Williams Riley

Although they've only been together for about six months, the Williams Riley Band can already boast an impressive list of collaborators, including legendary rock guitarist Slash. The former Guns N' Roses member takes a stab at country on the band's self-titled debut album, which also features Edwin McCain and Bryan White, among others.

"I can't believe how passionate everyone has been about what we're doing," says lead singer Steve Williams. "Not long ago, I was just a blue-collar guy writing songs in Louisiana. Now a bunch of my heroes are playing with me and my band on my songs because they love what I'm doing, that tells me that we must be doing something right."

The band has been on the road with Edwin McCain and recently finished shooting a video for their first single, 'I'm Still Me,' which they plan on introducing to country radio this month. Fans have already started catching on through sites like OurStage, where they have been a featured artist on numerous occasions. With so many big names already taking notice, be sure to keep an eye and an ear out for these future superstars.

- The Boot / AOL

http://music.aol.com/video-hub/style/country - The Boot / AOL

A 26-year journey, from playing for just two people to having giants of the industry play on and produce his latest record, has Steve Williams and The Williams Riley Band on the cusp of a breakthrough in the country genre.

“I feel like what I’m doing now, I took 20 years off from playing music. Played as a kid up until a year and a half out of high school. I just quit. I was singing to a two-person audience for 19 1/2 years, my wife and daughter,” said Williams, a native of Larose, La.

But now, his experience includes Velvet Revolver’s Slash tearing it up in the song “Road & Me,” and getting a priceless endorsement from Grammy Award-winning producer John Hobbs, who lent a hand on his band’s latest, self-titled record. Add to that Bryan White’s spot on the upcoming record, and Williams is excited and grateful for the place he’s in.

“If someone told me a year ago that I would be recording with Bryan White, I would’ve told them they were crazy. ... I’ve just taken advantage of the opportunities I’ve gotten. I can do this 24/7. I feel like it’s a mortal sin to pass up an opportunity.”

He’s also confident that his band’s blend of Americana, R&B, Pop, Rock and Country will get Nashville, and the country music world’s, attention.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I’m going to have 12 songs (on the record), and they’ll all be singles. There’s not a song on this record that couldn’t be a single, not one.”

The Village Idiot caught up with Williams catching some R-and-R in Louisiana, and he shared his thoughts about recording with Slash, songwriting and more.

The Village Idiot: How was it recording “Road & Me” with Slash?

Williams: It was pretty intimidating at first, because you hear a lot of stories about Guns ‘N Roses. At least two of the members had been brought back to life after drug overdoses. He is the biggest rock star in the world. ... Slash is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in my life. I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t going to get a guitar busted over my skull. He was easy to work with, he liked the song. He had been listening to the song, he said ‘Man I love it, it’s a great song to play to, you can let it rip.’ I said ‘What I want you to do is knock Nashville on their ass. I want them to say wow. Knock them on their ass.’ What else are you supposed to get from Slash? I don’t want him to play the fiddle. I want people to know that the greatest rock star in the world is playing on my record.

VI: Will he be playing with you guys on tour any?

Williams: Absolutely. That was one of the last things we talked about. We knew there were going to be some key shows in the next four to five months. ‘If I’m not busy, I’ll come on stage and be there playing with you,’ (he said). It may be a secret and a great surprise when it happens, but he will walk out on stage with us, absolutely.

VI: “Once Upon A Time” is a really nice song.

Williams: You know, that’s the closest song to me. That was a fine moment for me as an artist, when I brought that song in the studio. I was hesitant about doing it. I have the least experience as a musician of all the guys that I’m surrounded by. Kenny Greenburg has produced all these records. Dan Dougmore, he’s a slide guitar player who played on the record. Dan plays with James Taylor. John Hobbs, he just won a Grammy for producing Vince Gill’s last record. Unbelievable musicians. I wrote it just a week earlier, and (back then), I’m really contemplating not bringing it up. Writers, they rip things up. You can walk into a room with another writer, and you think you have a perfect song, and he sees it from another angle, and he rips it up. I expected that when I brought it into the same room as John Hobbs. What was most gratifying to me, was when we walked out, (him) not even suggesting changing a single thing. That was the most gratifying thing to me as an artist, to have those caliber of people playing this song, thinking it was perfect the way it was, and then after we’re done, coming back and saying ‘wow, that was fun.’

VI: How is it being on a label with only one other artist?

