The Very Rocking Reverend
author: Seth Rogavoy, The Berkshire Eagle
The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, MA June 25, 1998
The Very Rocking Reverend
By Seth Rogavoy -
The Reverend Tor Band, the Berkshires' answer to the Allman Brothers Band, has just released a new CD -- its best one yet -- and will be celebrating its good fortune this Friday night, June 26 [1998], with a CD- release concert at LaCocina in Pittsfield.
"Whatever It Takes" includes a dozen original tunes -- funky, neo- hippie rockers distinguished by leader Tor Krautter's soulful, gritty vocals and the twin-guitar leads of Krautter and former Lord Hill guitarist Jason Webster, who also adds vocal harmonies. Bassist Dan Esko and drummer Derrick Rodgers handle the rhythmic chores on the CD.
Dave Vittone contributes some colorful, vintage-sounding keyboard drones to "Barefoot Betty," a Grateful Dead-style shuffle, and some psychedelic noodling to "The Black Mile." Pete Adams, formerly of Dooley Austin, lends his wailing pedal-steel guitar to the ballad "The Gaze."
The CD also includes a very funky version of "Snakes and Bones" by former Berkshire songwriter Bil Krauss. Through the miracle of digital technology, Krauss actually added backup vocals to the track without leaving his home in South Carolina.
After Friday night's gig, the group is New York City-bound, where it will perform at the famed nightclub The Bitter End in Greenwich Village on Saturday night. The new disk was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Frank Kennedy at Derek Studios in Dalton. For more information, check the group's website at www.revtor.com or write to Smelly Dog Productions, 99 Valleyview Rd., Stephentown, NY 12168.
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Revue of Reverend Tor Band’s “What Ever It Takes”
author: Peter, Flick Music
Flick Music
1998
Revue of Reverend Tor Band’s “What Ever It Takes”
by Peter -
"It was a dark cold afternoon when someone placed a package in my hand that said "Reverend Tor Band". I opened it and found a CD entitled "Whatever It Takes". I placed the CD into my CD player half-expecting yet another let down by a highly recommended band. As soon as I pressed play though, it was a whole different story. A smile was immediately planted on my face for the whole first track "Fallen Angel", so I skipped to the "Fallen Angel Reprise", and loved that too. Although the smile wasn't quite as large when I skipped back to track 2, it was still there, and it remeained to the final chord rippled through and shocked my ears with the powerful, grittyness that is Reverend Tor Band."
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On The Edge
author: Mick Skidmore, Relix Magazine
Relix Magazine
Vol 26 No.2
On The Edge
By Mick Skidmore -
Whatever It Takes is the second album from The Reverend Tor Band (well, almost--the first was really a solo effort by main songwriter Tor Krautter). The disc finds the band developing nicely with some neat groove-based tunes. "Fallen Angel" and the funk-blues grind of "Got To Get Close" show the band's sound has developed considerably, as does the atmospheric, meandering "Key Largo." Other notable cuts are "The Gaze" with its flickering leads and sweet pedal steel, and the neat, instrumental textures of "Sweet Addiction." You can join the RTB mailing list by contacting Smelly Dog Productions at 99 Valleyview Rd., Stephentown, NY 12168 or you can check out the band's Web page at http://www.revtor.com.
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