The Boxmasters

Last updated

The Boxmasters
BillyBobThornton.jpg
The band performing at Slims in San Francisco, California, in September 2007
Background information
Origin Bellflower, California, United States
Genres
Years active2007–present
Labels Vanguard
NDR Records
Thirty Tigers
Members Billy Bob Thornton
J.D. Andrew
Kirk McKim
Raymond Hardy
Nick Davidson
Past membersMicheal Wayne Butler
Brad Davis
Daniel Baker
Teddy Andreadis
Dave Fowler
Eric Rhoades
Marty Rifkin
Mike "Bubba" Bruce
Chuck Garric
Website theboxmasters.com

The Boxmasters is an American rock band founded in Bellflower, California, in 2007 by actor Billy Bob Thornton and Grammy Award-winning recording engineer J.D. Andrew. The group released their 17th album Love & Hate In Desperate Places in August of 2024 and finished multiple other records, that are still waiting to see the light of day.

Contents

Before he formed the Boxmasters, frontman Thornton had played in bands since middle school, worked as a roadie, recorded in 1974 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and in the 2000s released four solo albums. After listening to "Yesterday's Gone" by Chad & Jeremy and thinking about covering it in a hillbilly music style, he had the idea of making Americanized version of British Invasion pop songs. From mid-2008 to late 2008, the group embarked on a tour across the United States, ending in Los Angeles. It also played for the March 2009 South by Southwest conference. After opening several tours for Willie Nelson in 2009 & 2010, The Boxmasters ceased touring for five years, which they used to write multiple albums and emerged with a more natural sound, as opposed to their early hillbilly leanings.

History

Beginnings

Billy Bob Thornton—credited on the band's material as W. R. Thornton—has said that "[he] never intended to become a movie star, it happened accidentally. [...] Music is what I love." [7] Before his acting career started, he played in cover bands of Creedence Clearwater Revival, ZZ Top, and also worked as a roadie with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnny Paycheck, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Statler Brothers, and other bands during high school. [8] [9] He also released a record with a band called 'Hot Lanta' in 1974. [10] During his acting career, Thornton released four solo albums from 2001 to 2007. [11]

Thornton brought in sound engineer J. D. Andrew to help with his 2007 album Beautiful Door . After jamming together, they started to record some of their material. Andrew had known Mike Butler "for six or seven years" and called on him to play guitar for them. According to Andrew, after the trio played together, they said "Shoot, this sounds like a band." The three came up with the name "Boxmasters" after a piece of Southern slang, which they later described by saying "remember the bad boy in high school who got all the girls and left a trail of broken hearts ... and more?" [11] Thornton had also briefly played in country star Porter Wagoner's similarly titled band 'The Wagonmasters', which he later said had brought chills down his spine. [8]

Early career

The band started in Bellflower, California, in 2007. During its early days, the band played several live shows in the California area, as well as in Tecate, Mexico. [7] [12] Their first album, The Boxmasters, was released on June 10, 2008, by Vanguard Records. It received a mostly poor review from Allmusic, which stated that "The Boxmasters might work live because there will be visuals; but merely as a listening exercise, it's best taken in small doses so the novelty doesn't wear off." The review also alleged that "Thornton can't drum to save his life, and he can't sing". [13] The Washington Post praised the album, and the paper remarked that listeners will get their money's worth if they enjoy the music even half as much as the band did during the recordings. [14]

The group resumed touring in July 2008, [9] adding musicians Bradley Davis on mandolin, guitar, and vocals, Teddy Andreadis on harmonica and organ, and Mike Bruce on drums. [12] Their tour across the United States ended on September 7, 2008, when they played at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. [8] The band released their second album, Christmas Cheer, on November 11, 2008, also through Vanguard Records. Allmusic gave another critical review, calling the music "an acquired taste". [15] USA Today music critic Brian Mansfield named it one of his favorite holiday albums. [16] The Boxmasters went on a post-album 12-city tour with Willie Nelson, playing from November 22 in Enid, Oklahoma, to December 6 in Champaign, Illinois. [17] They then embarked on a six-city tour of Texas in March 2009, which included a March 18 appearance at the South by Southwest music conference. [18]

The band released Modbilly on Vanguard on April 21, 2009. Houston Press praised the album, saying that it "confirms that Billy Bob Thornton's writing talents aren't confined to his Oscar-winning screenplays." [19] Allmusic stated that it "goes on far too long, never changing, never peaking". [20] Prefix gave a mostly positive review, calling it "for real" and stating that "Thornton’s distinct voice continues to be a nice fit with the material". [21] Entertainment Weekly criticized it as "unmemorable". [22]

