Big Tobacco & the Pickers - a six piece country outfit based out of Southern Ontario that formed in early 2008. Wide variety of influences ranging from Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Cash, to The Band, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills etc. The band consists of Jamie Oliver (vocals/guitar), Jason Blanchard (guitar/vocals), Jay Mallany (bass/vocals), Anne Werbitsky (pedal steel/lap steel/dobro), Blaine McKenzie (piano), and Derek Simpson (drums). Started off ...
Big Tobacco & the Pickers - a six piece country outfit based out of Southern Ontario that formed in early 2008. Wide variety of influences ranging from Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Cash, to The Band, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills etc. The band consists of Jamie Oliver (vocals/guitar), Jason Blanchard (guitar/vocals), Jay Mallany (bass/vocals), Anne Werbitsky (pedal steel/lap steel/dobro), Blaine McKenzie (piano), and Derek Simpson (drums). Started off performing classic country, southern rock, and Americana covers in Toronto area bars and taverns. While cutting their teeth and honing their live shows, they set about writing songs for what would become their debut release. Armed with a tight live show and an ever increasing amount of original material, they moved up to playing Toronto area institutions like The Dakota Tavern, Cadillac Lounge, and a monthly residence at The Cameron House, on Queen St W. Along the way they’ve had the opportunity to play with country music greats like Al Brisco (pedal steel), Burke Carroll (pedal steel), Steve Piticco (guitar) and Marc Roy (guitar). They’ve taken their show on the road to Ottawa, Quebec, and Northern Ontario where they’ve gained a loyal following.
The October 2010 released, self titled album defines them as a band and proves that they are not slaves to a genre. Recording songs written by Oliver, Mallany and Blanchard, they’ve assembled a collection of diverse music, rich with overtones of traditional, honky-tonk, and outlaw country flavors. The songs paint a picture of travels, heartache, outlaw standoffs and their experiences growing up in different parts of Canada. The recent album also includes three carefully selected covers: Cash’s ‘Beans for Breakfast’, Waylon Jennings' ‘Lonesome On’ry & Mean’, and Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home", introducing newcomers to the genre, and to real country music - no fluff here y'all.
From the rich tones of a pedal steel to the ripping licks of a Fender Telecaster, Big Tobacco & the Pickers deliver a new brand of country music, true to old school tradition.
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