Album Notes

Honky tonk country with a bit of rockabilly in there as well. *Richard Boyd - sings and strums the guitar *Greg Bell - bends them guitar strings *Jeff Shu - sings harmony and makes the pedal steel and mandolyn wail *Andy Freakin Mabe - gentleman bass player *Mark Peurifoy - drumin til he cant hear no more Tracing the bo-stevens's origins back to May 2002 is easy enough. Singer/songwriter Richard Boyd recruited drummer Mark Peurifoy and mandolin player Jeff Shu for their first gig at a Trade Street Gallery Hop in Winston-Salem, N.C. By fortune or fate during this rookie outing, a woman in the crowd approached the guys about playing a gig. They couldn't say yes fast enough, and lucked into Scott Brandenburg on electric bass to round out the ensemble. When Greg Bell joined on Hula-Caster later that summer, the lineup was set and the Honky Tonkin' began. The roots of this roots band go deep into the Winston strata since Richard came to love the Tele twang and pedal steel swells of Honky Tonk at his father's knee. Richard Sr. recorded two country songs in a music store on Trade Street in the 1950's - just a few doors down from art studio where the bo-stevens got thier start. Brandenburg left the band, and Andy Mabe brought his keen musical sensibilities and fine standup bass chops to the ensemble. And in August 2004 they celebrated the release of Can'ts Never Could, a mix of original songs and old-school covers, which was lauded in the local press for its unvarnished honesty and retro leanings. Amid local gigs and Heavy Rebel weekenders, travels through Richmond, Chapel Hill, and Atlanta, Jeff picked up pedal steel, Mark graduated with a master's degree from N.C. State, and Richard bought a new hat. But Andy still "Freakin" rocks, Greg still ravages his "Hula," and the bo-stevens continue to rise.