Cut In The Hill Gang (ex Soledad Bros, Black Diamond Heavies, Pearlene..)
Former Soledad Brother, Johnny Walker, has an outfit calling themselves Cut in the Hill Gang.
The Cut in the Hill Gang are four front men who are the real deal. Taking their name from the deadliest stretch of road in the United States, the band is touring France in October 2013 to support their new record, Mean Black Cat, on Beast Records.
The progenitor of the band, Johnny Walker, is a practicing doctor. Many musicians call themselves “doctor”, but lack the dedication and diligence to earn the title. Johnny is the real Doctor, no gimmick, no fake. He fronted the infamous Soledad Brothers, sang for the MC5/DKT, recorded all of the slide on the White Stripes first album, John Sinclair wrote the liner notes of his first album, and fronted John Peel’s favorite band. In spite of all of these things, and he spent 13 hours a day in a library learning about medicine. If you want a fake doctor, go listen to someone else.
The latest addition to the band is keyboard player James Leg. Much like the term “doctor”, the term “reverend” is over used in the music business. Many years before he started the Black Diamond Heavies, James Leg earned his bona fides the old fashioned way. He preached his first sermon in front of a congregation when he was 8 years old, deep in the heart of the American South. Anyone can send 10 dollars to fake university to get a certificate saying they are a “reverend.” Reverend Leg earned it the old fashioned way, he believed it. The next time you go to listen to a fake rock and roll “reverend”, ask them what they believe in. It probably ain’t Jesus or rock and roll.
The most volatile member of the Cut in the Hill Gang is one Ruben Glazer, better known as the Mountain Jew. He has sleeplessly fronted numerous bands in the heart of guitar country, the American Midwest. Mr Glazer and Dr Walker form the ying and the yang of this band. Ruben’s most recent job was playing lead guitar in the Detroit Cobras and he is renowned for fronting the cult guitar heroes, Pearlene. Test his authenticity at your own risk.
The beat that holds this rambling wreck together is Lucky Lance Kauffman. Hailing from Idaho, in the American West, Lance was a real cowboy and worked on road crews that built highways through the Rocky Mountains. In other words, he worked on a real Cut in the Hill Gang. Currently, he fronts a rock-a-billy band named The Star Devils. How often is it that the drummer has the best voice in the band?
The Cut in the Hill Gang, the real deal. This is the band that you should listen to, unless you favor fake little dancey boys with cute haircuts. There is nothing more integral and real than this band.