Swamp Cabbage (band)
| Walter Parks & Swamp Cabbage | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Swamp Cabbage |
| Origin | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Genres | Blues, Rock, |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | ZOHO Roots |
| Website | Swamp Cabbage home page |
| Members |
Walter Parks Jagoda Jim Devito |
| Past members | Matt Lindsey |
| Notable instruments | |
| Vocals, Guild Guitars (Vintage Guild Starfire[1] & Bluesbird) | |
Swamp Cabbage is a swamp blues band founded by Jacksonville, Florida native guitarist Walter Parks in 2003.[2] Current members are Walter Parks - guitar/vocals, Jagoda - drums, Jim Devito - bass.
Career
Swamp Cabbage have released three studio recordings, HONK and SQUEAL, and DRUM ROLL PLEASE. They were also featured on a Tribute to JJ Cale Vol 1 + 2 in 2010 (ZOHO ROOTS) on 5 tracks. On tracks 1 they collaborated with JJ Grey and on tracks 2 and 3 they collaborated with Jimmy Hall.[3] All of their studio recordings from 2003-2012 have been recorded at Retrophonics Studios in St. Augustine, FL and recorded analog to 2" tape.[4]
They have played clubs and festivals in Spain, Germany and the US and have been the support act for JJ Grey and Mofro, Taj Mahal Trio and Richie Havens.[5]
The music in the opening credits of the reality show "American Guns" that premiered on October 11, 2011 on the Discovery Channel was written and recorded by Swamp Cabbage.[6] Their music can also be heard on When Patrick Met Kylie, My Big Redneck Wedding, Man Vs. Food, Emeril Green, Extreme Pig Outs, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Roadtrip Nation (PBS), Samantha Brown Passport, Amazing Wedding Cakes and Chasing Classic Cars.[7]
Band Members
Walter Parks: Founding member of Swamp Cabbage. Recorded and toured for 10 years as lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens. Also was one half of the folk-pop duo, The Nudes.
Jim DeVito: Produced and Engineer for Swamp Cabbage's first two CDs, HONK and SQUEAL, and stepped in as bass player in 2009. Producer/engineer his studio was also used to record the entire discography of fellow Floridians J.J. Grey and MOFRO.
Jagoda: Founding member of Swamp Cabbage. Annual instructor at the Rock Mountain Folks Fest Song School in Lyons, CO. Recorded on T Bone Burnett’s recent record Tooth of Crime.[8]
Reception
SQUEAL
"Squeal is an eclectic ride through Dixie, replete with all of the thick and sweaty sounds you’d expect from a group named Swamp Cabbage. It’s also another fine addition to the Zoho record catalog, in my estimation one of the most overlooked labels around."[9]
"He's [Jagoda's] got one name and one mission: Whether channeling Ringo's "Get Back" feel on "Dixieland," allowing a little parade -ground jazz into "Sopchoppy," "Softshoe," and the kickoff cadence on "Delegation," or dragging the beat to the point of inertia "Feedbag," Jagoda plays with a feel that's hot yet also a little sleepy, like highway tar on Alabama summer afternoon."[10]
HONK
"Here is your recipe for making Swamp Cabbage: Get out a big mixing bowl and put in equal parts of ZZ Top, John Campbell, Tom Waits, Leon Redbone, Canned Heat, Otis Taylor and John Lee Hooker. Then add a little water moccasin venom, the heart of an alligator and some miscellaneous toad fluids. Leave this mixture out in the wild of the north Florida swamps for about 10 years with the lid slightly ajar and, you know... see what happens. Then take this bowl and pour the contents into your CD player and push "play." What will come out of your CD player will be an Americana, infectious boogie that will be hard to get out of your head. Swamp Cabbage's debut CD, entitled Honk, features all original tunes written by singer, guitar-and-banjo-player Walter Parks. Parks is Richie Havens' longtime touring lead guitar player. This CD is about the song and the groove and not about guitar histrionics."[11]
"Swamp Cabbage offers a strong infectious beat, a dirty guitar and a voice that makes your skin crawl with gnats and your throat burn with 100 proof white lightning. Buy this album and be save."[12]
"There’s some insane witch doctor in Florida who swears he’s conceived the perfect band. He stole a lock of each of the guys in ZZ Top’s beards, a recording of Tom Waits singing acapella, a dash of George Thorogood’s booze, a piece of a New Orleans hooker’s, ahem, appendage, and, for good measure, threw in a can of Louisiana hot sauce. What he’s come up with is an outfit calling themselves Swamp Cabbage."[13]
"Swamp Cabbage is a trio led by guitarist/vocalist Walter Parks. Walter has been around, and is best known as the guitarist for Richie Havens. If that fact would have you expecting folk music on this album, forget it. This is swamp blues and rock that fits the title of the record perfectly. Parks's playing and singing gets to the heart of the matter. His vocals sound like a cross between Billy Gibbons and Tom Waits. And the guitar is dirty and funky enough to match. Solos come one of two ways; the funkiness comes from a fingerpicked electric that cuts like a knife."[14]
Discography
- 2003 - Swamp Cabbage - HONK (self-released)
- 2005 - Relix Presents: JamOff! (Various Artists) - Tallahassee
- 2008 - Swamp Cabbage - SQUEAL (ZOHO ROOTS)
- 2010 - Swamp Cabbage - Live On the In Tune in NYC (self-released)
- 2010 - Tribute to JJ Cale Vol 1 + 2 (ZOHO ROOTS)
- 2012 - Drum Roll Please EP
- 2013 - Swamp Cabbage - JIVE (TBR) [15]
References
- ↑ Vintage Guitar September 8, 2011 "The Guild Starfire Bass" by Willie Moseley
- ↑ St. Augustine Record - 28 Sept 2011
- ↑ Amazon Store
- ↑ Honk, Squeal and Drum Roll Please CD Covers
- ↑ http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/swamp-cabbage/shows/ Sonicbids Show Archives
- ↑ EU Magazine Oct 17, 2011
- ↑ http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/swamp-cabbage/biography/ ArtistData Biography
- ↑ Swamp Cabbage Website
- ↑ WEMU 89.1FM - April 20, 2010
- ↑ Drum May 2008
- ↑ Holler April - May 2007 Jim Stick
- ↑ EU Magazine - Rick Grant 2007
- ↑ Dallas Music Guide by David Elliott 2009
- ↑ Vintage Guitar, JH - July 25, 2007
- ↑ Studio Youtube Description