Jason Boland - Country Fever 2008 - Jun. 12-15

Straggler's Delight

It was Halloween Night, 2006 for Jason Boland & the Stragglers. Two milestones had been achieved. One dated back eight years to their first performance as a band. The other marked the release of their highly anticipated new record, The Bourbon Legend. Two years removed from Jason’s previous effort, Somewhere In The Middle, this new chapter of his remarkable story was decidedly the best representation of how much he and his band mates had matured musically.

Boland & the Stragglers’ newest contribution arrives at a time when memories of the Willie Nelson, Waylon Jenning’s led ‘Outlaw’ country movement of the ‘70s have all but faded from the conscience of fans. With songs like “No One Left to Blame” and “Up and Gone,” the music proves to be a re-generation of the outlaw songs of old. The Bourbon Legend is a timely wake-up call to those musicians who turned a blind eye to the ghosts of country music’s past.

The first single, “No One Left To Blame,” carries with it heavy overtones of a music reminiscent of Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. while providing an edgy musical dose of a new generations’ varied influences. The majority of the songs on the record were influenced by acts such as the Marshall Tucker Band, Johnny Paycheck and Merle Haggard among others.

The Bourbon Legend, produced Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Lucinda Williams) is his first collaboration with the Stragglers. According to Boland, the chemistry between himself and the award winning producer was immediate. Anderson, a highly accomplished songwriter in his own right, taught the band not to force the music and to take a ‘less is more’ approach with their music.

Boland hales from Harrah, Oklahoma and carries with him the reputation of being a modern day country music outlaw. Both he and his band have been leaders in the Texas and Oklahoma music scene for several years, generating such hits as “Mexico Or Crazy,” “Somewhere Down In Texas,” and “Pearl Snaps.” The group has sold over 100,000 records since 1999. Look for a new album in September 2008.

Band Members

Jason Boland - words & voice

Roger Ray - strings & security

Grant Tracy - groove & medicine

Brad Rice - thump & harmony

Noah Jeffries - youth & knowledge