The group has covered The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Turtles, and Mott the Hoople in its unique style. It also plays original songs, mostly written or co-written by Thornton based on the "white trash" figures he had seen in his Arkansas childhood. The Montreal Gazette has called his original material "at turns dark and funny, with world-class hooks". [7] The members play while wearing well-dressed 'Mod' outfits such as tailored black suits, white shirts, and narrow black neckties. [23]

Aside from playing, Thornton has said that he plans on creating comic books based on him and other band members. Plots would involve the band coming to the aid of townspeople as they tour. He said, "We're not sure what our superpowers are going to be yet". [24]

Canadian touring and controversy

In April 2009, the band was scheduled to tour across Canada, opening for country music veterans Willie Nelson and Ray Price. [7] [23] On April 8, the band appeared on the national CBC Radio One program Q , hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. During the first half of the interview, Thornton was "surly and uncooperative", and responded with "I don't know" when asked how long the band had been together. When asked about his musical tastes and influences as a child, he gave his longest answer, but it was about his favorite magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland . He also stated that he had "instructed" the show's producers to not ask any questions about his career as a screenwriter and actor. [25] [26] The interview is satirized in the Detective Crashmore sketch in Season 2, Episode 3 of I Think You Should Leave.

Ghomeshi, in introducing the band, mentioned the acting credentials of Thornton, but never based his questions to Thornton about his show business career. Thornton went on to say that Canadian audiences were generally reserved and that the band was used to playing in places where people move around and throw things at each other. He then added, "it's like mashed potatoes with no gravy." This caused an outpouring of criticism from across Canada and around the world for the star's behavior. [27] [28]

The following night, the band opened for Willie Nelson at Toronto's prestigious Massey Hall. A series of boos and catcalls erupted mid-set, with people in the audience yelling "here comes the gravy!" when Thornton tried to explain he liked Canadians but not the CBC radio host. Before the show, when asked about his "gravy" comment, Thornton claimed he was talking about the radio host. [29] Local reviews of Thornton's Toronto performance were not positive. [30] Toronto Star called Thornton's voice a "high, tinny whine" and The Globe and Mail commented that "Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things". [23] [31] On April 10, The Boxmasters dropped out of the tour early, announcing that they would not be playing with Nelson during subsequent concerts scheduled in London, Ontario, and Montreal. Thornton said that band members had come down with the flu. Willie Nelson's publicist had no comment. [30]

The band resumed touring in Stamford, Connecticut, on April 14. [32] In the aftermath of the controversy, Thornton appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and he said, "The fact that was news was astounding to me... But it gave humpbacked geeks all over the world something to do for a couple of days." He added that he only wants to be perceived as a musician in the context of the band, remarking that "I'm just in their band, I'm just one of those guys". [33]

Touring hiatus

In 2010, The Boxmasters ceased touring for almost five years. During that time Billy Bob Thornton wrote & directed the feature film Jayne Mansfield's Car .

Return to album releases and touring

In 2015 the Boxmasters returned with the album Somewhere Down The Road released by 101 Ranch Records. Rolling Stone said "This sprawling double album, which amazingly doesn't feel Use Your Illusion bloated, finds him and the ace 'Masters — who play the Grand Ole Opry on August 18th — mixing country noir with bright jangle pop. One disc is all Americana gothic, while the other is Nuggets by way of Liverpool. "Always Lie," from the twangy half of the project, is Thornton devilishly sharing his trick for dealing with the press and ranks with some of country's most honest songwriting. (Or does it?)" [34]

Members

Current members
Former members

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bob Thornton</span> American actor, filmmaker, singer and songwriter (born 1955)

Billy Bob Thornton is an American film actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter. He received international attention after writing, directing, and starring in the independent drama film Sling Blade (1996), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. For his role in A Simple Plan (1998) he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is also known for his film roles in One False Move (1992), Dead Man (1995), U Turn (1997), Primary Colors (1998), Armageddon (1998), Monster's Ball (2001), The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), Bad Santa (2003), and Friday Night Lights (2004). He has written a variety of films including A Family Thing (1996) and The Gift (2000) and has directed films such as Daddy and Them (2001), All the Pretty Horses (2000), and Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Young</span> Canadian and American musician (born 1945)

Neil Percival Young is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining the folk-rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the beginning of his solo career, often with backing by the band Crazy Horse, he has released critically acclaimed albums such as Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), After the Gold Rush (1970), Harvest (1972), On the Beach (1974), and Rust Never Sleeps (1979). He was also a part-time member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with whom he recorded the chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Hazel</span> American guitarist (1950–1992)

