HADDEN SAYERS

Hard Dollar

2011-06-26

Review of Hadden Sayers Hard Dollar by Steven "Nick" Nickelson:

Did I ever mention I am a fan of the blues? I just like the sheer range of musical styles all speaking the same language - of lost love, hard drinkin', hard livin', and more troubles than even Jonah could bear. This cd is a culmination of all that pain, coupled with a certain joi de vivre. Hadden has always played the soulful side of the blues, and this album demonstrates his prodigious song-writng skills, as well as his command of the electric guitar ("Flat Black Automobile", "Crush On You"). Coming from Texas, he is capable of holding his own with most ax slingers. He is at home, as well, when it comes to hard-driving Texas-style Blues a la SRV on "Burnin' Up". I think this is one of his best licks on the album, and that is no mean feat. On this cd, he is accompanied by his fellow travelers, Steven Wills on Bass Guitar, “Niko” Leophonte on drums, and featuring Ruthie Foster ("Back To The Blues"). On the only instrumental on this go-round ("Money Shot"), Hadden and company get that Blues Train goin' , and I can't help tappin' my toes to it. It's quite catchy, as well as tightly played. I had never heard this artist before, and frankly, I am surprised - given all the talent in him and his bandmates.

That's my two nickels worth........................Nick

FCC Clean

FCC ALERT: "Nothing happening here, folks"

ARTIST BIO:

Hadden Sayers, Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals Hadden was born in Nacogdoches, Texas and has lived all of his life throughout the state. He graduated from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Texas A&M on an Ag Scholarship where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. He moved to Austin and joined “Silent Partners,” a blues band on the Antones record label featuring famous blues sidemen Russell Jackson and Tony Coleman, both of whom played for B.B. King for many years and now lead their own groups. In August of 1993 he started his own band and never looked back. Today, The Hadden Sayers band performs in Clubs and festivals all over the world including Canada, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Russia. Hadden has performed, played or jammed with many others including: Kenny Neal, The Neville Brothers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Susan Tedeschi, Double Trouble, Ian Moore, Marcia Ball, The Doobie Bros., Los Lobos, Bryan Adams and many, many others! The Hadden Sayers Band tours and records continuously. Watch for the release of our 5th CD entitled “12 Bars and the Naked Truth.” Steven Will, Bass Guitar Steven Will was born in Pasadena, Texas, and raised in the South Houston area. Hadden Sayers, Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals Hadden was born in Nacogdoches, Texas and has lived all of his life throughout the state. He graduated from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Texas A&M on an Ag Scholarship where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. Nicolas “Niko” Leophonte, Drums Niko Leophonte was born and raised in the South of France in the City of Toulouse. He became increasingly drawn to American blues and roots music until he decided to relocate to Austin, Texas, in 1996. His drumming skills quickly brought him to the attention of many of Austin’s top musicians including Derek O’Brien, Roscoe Beck and others. When he’s not touring with Hadden you just might find him down at Antone’s on a blue Monday jamming with Tommy Shannon or David Grissom. Or maybe you’ll see him cruising down South Lamar in his vintage 1964 Cadillac.He has played for many bands in the Houston and Austin area – most notably The Sheila Marshall Band, where he traveled extensively throughout the U.S. including Hawaii and also to Japan. He also played for Austin’s “Soapbox” and “Last American Virgin”. He was first associated with the Hadden Sayers Band in 1996 when he replaced founding member Charles Richard Knight on bass guitar. Steve went on to perform on the HSB album “Swingin’ from the Fabulous Satellite” before moving on to perform with other Texas notables. He has been back on the never-ending tour since January 2003.

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