At-a-Glance | |
Hometown | Brentwood, NY |
Genres | Blues |
Band Members | Russell "Hitman" Alexander (guitar, vocals); Kevin Rymer (keyboards); Mike Porter (bass); Guy La Fountaine (drums); Mike Snyder (sax, clarinet); Eric Altarac (trumpet); Mike Vitale (bari sax) |
Upcoming Shows |
One-Sheet | |
# Years Experience Performing Live: | 20 |
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months: | 102 |
Market Draw: | Over 40: 201-250; UK: 151-200; France: 151-200; US: 101-150 |
Venue History: | Colne Blues Festival, UK - Colne, UK; Riverhead Blues Festival - Riverhead, NY; Maryport Blues Festival - Maryport, UK; Plaza Hotel, NYC - New York City, NY; St. Regis Hotel - New York City, NY; Harley Davidson - Various sites, NY; Dan Lynch Blues Club - New York City , NY; Eel Pie Club - London, UK; Dozens More - Eastern Seaboard, NY |
Opener Experience: | Whitney Houston; Johnny Copeland; Smokey Robinson; The Coasters; The Ink Spots; Many others |
Similar Artists: | Johnny WInter, Elmore James, Jonny Lang, Stevie Ray, Buddy Guy |
Performing Rights Society: | ASCAP |
Discography: | The World Moves On LP—2016; Blues Enough LP—2013; Pale Rider LP—2009; Live At Stonybrook LP—2006; Angel In The Shadows LP—2002; Blooztown LP—2000 |
The Hitman Blues Band is getting worldwide recognition. The new release “The World Moves On” is being hailed as "the best yet!" Their previous release, “Blues Enough”, was in the running for two Grammy nominations. “Two Minute Warning” (from “Angel In The Shadows”) is available as an add-on to RockBand.
They’ve had six successful tours of the U.K. and two in Europe, playing at clubs and festivals including the Great British R&B Festival at Colne, the Eel Pie Club, The Limelight Theater, the BluesExpress Festival in Luxembourg, the Maryport Blues Festival (Main Stage), and many others. Of course, at home in the U.S. they’ve played up and down the eastern seaboard, working clubs and festivals as a four piece or with their new horn section added.
With a live show that engages the audience with great musicianship, great music, and a liberal dose of humor, The Hitman Blues Band will light up your audience!
“The music of The Hitman Blues Band will make you glad that music exists in the first place.” – MuzikReviews.com
"Check it out, this is the real deal." – Midwest Record
Recent interview with Hitman: http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-new-yorker-russell-alexander-honoring-the-past
Bass:
ampeg svt or gk amp 8-10 cabinet for speakers
Keyboards:
I need two keyboards ..eg..1 hammond.clone/1 elec.piano>> also i will need some sort of an amp ,or a good monitor, a keyboard stand of course and a bench plus all the cables and foot pedals
Drums:
22’’ base, brass snare 10 lug, 13’’ rack, 15 & 16 floor. Quality Ride, two crashes, & high hats.
Me (guitar):
Fender Blues Deville or similar (Blues Junior, Twin, Vibrolux, whatever.) As long as it makes noise and doesn’t have blown speakers, I’m good.
Horns: stage mikes
Backup vocals: 2 mikes. They would prefer not to have to share one mike.