The Strange Tones
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The Strange Tones

Portland, Oregon, United States | INDIE

Portland, Oregon, United States | INDIE
Band Blues Americana

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"OregonianLive Podcast"

"We're On Our Way" podcast review:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/popmusic/2007/10/Podcast_strange%20tones.mp3 - The Oregonian


"Elmore Magazine Raves About New Strange Tones CD"

"With the exception of the grunge movement, some people don’t realize what a fertile breeding ground the northwest was and still is for great talent, sprouting such artists as Heart, The Wailers, The Sonics and Paul Revere and the Raiders, not to mention Jimi Hendrix. Well, you can count on The Strange Tones to keep the northwest’s rep solid. Comprised of husband and wife, Guitar Julie and former Screamin’ Jay Hawkin’s bassist, Andy Strange, with guitarist, Suburban Slim and drummer, J.D. Huge, The Strange Tones deliver superb blues that pushes the envelope in just the right places and doesn’t leave the listener feeling violated by yet another "phone-it-in" blues band.

Their latest effort, We’re On Our Way is loaded with funky rhythms, crisp guitar fills and very slick vocals all unleashed on some of the hippest blues since Little Charlie and The Nightcats. Sounding like a blend of The Paladins, Wanda Jackson and Lou Ann Barton, these guys serve up one great track after another. Whether it’s the driving beat of, "Mama Makes More," "I Ain’t Movin’," and "Hooky" or the rock of’, "Farmer Trent’s Wife," The Strange Tones deliver a fierce rockin’ take on the blues with ease. It’s the torch tracks, "Fool Me" and "Between Me and You" with their tortured vocals, sang by Guitar Julie and Suburban Slim (who sounds remarkably similar to Rick Holstrom) respectively along with the killer guitar solos however that steal the
show.

It’s a pity that Hannah Montana and Britney Spears get the press and the lucrative recording contracts while bands like The Strange Tones, who have more talent than either one of them could ever dream of exist in relative obscurity. Here’s hoping that the music gods get one right for a change and give The Strange Tones all the attention they rightfully deserve." - Steve Walbridge, Elmore Magazine


"Praise From Great Britain"

Since their debut back in 2003, the Strange Tones have gone from strength to strength, garnering deserved plaudits for 2005's "Crime-A-Billy" and bagging a bunch of awards along the way. This culminated in this year's induction into the Muddy Hall of Fame as Best Contemporary Blues Act (after winning the category for three straight years).

The Strange Tones have certainly found a winning formula, and established their own territory in the sparsely populated area where blues, rockabilly and rock'n'roll converge. Fortunately, they have not decided to ditch this formula, as "Mama Makes More" aptly demonstrates. They still have a great raw edge, with a fantastic retro guitar tone (shades of Slim Harpo here), and are boosted further by Curtis Salgado's guest appearance on harp and vocals. It is backed up by a brace of fine tunes, the rocking "Fool Me", and the catchy Beatlesque "I Ain't Movin'" with its back door slam theme.

There is plenty here to get toes tapping and heads nodding. This includes the excellent "Farmer Trent's Wife" where the twin guitars and slide combine pretty near perfectly, and the sublime rocking instrumental "The Swangler". The band then take things home with a classy slower blues ("Between Me and You") and the Latin-tinged groove of "Mi Jefe Me Molesta". The promotional edition of the CD rounds off with a bonus tribute to the late Paul DeLay, a very neat rendition of "Fourteen Dollars in the Bank" with Salgado resurfacing on harp.

"We're On Our Way" more than maintains the standards set by the Strange Tones first two albums. They are still writing fine tunes, and refining their retro feel, while still managing to sound contemporary. Long may it continue! - Gordon Baxter - Blues In Britain


"Internet Crime-A-Billy Review"

"Every song is a gem...The album is a tasty cohesive collection of tough, ready to romp tunes. Steller performances on all fronts and great song selections all wrapped up as only The Strange Tones can do it." - PortlandBlues.com


"Band Review"

" The Strange Tones are a fine funky band that plays rockin' roots music with the fervor of true believers. Their sound is stripped of gratuitous flash because these guys know Jimmy Reed's secret, that one note is better than a hundred, especially if it's the perfect one." - The Oregonian


"Crime-A-Billy Review"

