Album Notes

When bassist Mike “Mac” McMurray entered Denver’s Bluebird Theater one fateful fall night in 2005, he expected a typical evening of beer swilling and hot Western swing from Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys. Big Sandy delivered as promised; however, the real buzz came from another Bluebird patron, singer Kerry Pastine. Recognizing the sultry singer from performances with her fine rockabilly outfit The Mean Eyed Cats, the bassist introduced himself only to discover the Cats were no longer purring. Knowing that his band’s finale was also soon approaching, McMurray sensed a golden opportunity and suggested that he and Pastine should test the waters. As fate would have it, the chemistry was ideal, and The Informants were soon born.

Within a few weeks of that chance encounter, they assembled a backing band of first rate veteran musicians from some of Denver’s best know acts including Sol~Fed~Joe, Easy Bill and the Big Beat, Funkiphino, The Dalhart Imperials, The Fabulous Boogienauts, and Dirty Pool. McMurray and the other new Informants, Mark Richardson (keyboards, trumpet, accordion & vocals), Paul Christophersen (drums), Kenny Plum (tenor sax), Jonny Love (tenor/baritone sax & flute) and Paul Shellooe (guitar), concluded that the music should underscore Pastine’s searing vocals, unbridled charisma, and intoxicating stage demeanor. They concentrated on the roots music that had inspired them; vintage R&B, jump blues, soul, rockabilly, jazz and rock-n-roll. This unique creation, dubbed juke joint boogie, became a spicy stew of Memphis, West Side Chicago, Harlem, New Orleans and other deep South delicacies, surefire to get an audience off their seats, shakin’ on the dance floor, gyratin’ on the table tops, slip-slidin’ across the bar, and shimmyin’ out into the streets at closing time!

The group’s presence was immediately recognized when it debuted in January 2006, resulting in a sponsorship deal with Jim Beam and a steady stream of performances at Colorado’s top music venues and festivals, including high profile opening sets with Tab Benoit, Firefall, and others. The Informants’ highly anticipated debut CD, Stiletto Angel, was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release in October 2007. The band will begin recording the follow-up to Stiletto Angel in early 2008.