Album Notes

DeSoto Rust Unveils New American Roots Offering

With the release of their second CD, Greene Country Towne, DeSoto Rust elevates their take on American roots music to a new level. On their critically acclaimed debut CD (DeSoto Rust, October 2004), the Philadelphia-based band offered up a raucous collection of tunes which were faithful to a DeSoto Rust live show – stripped down and hard-rocking. This time around, the band has delivered a more varied and complex album, one that shows a band whose writing and performing sound is maturing and moving in new directions.

DeSoto Rust formed in early 2004, recorded the debut CD over the following summer, and, without the benefit of a label or promotion engine, made its first showing on the Freeform American Roots (FAR) chart in June 2005. The band’s music has received frequent airplay on stations across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia and made several DJ’s “best of” lists for 2005.

Some of the band’s accomplishments:

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Seven months on the Freeform American Roots chart (peaking at #11)
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Three months on the Euro-Americana chart (peaking at #12)
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Nominations for song and CD of the year by contributors to the FAR chart

Here’s what the critics said about DeSoto Rust’s debut CD:

“…the material…hits a very high standard for a band that’s barely a year old but which can sound like The Band at its best.” – John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music, August 2005



“Immediately the band sounds like a cross between Creedence and Steve Earle with powerful drawled vocals and a killer riff. Several other songs continue in this vein with stories of hard-drinking men, hard luck stories and trucks, with great riffs and soaring vocals.” – Paul Kerr, Americana UK, March 2005.

Greene Country Towne (a reference to William Penn’s lofty vision for Philadelphia) once again features contributions from the band’s three songwriters. The result is a collection of original songs that is varied yet cohesive, with its themes of heartbreak, isolation, disappointment, and the promise of redemption on the American road. The instrumentation, still centered around the twang of the guitar, is more layered and sophisticated, while remaining true to its Americana roots. Guest vocals, pedal steel, and keyboards round out the sound.

DeSoto Rust:

Mike Simmons – vocals, bass

Dave Reeve – vocals, drums

Ray Hunter – vocals, rhythm guitar

David Otwell – vocals, lead guitar