FEATURE OF THE WEEK1/30/12 SPEEDBUGGY U.S.A.

[TedsTireFire]

The first time I heard this band was in 2008. My good friend had burned me a mix cd titled Honky Tonk Mix. I thought it was good until the last song came on. To me that song embodied everthing a broken hearted Honky Tonk song could acheive and then some. I kept hitting the back button on the cd player until I got to work that day and did the same all the way home. I was blown away. This song was dripping with sadness, desperation, loss, and lonleyness. They captured a feeling and truned it into music which is what all great songs are made of. That's when I fell in love with Speedbuggy U.S.A. it was hearing
Close Down [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL2rDXY6ZgI[/youtube]

Once I found out who this band was I went out and bought everything I could find from them, which by the way depends on who is selling a used copy for the bands older stuff. With the albums I had gathered I found out that Speedbuggy was a Punk band with infusions of Honky Tonk Country in their earlier work. But as time passed and albums they grew to be a Honky Tonk band with a Punk habit. This was right up my alley because I believe that Honky Tonk and Punk are like father and son. You can take any Punk song and slow it down and add a pedal steel you have a true Honky Tonk song.] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wFe8dJz1u4&feature=related[/youtube]

I would love to give you shitloads of history and line ups but I can't. The reason I can't is because of the little I do find on this band seems to conflict with itself. But here is what I do know. Speedbuggy was founded in 1995 by Hammond La. native Timbo, who moved to California a few years earlier. Speedbuggy has put out numerous Ep's and albums with various line ups, most notably Steve Kidwiller of NOFX on guitar. This is a working band. By saying that I mean they have day jobs to make ends meet so they can make and play music. Timbo is a carpenter by trade and has worked on the set of the TLC show Trading Spaces. With that being said take this into account. The album THE CITY THAT GOD FORGOT's profits are donated to Habitat For Humanity Katrina Relief. Sure they might not be much but its a lot when you work a day ob and still find it in your heart to give a piece of yourself to a good cause.

The truth of the matter is it doesnt matter how giving that are or how they make a living its the music that counts. In my opinion Speedbuggy pays it back in spades. They repersent both Punk and Honky Tonk without neglecting either one. Some notable albums are Hardcore Honky Tonk, Cowboys and Aliens, Red Eyed and Rowdy, The City That God Forgot, and Valle De La Muerte. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXgKkgN3VY&feature=related[/youtube][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33-ZOEMCN0&feature=related[/youtube][youtube]http://www.youtubev=kbJedMNgeaY&feature=related
.com/watch?[/youtube][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTjMcHqUWsc&feature=related[/youtube]
After I had written this piece I got a chance to ask Timbo a few questions about the bands line up, jobs they hold, thoughts on Spotify and Pandora, their home base, upcoming projects, and what he sees for the future of real music. So here is Timbos reply....

Ok first of all the band member Seth on guitar he produces and mixes and engineers music for a living. Brady the bass player works in the film industry in Hollywood. Kelli on drums works as a session drummer. Greg plays steel guitar and also works as a session musician in NYC. And me Timbo singer and guitarist I'm a carpenter when not on the road.

Spotify and Pandora are great if it gets the music out I'm all for it.

We still live in LA but our steel player lives in NYC. We are playing New York to work out new songs infront of a different audience.

We are almost done recording we will shop the record in Feb. It's more twang Honky Tonkin heart broken country. I think it's our best work yet and we plan to hit the road hard in the U.S. and Europe.

I think there still is room for good music to get out there it's just harder to make cash in Punk Rock clubs. Can't play for all the beer you can drink and $10 forever. But all is not lost, if it doesn't kill ya it makes ya stronger and this is our strongest record yet. Lets keep country strong one song at a time.
TIMBO

So here it is hope you like the band and their music. If so go out and support them.

[beantownbubba]

"The album THE CITY THAT GOD FORGOT's profits are donated to Habitat For Humanity Katrina Relief. Sure they might not be much but its a lot when you work a day ob and still find it in your heart to give a piece of yourself to a good cause."

I can get behind that, sight unheard.

[RolanK]

Great voice! Need to check out more from this band.