Edward Earl Hazel was an American guitarist and singer in early funk music who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic. Hazel was a posthumous inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. His ten-minute guitar solo in the Funkadelic song "Maggot Brain" is hailed as "one of the greatest solos of all time on any instrument". In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Hazel at no. 29 in its list of 250 of the greatest guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Nelson</span> American country singer (born 1933)

Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Lanois</span> Canadian record producer and musician (born 1951)

Daniel Roland Lanois is a Canadian record producer and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Lonely Boys</span> American musical group

Los Lonely Boys are an American musical group from San Angelo, Texas. They play a style of music they call "Texican Rock n' Roll", combining elements of rock and roll, Texas blues, brown-eyed soul, country, and Tejano music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asleep at the Wheel</span> American band

Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western Swing music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more than 21 singles on the Billboard country charts. Their highest-charting single, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", peaked at No. 10 in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Joe Shaver</span> American country singer (1939–2020)

Billy Joe Shaver was an American singer, songwriter and actor.

<i>Stardust</i> (Willie Nelson album) 1978 studio album by Willie Nelson

Stardust is the 22nd studio album by Willie Nelson, released in April 1978. Its ten songs consist entirely of pop standards that Nelson picked from among his favorites. Nelson asked Booker T. Jones, who was his neighbor in Malibu at the time, to arrange a version of "Moonlight in Vermont". Impressed with Jones's work, Nelson asked him to produce the entire album. Nelson's decision to record such well-known tracks was controversial among Columbia executives because he had distinguished himself in the outlaw country genre. Recording the album took only ten days.

<i>Shotgun Willie</i> 1973 studio album by Willie Nelson

Shotgun Willie is the 16th studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, released on June 11, 1973. The recording marks a change of style for Nelson, who later stated that the album "cleared his throat". When Nelson refused to sign an early extension of his contract with RCA Records in 1972, the label decided not to release any further recordings. Nelson hired Neil Reshen as his manager, and while Reshen negotiated with RCA, Nelson moved to Austin, Texas, where the ongoing hippie music scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters renewed his musical style. In Nashville, Nelson met producer Jerry Wexler, vice president of Atlantic Records, who was interested in his music. Reshen solved the problems with RCA and signed Nelson with Atlantic as their first country music artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Ending Tour</span> Popular name for Bob Dylans endless touring schedule since 1988

The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's ongoing touring schedule which began on June 7, 1988. Musicians have come and gone over the years. The tour amassed a huge fan base with some fans traveling from around the world to attend as many Dylan shows as possible.

<i>Q</i> (radio show) Canadian radio show

q with Tom Power is a Canadian arts magazine show produced by and airing on CBC Radio One, with syndication to public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio Exchange. The program mainly features interviews with prominent cultural and entertainment figures, though subjects and interviewees also deal with broader cultural topics such as their social, political and business aspects.

Brad Davis is an American country/bluegrass/rock guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter. Guitar World Magazine named Brad as one of the greatest Texas guitarist of all time in 2022. Initially, a member of country singer Marty Stuart's road band, Davis has also performed with David Lee Roth, Bela Fleck, Roger Miller, David Lee Roth, Earl Scruggs, Sam Bush, Billy Bob Thornton, ZZ TOP and many others, in addition to writing songs for artists like Tim McGraw, Jo-El Sonnier, Tony Trischka, Tommy Shaw, and Thornton.

<i>Live at Billy Bobs Texas</i> (Willie Nelson album) 2004 live album by Willie Nelson

Live at Billy Bob's Texas is a 2004 album by country singer Willie Nelson. It was recorded at Billy Bob's, a popular country music nightclub in Fort Worth, Texas, United States.

<i>Beautiful Door</i> 2007 studio album by Billy Bob Thornton

Beautiful Door is a 2007 country music album by Billy Bob Thornton; released by New Door Records, it is the fourth album by the American actor and singer-songwriter.

The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, sometimes referred to as POTR, is an American country rock band formed in Los Angeles in 2008 by Lukas Nelson. The band consists of Lukas Nelson , Anthony LoGerfo, Corey McCormick, Logan Metz, and Tato Melgar (percussion). They have released eight studio albums. two live albums, numerous singles and extended plays (EP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family (Willie Nelson's band)</span> Willie Nelsons touring and recording group

The Family is the lead singer Willie Nelson's touring and recording group. Nelson, who did not manage through the 1960s to succeed as a singer, retired after the failure of his 1971 album Yesterday's Wine. The following year, he returned from retirement rejuvenated by the burgeoning music movement of Austin, Texas.

