The Swamp Justice Family Band
3,480 plays
12,609 views
12,609 views
Collected from the bottoms of various swamps and gator bellies in the southeastern United States, the constantly changing players in The Swamp Justice Family Band perform a style of music appropriately called 'lowgrass.' Part bluegrass, part blues, part punk rock, part gator tooth, and a dab of whiskey, Swamp Justice sews together traditional and original compositions like medicine men sew busted scalps. Though you may hear them sing a gospel tune, you're more likely to hear an improvised sermon concerning the benefits of praying while drunk (the confessions come easier) before a slow rendition of "Cocaine Habit." Before the band was reduced from 6-12 down to 1-3, the Justice Family self-released a collection of live tracks, Live at St. Mary's, and a studio release, Letters to Charlie. The live album is a smattering of tunes from a three set gig the band played early on. The origins of the traditional songs stretch from the Mississippi Delta up the Appalachian Mountains. The album also includes one original song and two new takes on a couple Tom Waits songs. Their studio release, Letters to Charlie, includes two orginal songs and many new arrangements. Leighton Reid's "Charlie," recounts the hard rambling life of Charlie Poole with cutting lyrics that depict a legendary life while maintaining a sense of humor Poole himself would have appreciated. "Black Bottle," based on depression-era rumors that doctors poisoned transients and migrant workers if they sought help in a hospital, is sung from the perspective of the weary hobo. The eight voices of the Family Band merge smoothly or crash together depending on the moment, giving the album the feel of a mule buggy demolition derby. Both CDs are available to order direct from the band.
The extended family: Skintback City Public Radio (Asheville, NC; myspace.com/skintbackcitypublicradio); The Pleasant Valley Blight (Nashville, TN); The Soggy Biscuit Boys (Columbia, SC; myspace.com/soggybiscuitboys); Mr. Charlie (Decatur, AL); The Cankickers (New London, CT; myspace.com/cankickers])Have you performed in front of an audience?We play on street corners sometimes, and sometimes in bars, and sometimes in barns, graveyards, scrap yards, front porches, in our heads, in your head...One time we played with Skintback City Public Radio, all of us at one time. There must have been twelve people on stage playing Folsom Prison. Over one hundred strings. That was fun.
Your musical influences
Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas, The Old Crow Medicine Show, Bessie Smith, Blind Willie Johnson, Tom Waits, The Freight Hoppers, The Ramones, The Hackensaw Boys, Woody Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, The Black Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, The Wilders, The White Stripes, Bill Monroe, R.L. Burnside, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, The Louvin Brothers, The Clash, Doc and Merle Watson, Earl Johnson, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Fiddlin' John Carson, Hank III, Waylon Jennings, Ida Cox, Crying Sam Collins. . .What equipment do you use?
skill saws, drill presses, steel drums for warmthAnything else?
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swamp justice family band exudes the joy of traditional music. nicely done!
--stockwrockAll comments (2)
3,480 plays
12,609 views
12,609 views
Admin
Drew
@swampjustice
Hello, I listened to your "Mountain Dew"...very very country, probably one of the most countriest songs i have heard on soundclick...very entertaining listen..i love the play in the instrumental and the vocals are more modern sounding, while the play is traditional..very nice work, i voted the song HOT to move it up to the top where it belongs...tell us when you have new material....I would like for you to listen to my instrumental sometime, thanks and much respect... ADAD RECORDS