WSNB
Hickory, North Carolina, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"This is modern blues at it's crunchiest, with down and dirty guitar melodies and solos intertwined with raspy vocals. Amidst its blues aura, the screaming jaw harp and rolling bass lines really make this album a real throw back to the blues of 30 years ago." - WYCE 88.1 fm Grand Rapids, MI
"The band's brand of foot-stomping electric blues practically begs the listener to pop a cold one and tear into some pulled pork!!...rooted in gritty Delta blues, WSNB's music rocks with distinct force. Blues lovers...will find plenty to groove on." - Washington Post
" If your station even plays a little rock, or any blues at all - WSNB is a no brainer. WSNB is my favorite band of 2008." - WNKU 89.7 fm - Northern Kentucky
"Award-winning WSNB delivers positively blistering Mississippi blues rock...WSNB has established themselves as one of North Carolina's hottest and most sought after musical exports on the strength of their Delta soul-drenched blues-rock. The band has been making waves across the United States and beyond through festival appearances and satellite radio play." - High Country Press
"Super distribution of blues...I think this band can go places."
Mac Arnold of
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues - International Blues Challenge Judge
"Like a locomotive, WSNB is coming right at you. JOMO SWAMP ROOT BOOGIE ...sounds like its name. It is a very good, well-recorded work by a very good band. It has blues dripping from all tracks. The lyrics are intellegent, occasionally witty, and about life's vicissitudes: love, lust, death, insanity, the war in Iraq. The music has that Delta/Chicago blues feel...Get a copy or several. Enjoy its spell!"
- WQFS 90.9 fm
" It was clear why these artists made the finals out of thousands who entered. The quality of the musicianship was simply overwhelming." - Entertainment Headline News @ Independent Music World Series
" I saw music excellence personified in these artists." - MCA Universal Producer & Independent Music World Series judge
" WSNB has truly created their own style...they bring their very original high-energy brand of swamp boogie blues to the party!" - Jay Daniels, President
"WSNB - OKIBBEHA COUNTY: This is WSNB {We Sing Nasty Blues} second release and like the first one is a full platter of delta soul drenched blues rock. The best description I can use for WSNB would be to take the Texas sounds of Omar and the Howlers and bury them in the swamps of Mississippi. This CD is pure unadulterated blues rock that lacks all polish but will certainly grab its listeners. My advice is get some good greasy southern food, a cold beer and turn this CD up real loud. You won’t be disappointed. After one listen you will understand why WSNB is one of North Carolinas hottest acts and why they too will have you singing the nasty blues." - WYCE 88.1 fm Grand Rapids, MI
Discography
"JOMO SWAMP ROOT BOOGIE" - released Feb. 2007
"OKTIBBEHA COUNTY"- released Dec. 2008
Photos
Bio
If blues music grows and expands its audience over the coming years it will be bands like WSNB leading the way. The WSNB sound flirts with swampy rock & roll and soul while keeping a deep blues root running through its core. This ain't your mama and daddies blues. The twin leads from guitarist Nate Brown and harpist Willie Shane Johnston create a signature sound that’s topped off by vocals from Willie Shane that are as unique and soulful as the great Bobby Blue Bland. Rounding out the lineup is the rock solid rhythm section of Clay Ford on bass and Jason Gardner on drums.
Two things jump out when listening to Jomo Swamp Root Boogie, the debut release from WSNB. First is the distinct musical sound. No other band sounds like this band. Second are the wonderfully written songs. In years gone by blues was a music of protest, of heartache, of loss, of hope, of celebration. There was always a message in the music. In a time where most new blues cds are one cliché song after another, WSNB has put the message back into the song. Whether the songs are of protest, like Honeywell, despair and anger over Katrina (In A Bowl), stories of a Mississippi voodoo priestess (Cascilla) , or the slow burning blues of 3 O’clock questioning love, there is nothing cliché about the music of WSNB.
2006 Cape Fear Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2007 International Blues Challenge Top 10 Finalists
2007 Disc Maker's Independent Music World Series Finalist as selected by the editors of Billboard Magazine
2007 Charlotte Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2008 International Blues Challenge Semi-finalist
2008 Southern Fried Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2009 International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist
Regular rotation on Sirius/XM Radio: BB KING'S BLUESVILLE channel 74:
#1 Pick to Click for the week of March 14, 2009
Latest release, "Oktibbeha County," spent 16 weeks on the AMA Charts: peaking at #20 for the weeks of March 9th & March 16th 2009
Festivals and Appearances
CANAL BANK BLUES SHUFFLE: Thorold, Ontario, Canada
JAZZASPEN SNOWMASS LABOR DAY WEEKEND FESTIVAL: Snowmass, Colorado
INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE (2007 Top 10 Finalist): Memphis, Tennessee
FRENCH BROAD RIVER FESTIVAL: Hot Springs, North Carolina
DISC MAKERS - INDEPENDENT MUSIC WORLD SERIES (2007 Top 6 Finalist): Nashville, Tennessee
XM SATELLITE RADIO STUDIOS: Washington, DC
SUNRISE BLUES CRAWL: Southern Pines, North Carolina
STEPPIN' OUT FESTIVAL: Blacksburg, Virginia
HOT SPRINGS BLUES FESTIVAL: Hot Springs, Arkansas
SPRINGING THE BLUES FESTIVAL: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
MAC ARNOLD'S CORNBREAD & COLLARD GREENS BLUES FESTIVAL: Black Mountain, North Carolina
EUREKA SPRINGS BLUES WEEKEND: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
BELE CHERE FESTIVAL: Asheville, North Carolina
COW PIE BLUES FESTIVAL: Caledonia, Michigan
CINCINNATI BLUES FESTIVAL: Cincinnati, Ohio
CAROLINA DOWNHOME BLUES FESTIVAL: Camden, South Carolina
COLUMBIA BLUES FESTIVAL: Columbia, South Carolina
ABINGDON BLUES FESTIVAL: Abingdon, Virginia
GEORGIA BLUES FESTIVAL: Dahlonega, Georgia
Links