This review runs to the deep rumbling rhythms of a fast moving train, overlaid with the sounds of fingers ripping through heated steel guitar strings and hard-driving vocals. It’s not about mainstream music, its about timeless music that rocks to the very soul. All artists are inspired by traditions. Artists blend, rebut, joke, reprimand, question and celebrate traditions. The trick is to find and stay true to their own signature voice and sound, to tell a story, while making the message uniquely their own and not just another cliché. The Strange Tones capture you with their unique music and rate as one of our best local bands hot on the scene today. The tradition-inspired melodies, beats, rhythms, harmonics and theories that affected the Strange Tones tunes are composites of a wide range of roots music drawn from and successfully melding a plethora of styles into one uniquely original composition. The basic structure of their music is orderly, repeating and finite, but the variations are infinite. Though based in traditional values, their lyrics are pandemic to the current human experience, creating twisted, modern and bizarrely funny images of pop culture today. Crime-A-Billy may be their latest CD, but this music will live on to become classic Americana. On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Strange Tones released their newest recording, Crime-A-Billy. On that night, the Who's Who of blues were hanging out at the bar nursing their Burning Heart(s)..."Guitar Julie” Strange is a local poster child. In fact her bands' posters plaster the walls at most local clubs and they are Wanted all over the northwest. Julie Strange plays a mean guitar and passionately belts out some of the most soulful, gutsy, twisted and funny songs in the lower 48. The Strange Tones fun lovin' band includes Portland's own “Guitar Julie” Strange; her husband, the get-down-and-funky bass player and vocalist Andy Strange. Andy also occasionally surprises his audience by refurbishing unusual instruments in traditional ways and traditional instruments in unusual ways. Burn-it-up-finger-picking-hands-on-fire guitarist and vocalist Suburban Slim is rumored to be one of the most innovative guitarists in town. Suburban Slim is a fabulous singer with vocal tonalities that are powerful, pleading, lilting and smooth. Can you keep a secret? He plays trumpet sometimes too. Like a guitar player's dream come true, their straight-but-not-square man, the-take-no-prisoners, killer drummer JD Huge masterfully lays down their signature rhythm-within-rhythm beats. This guy creates the solid timing over which those guitar licks and vocals can really fly. Having this secure base to work with allows these three master guitarists to literally go to town, creating a dynamic combination of sounds that are guaranteed combustible. This traditional blues line up of three guitars and a drummer demonstrates a deep understanding of roots music's hard core truths. This hard rockin', surf-blues-a-billy ensemble, with their no-holds-barred attitude, takes us as their prisoners and there is no escape. Their influences range from Screamin' Jay Hawkins to Lou Reed. There is a cool little video you can open in their website and get a sample of their music and road-traveled humor. The smiling is contagious as is the laughing and singing to the Strange Tones’ memorable lyrics. Their music is alive with stories. You can't help but sing them. Even their instrumentals are stories. Couched in these stories thrives the secret to successful life but you've got to decode it. To do that, you must check your daily self at the door, give in and get down. Be certain to check out their website for more info and a look at their cool video at: http://strangetones.com. - Rowan DeSantis, Portland Roots Music Project


"Stink Bomb! Review"

“Wow! This one has a great feel to it – sounds like it just came out of Austin, Texas. It’s packed full of fantastic Roots-Rock tunes with a dedicated bluesy delivery. Right from the get go, the music on this recording reels you in hook, line and sinker. Starting with the first song, The Strange Tones set the pace for three-quarters of an hour of very tasty music.
The band consists of Guitar Julie on vocals and guitar, Andy Strange on bass, guitar, and harmonica, Whit Draper on lead guitar, and JD Huge on drums. This is a rock-solid group of musicians. Talk about four players complementing each other perfectly –They’re it! And, they genuinely love to play this offshoot of the blues. That fact is evident on every tune they perform.
Julie’s singing is haunting throughout the recording. She reminds me so much of the venerable, veteran blues and roots-rock siren, Lou Ann Barton. Check out her delivery on her original “Comin’ After You” and the song she co-wrote with Andy titled “Whole Lotta Nothin”. She’s got that unadulterated rootsy Texas feel when she sings – gotta love it!
- Rick Hall, Cascade Blues Association Blues Notes


"Crime-A-Billy Review"