<i>Lets Face the Music and Dance</i> (Willie Nelson album) 2013 studio album by Willie Nelson

Let's Face the Music and Dance is the 61st studio album by American country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson's second album under his contract with Legacy Recordings, it was released on April 16, 2013. The album produced by Buddy Cannon featured a collection of standards that Nelson and his sister Bobbie played throughout their careers.

<i>December Day: Willies Stash, Vol. 1</i> 2014 studio album by Willie Nelson

December Day: Willie's Stash, Vol. 1 is a collaboration album by American country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson and his sister, Bobbie Nelson, released by Legacy Recordings on December 2, 2014. It was the first release of Willie's Stash, a set of archival recordings curated by Nelson. Recorded with his road band, the album includes a track featuring Nelson's longtime bassist Bee Spears, deceased in 2011.

References

  1. ↑ Antonio (21 April 2021). "From Big Screen to Main Stage: Famous Actors who Released Amazing Albums". Electric Castle. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (23 April 2015). "Billy Bob Thornton on Media Lies, Musical Truths and New Boxmasters Album". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rock with Billy Bob and the Boxmasters at Harris". Village Life. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Moore, Rick (2020). "Behind the Song: Billy Bob Thornton, "That Mountain"". American Songwriter . Retrieved 19 July 2023. While the British Invasion-loving Boxmasters have been called everything from psycho-billy to country-rock
  5. ↑ Moser, John J. (3 July 2019). "Billy Bob Thornton's band The Boxmasters taps Beatles' engineer to tell 'Speck' of a story on new disc". The Morning Call. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Amery, Richard (14 September 2016). "Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters play solid set of roots rock". The Lethbridge Alberta Beat. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Perusse, Bernard (7 April 2009). "Beatles and Rolling Stones, hillbilly style". The Montreal Gazette . Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 Billy Bob Thornton Crosses Musical Boundaries With Boxmasters. By Calvin Gilbert. CMT.com Published September 3, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Chiu, David (2 June 2008). "Billy Bob Thornton Returns to Music With the Boxmasters". Spinner.com . Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  10. ↑ Beal Jr., Jim (17 July 2008). "Billy Bob's band is all about 'modbilly'". San Antonio Express-News . Hearst Newspapers. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Billy Bob and the Boxmasters bring modbilly to Beaumont Friday". Beaumont Enterprise. 19 March 2009.
  12. 1 2 True, Chris. "The Boxmasters". Allmusic . Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  13. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "The Boxmasters – The Boxmasters". Allmusic . Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  14. ↑ Joyce, Mike (22 August 2008). "The Boxmasters". The Washington Post . Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  15. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "The Boxmasters – Christmas Cheer". Allmusic . Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  16. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (15 December 2008). "A very special Christmas list for fans of all musical genres". USA Today . Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  17. ↑ Boxmasters to Tour with Willie Nelson. CMT.com. Published November 14, 2008.
  18. ↑ Boxmasters Prepare Third Album. CMT.com Published February 26, 2009.
  19. ↑ Listening Room: What's Been Tickling Our Earholes Lately. By Chris Gray. Houston Press . Published April 27, 2009.
  20. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Boxmasters – Modbilly". Allmusic . Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  21. ↑ Modbilly. Prefix . Published April 22, 2009.
  22. ↑ Collis, Clark (1 May 2009). "Quick Takes". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 Willie Nelson concert a country feast, with sour notes. Toronto Star . Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  24. ↑ Billy Bob Thornton becomes a Boxmaster. Music Radar. Published June 3, 2008.
  25. ↑ Thornton obnoxious in CBC interview. UPI. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  26. ↑ Thornton clashes with radio host. BBC News. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  27. ↑ Billy Bob Thornton does a Joaquin Phoenix on Canadian radio [ dead link ]. Times Online. Published April 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  28. ↑ Billy Bob Thornton Attempts To Outdo Joaquin Phoenix In CBC Interview By Daniel Kreps. Rolling Stone . Published April 8, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  29. ↑ Billy Bob not done with the barbs. Toronto Star . Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  30. 1 2 Billy Bob ends Canadian tour. Toronto Star . Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  31. ↑ Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things. The Globe and Mail . Published April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  32. ↑ Thornton’s Band Calls in Sick. The New York Times . Published April 12, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  33. ↑ VIDEO: Billy Bob Thornton 'Astounded' by Interview Fallout. By Howard Breuer. People . Published April 22, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  34. ↑ "30 Great Country Albums of 2015 You Probably Didn't Hear". Rolling Stone. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.