Revelator
Revelator makes modern sounds out of tradition, melding the deep soul of the blues, the ecstacy of gospel, the aggression of punk and the minimalism of underground rock. This is roots music rooted defiantly in the present.
Revelator interprets traditional americana, recorded exclusively prior to 1945, from delta and piedmont blues to appalachian old-time, from memphis jug bands to spirituals. Our mentors are those men and women - Son House, Memphis Minnie, the Carter Family and Blind Willie McTell - whose music expressed the fundamentals of the human experience. As an electric group or an acoustic string band, Revelator explores the extremes of emotion, from death to desire.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The origins of Revelator lie in the cult Chicago alt.country band Cattle Queen, which included Josh Arthurs on lead guitar and Peter Davis on drums. The locale then switched to Rome, Italy, where Josh hooked up with Rick Arrow, another traditional blues freak. Upon their return to Chicago, they reconnected with Peter, and finally, after an exhaustive auditioning process, discovered the incredible Bethany Thomas, fresh off the farm from Wisconsin. The rest is noisy history.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Revelator plays all around Chicago, at rock clubs, blues joints, alt-country bars and punk clubs. Favorites include the Abbey Pub, Beat Kitchen and Nevin's Live. We also played an extensive stint at a fish restaurant in Evanston, doing acoustic blues for seniors, toddlers and yuppies wolfing down tuna steaks!
Your musical influences
Think the Velvet Underground channeling Skip James...the Stooges covering Memphis Minnie...Tina Turner fronting the White Stripes, singing a Blind Willie McTell Song
Anything else?
The blues are back! Don't settle for pale imitations or cheesy bar bands - blues should kick you where it counts. Revelator will leave bruises.