“The Strange Tones have come out with another hard-driving CD…This Portland Oregon band has been dishing out the same mixture of down home blues, Rockabilly, surf, and R&B that they recorded on their debut album “Stink Bomb”...The Strange Tones take traditional blues, which they perform very well, and crank it up to another level with their own unique energetic sound. Sparked by good clean guitar work by “Guitar Julie” Strange this 14-song disc reminds me of their terrific live sets. One of the best cuts is “Pinto Squire” written by Tom Heinl and featuring harmonica giant Paul Delay. Another fun tune is “Burnin’ Heart” by “Suburban Slim” (Phil Wagner). My favorite is a sweet slow ballad “I Idolize You” by Ike Turner. Julie’s Vocals really shine here.
The theme behind “Crime-A-Billy” is the 50’s era private eye/gangster take and it goes very well with the tunes this quartet has chosen. Always notorious for live performances there is a good sample of their raw energy on this CD. You don’t have to commit a crime to own one. Just pick yours up at CDBaby.com. It’s an offer you can’t refuse.

- Marla Fitzsimmons, The Walla Walla Blues Society Blues News


"Viva Los Strange Tones - Review from Spain"

"Definitely, these Portland, Oregon musicians, lead by singer and guitar player Guitar Julie, confirm themselves as one of the best and most original pop-blues, garage rock-blues or alternative blues bands around. MUY BUENO" - La Hora del Blues, Barcelona, Spain


"Radio Praise"

"This band has taken over their hometown of Portland like never before. The radio stations, the club owners and the blues fans all agree that the swing'n vintage sounds of this group will take them along way. With 'Guitar Julie' Strange on lead vocals and guitar you'll be running to get her autograph on their CD 'Stink-Bomb' or their newly released hit Crime-a-Billy". - The Eagle 106.5FM


Discography

"Stink Bomb!"
"Crime-A-Billy"
"We're On Our Way"

COMPILATIONS:
"Stairway to Heapdom"National Public Radio's Car Talk
"Best of the Northwest" Walla Walla Blues Society
"Rock N Roll Mamas" Rock Mama Films
"Blues in Portland" KMHD
"Winthrop R & B Festival, Volume 1" Winthrop Music Assoc.

Photos

Bio

2011, '09, '08, '07, '06 & '05 Muddy Awards for Best Contemporary Blues Act, Best Electric Guitar, and Best Northwest Recording 2008 (Cascade Blues Assoc.) Inducted in the the Muddy Hall of Fame in 2007 for multiple consecutive awards for Best Contemporary Blues Act.

Rather than plundering the shrines of American music and merely imitating their heroes, these sonic crime fighters have concocted their own secret formula, a one of a one-of-a-kind style they call “Crime-A-Billy”. The band draws upon the rich traditions of blues, rockabilly, surf, and R & B, and combines these ingredients with fresh, well-crafted song writing and dynamic performances. "Many people find it hard to show something new within electric blues format and they should ask The Strange Tones for some private lessons as they have found their own niche and truly shine." -The Voice of the Blues, Przemek Draheim, Poland

The magic of this ensemble is fueled by four players who are equally compelled and driven to advance their cause. This fearsome foursome, led by the husband-and-wife team of Guitar Julie and bassist Andy Strange, and fortified by longtime partners guitarist Suburban Slim and drummer Andy Gauthier, form “....one of Portland’s most original and accomplished bands.” - Oregonian. It may be Andy Strange’s lessons learned as bassman for legendary wildman and voodoo practitioner Screamin‘ Jay Hawkins, or Guitar Julie’s steady childhood diet of Jimmy Reed and Ike and Tina Turner. It could be Andy Gauthier‘s deep in the pocket groove from his years as a regional and national touring musician, or Slim’s intensity and creativity that consistently earn him awards. As anyone who sees The Strange Tones perform live knows, it’s much more than these four individuals....this is a BAND.

The Strange Tones' reputation as a dynamic band with relentless energy and exciting live shows are well captured on their three CDs. The new release "We're On Our Way" won the CBA's 2008 Northwest Recording of the Year and has debuted at #12 on Real Blues Magazine's Top 100 Chart. "...there is much to enjoy on this slab of raucous roots rock. If you're looking for fun, look to the Strange Tones." -Blues Revue Magazine. Their previous CD “Crime-A-Billy” was also very well received, reaching the Top 20 Chart in Spain for FM Blues Radio, and their song “Pinto Squire” was featured on National Public Radio’s Car Talk.

Check out the new video of The Strange Tones and their partners The Volcano Vixens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twjY4zSS9po