Williams: Well, you know there’s obviously not a whole lot of competition, which is nice. We have a much greater relationship. Benton gave his music to a guy, who gave his music to me. I heard “Do Your Remember,” I sent it to Noel, and I said ‘If you’re looking for somebody else, this is the guy.’ We are family, we are literally best friends. I invite him to do shows with me. There is no competition at all. That makes for a much healthier environment. (Our managers) allow us to make a whole lot of our own decisions. I think it’s great. Slash has played on my record, Bryan (White) has played on my record. Noel got Slash involved. I don’t feel any insecurity. Records have to be funded to be successful. It takes money to get them out there. My record is as funded as any other record at Sony, Capitol. My record company may not have had enough money to fu - The Village Idiot / TJ Royal

With 12 impressive tracks, the Williams Riley band proves that you don't have to be affiliated with a big or mid-sized Nashville label in order to produce great, radio-ready Country music. In fact, very few new artists in any genre could get rock icon Slash to record a track on their record yet that's exactly what happened for the Williams Riley Band. Slash isn't the only well-known guest on the record as Bryan White and Edwin McCain also lend their talents to the band's self-titled release. With "I'm Still Me" the band has managed to not only record a great tune, co-written by guitarist Derek George, Bryan White and Chuck Jones, but has managed to create something that sticks with you for days. The lyrics tell the story of a man who, while getting older and not as mobile as he used to be, proclaims that he's still able to do most of the things he used to do. It's a great piece of mature Country music, the type that radio airwaves used to be filled with,

The second track is the infectious "Makes Me Go La La." Co-written by Derek George, Danny Myrick and Bart Allmand, the song has a radio-ready sound that is not only fun to listen to but you might just find yourself singing along to the lyrics, something that happens quite a bit throughout the rest of the album. The majority of the album discusses matters of the heart and there are quite a few standout tracks like the mid-tempo ballad "Because You Love Me." Written by George and band founder/lead vocalist Steve Williams, the song features some fine fiddle and steel work backing up the kind of lyric all women want to hear. Perhaps one of the best written tracks on the record is Williams' self-penned "Two Kinds Of Love." It discusses a woman who uses the love and security of her marriage to mask her cheating ways. It's a track that finds Williams singing to this woman in a "been there, done that" mentality.

South Carolina's Spencer Rush wrote two tracks on the record, "How Many Ways" and "Good Times" and "Ways" has a R&B-like sound anchoring the song while "Good Times" is a sweet love song that I can envision being played at many weddings in the future with lyrics like "I promise I will always love you, through the good times and the bad." The previously mentioned guest appearances of Edwin McCain and Slash happen on the final two tracks on this self-titled album. The Edwin McCain-assisted, Steve Williams-penned "Better Man" is a smoky, soul-filled ballad that definitely recalls McCain's folk-rock while Slash's unmistakable guitar playing is instantly showcased on the bluesy "Road And Me," which Williams wrote. It's a fun song that finds Williams singing about living a carefree life with no baggage or things to tie him down. Instead the character in the song likes to live life on the road. It's a great way to end a remarkably consistent album on a high note. Steve Williams possesses a strong voice that guides the skillfully played tunes. Along with Guitarist Derek George and Steve Williams, the band is rounded out by drummer Nick Buda, bassist David Guidry, multi-instrumentalist Joe Rogers and guitarist Charlie Hutto.

There will be people out there who will not even give the Williams Riley Band a chance due to them being on the independent Golden Music label but to do so would be a shame because they'd be missing out on a well-crafted album of contemporary country music. - Roughstock

Williams Riley
Self Titled
Wow! This is a country band and not just a country singer. A lot of bands focus on just the singer and the rest of the band sort of gets lost. Not with this band. The singer is just damn good but the band compliments him so well it is a true country effort. It has been a long time since I have locked onto a band like this an love every minute of listening to the tunes. If Nashville doesn’t lock onto these guys and push them to at least six hits off this SOLID CD they are lost.

Williams Riley Band is a mix of Pop Country, Country Rock, and Contemporary Country but they are a complete sound and with this debut CD you would think they had been together for a very long time. Well, they have made sure that this CD will make them what they are, a SOLID COUNTRY BAND worthy of being noticed and they have not been together as long as say Big and Rich or Montgomery Gentry.

