BIOGRAPHY
The HardChargers (Belfast, Ireland)
Dirty blues from Belfast, with grinding slide guitar and raunchy vocals ,The HardChargers are a trio of full-time, experienced and time-served musicians in their prime (average age 30), playing a powerful combination of Blues and Roots/Rock, ranging from a strong and rapidly expanding selection of honest original material, to unique arrangements of songs inspired by an entire history of acoustic and electric music, from exciting down home Washboard/Double Bass and Resonator workouts to electrified modern Blues and twangy Roadhouse style Roots Rock.
The HardChargers have started work on a full length self-financed recording project, demonstrating that this is a band restless to keep doing what they do, that always hits stages smoking from the get-go and who have shown time and time again that they are ready to leave audiences drenched in their diverse sound.
The HardChargers are:
Chris Todd - Vocal, Electric Guitars, Resonator, Mandolin
Richard Hodgen - Drums, Washboard, Percussion
Dave Thompson - Bass Guitar, Double Bass
“If you like your whiskey straight and your women crooked, this band is for you” ………“This three piece will knock your socks off with an inspired performance, like Tom Waits mixed with Muddy Waters, and served on the rocks” – ‘Sinister’ Pete Vamos
“They consistently deliver tight, energetic original arrangements of songs” - Ballymena Guardian
The HardChargers formed in late 2009 and recorded their third self-financed/self-produced studio EP, “Bumpin’ and Grindin’” (available now on CDBaby), between February and July 2011. The EP features a superb guest appearance on Harmonica, by Billy Boy Miskimmin of Mercy Lounge, ex-The Yardbirds, ex-Nine Below Zero and was reviewed by Gareth Hayes, in Blues Matters Magazine Issue 65 (April 2012). The favourable review contained the following statements: “It is high-octane and close in pitch to those very early Fleetwood Mac records….” “…May even prove to be a collector’s item” with original songs described as “.. Worthy comparators to the Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters covers...” The final comment says of the EP …“It’s suitably manic and certainly one to clear the cobwebs.”
“The HardChargers have a totally unique Blues sound, mixing electric and acoustic slide styles from a whole range of Blues masters..”
– The Blues Connection
To date, The HardChargers have performed at Belfast City Blues Festival; Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival; Woodstock Rhythm and Blues Festival (Belfast); Pigeon Field film and Music Festival (Ballymoney); Hilden Beer and Music Festival (Lisburn), Dunfanaghy Jazz and Blues Festival and The Ards International Guitar Festival, amongst a healthy schedule of club and pub appearances including support slots for Bob Log III and Billy Boy Miskimmin’s Mercy Lounge.
Contact and Booking Details:-
The HardChargers can be contacted on line through their various web pages:
FaceBook:- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hard-Chargers/320036454554
ReverbNation:- http://www.reverbnation.com/thehardchargers
The HardChargers summer tour dates are available on the web pages, with the band due to appear in 2012 at Harvest Time Blues Monaghan Town, Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival, Woodstock (East Belfast) Rhythm and Blues festival, Quay Vipers MCC annual Snakebite Rally and to support ex-Dr. Feelgood/TheYardbirds, Gypie Mayo, on a Northern Irish club date amongst other highlights
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