JOHN TRAIN
Jon Houlon-Vocals,Guitar
Mike Brenner-Dobro,Lap Steel,Electric Guitar
Steve Demarest-Bass
Bill Fergusson-Mandolin,Bouzouki
Jay Ansill-Fiddle,String Arrangements
'Angels Turned Thieves' is John Train's first cd .It was released in 1999 and was produced by Mike Brenner.
This critically praised five piece Philadelphia-area band
plays a unique blend of country , bluegrass, and folk .
"The cascading images of John Train singer Jon Houlon bear the mark of Texas troubadours Butch Hancock and Townes Van Zandt.And the group's bluegrass and country-tinged acoustic music...sparkles with clarity."
Dan DeLuca
Philadelphia Inquirer
"With the new 'Angels Turned Thieves' ,the local semi-acoustic quintet has scared up one of the finest Philly-made alt-country albums in a long while...Thieves is an album that,at first,seems so unassuming as to be slight.But after a few listens,its weirdly sedate world-weariness and reassuring melodicism shyly burrows its way under the skin."
Hobart Rowland
Philadelphia Weekly
"The Philadelphia quintet's debut is ripe with images that conjure up visions of both a gentler,sepia-toned yesterday and a crueler today...Touching on everything from lost loves and betrayal to the civil war and the media culture,Houlon writes protest songs that use the personal experience to convey a larger message."
Rachel Leibrock
Country Standard Time
"His writing is always thoughtful and evocative...This is an album that can quickly become a welcome friend."
Michael Tearson
Sing Out Magazine
"Jon Houlon has a droll/bleak take on life that's all his own and a fine tune sense."
Jonathan Takiff
Philadelphia Daily News
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