois Entertainer), Shut-Eye Records, & Andrea Rizzo (Digital City Chicago).
Looking to the future, the band hopes to continue touring the country promoting their second independent release Virginia City Lounge (2004) and recording their third album sometime within the next year.
More information can be found on the web at www.secondhandpoets.com.
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