The first track is the best on the CD. “I’m Still Me” speaks of getting older with a good life but the mind is still sound and “I might not be the man I use to be, but I’m still me”. This is just life as we know it. If you want to sing along, like I have already done, just listen to this catchy tune called “Makes Me Go La La”. I bet you will do the same and don’t lie.

Slow it down a bit and get serious. Yes, they can do that too. “I wish I would Have Said That” speaks volumes to how we have felt at times in our lives. This is another song that should be worthy of a country hit. Track four called “How Many Ways” is a runaway song. Listen for yourself and you will get the point.

I could continue on with this tremendous song collection but I think I should leave it to you to decide. I have only touched on four out of the twelve songs on their debut CD and all of these have potential to be hits. Pick it up and you will not be disappointed. by Rob Moore
- Village Idiot

Up & Coming New Nashville- Williams Riley (With Exclusive Interview)
Every once in a while, talent and personality do what they should: Attract immediate and enthusiastic support from fans and fellow artists.

Case in point: Steve Williams, the lead singer for Williams Riley, one of country music’s most exciting newcomers. Williams expresses amazement at how many top names within the music industry have rallied behind him and lent their talents and their enthusiastic support in helping his music find a larger audience.
Among those top names, rock’s most famous guitarist, Slash, joins country star Bryan White and famed singer-songwriter Edwin McCain on the debut, self-titled Williams Riley album—an incredible rarity for a new, independent artist.

That’s only part of the lineup of all-stars on the recording. Co-producer Noel Golden is an award-winning studio veteran who has worked with platinum selling artists matchbox twenty, Metallica, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Sammy Hagar, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack, to just name a few. Derek George, best-known as Bryan White’s primary collaborator, also co-produced. Besides Slash, other acclaimed instrumentalists on the album include A-team players Dan Dugmore, Kenny Greenberg and John Hobbs.

Fans have reacted with similar over-the-top fervor, crowding merchandise tables to buy Williams Riley CD’s after each show. The band once sold all 400 CD’s brought to a show in Chicago, even though they played a short 30-minute opening set before two better-known acts.
“I can’t believe how passionate everyone has been about what we’re doing,” says Williams, the singer, songwriter and guiding light of Williams Riley. “Not long ago, I was just a guy writing songs in Louisiana. Now a bunch of my heroes are playing with me and my band on my songs because they love what I’m doing, that tells me that we must be doing something right.”

You can listen and stream some of the Williams Riley band's music here. We had a chance to sit down with Steve Williams, lead singer of the band for a few questions about their life as a country band...

That Nashville Sound- What brought you to country music & Nashville?

Steve Williams- Well, while I grew up listening to R&B, Pock and Rock, My all time favorite was Glenn Campbell and as I grew up I began listening more to southern rock bands like 38-Special, Lynard Skynard and Molly Hatchet. Then came Restless Heart, Vince Gill and Bryan White who were actually played on Country stations and I LOVED them. Even later in life, I began listening to Edwin McCain and Hootie and the Blowfish. The funny thing is that with exception to Edwin, they are all considered country in today's world. So I guess the answer is I didn't really come to country music, I think it came to me.

TNS- Describe your music- what's the mission behind the music?

SW- My music is definitely country pop and while we do have some traditional country sounds as well as southern rock styles, I've just always been a pop guy. If there was a mission, I think it would be to simply create something that people will appreciate and enjoy. I think music has a way of altering people's emotions in both good ways and bad ways and I think people need that. It keeps us from being robotic I guess. In the end, I just want to make good, honest music that people will enjoy and make them want to see us live.

TNS- What might people be surprised to find out about you?

SW- Two things... One, I think people would be surprised at how diverse my musical background is. From Luther Vandros to Hall and Oats. The Baby's to Ozzy Osbourne and Glenn Campbell to Vince Gill. Two that I started a music career at 40 years old.

TNS- What kind of music are you listening to? What's in your iPod?

SW- Allman Brothers - Dave Barnes (LOVE) - Matt Werzt - Jimmy Wayne - Keith Urban - Kenny Loggins - Marc Broussard - Michael English

TNS- If you had a crystal ball and looked forward ten years, what do you see for yourself?

SW- I'd like to see myself accepting a grammy for a song that I wrote even if I didn't see it..
POSTED BY THAT NASHVILLE SOUND AT 6:03 AM 0 COMMENTS
LABELS: UP AND COMING NEW NASHVILLE

- That Nashville Sound