“…the intensity of RTB's vocals if anything increased, as he rolled his eyes, yodeled, stomped his feet, and twisted his mouth into grins and grimaces like a Pentecostal preacher possessed by the spirit or a snake handler going into religious spasmodic throes, only RTB was handling not reptiles but twisting, spitting songs --- not as deadly as rattlesnakes but just as mesmerizing.” --2x40x80 Blog
Ryan Thomas Becker (of RTB2, The Slow Burners, Hares on the Mountain, Tony Ferraro + Satans of Soft Rock, etc.) put together a “solo” band called Last Joke. The outfit consists of Tony Ferraro (Eaton Lake Tonics, Satans of Soft Rock), Andy Rogers (Oso Closo, Boxcar Bandits), and Grady Don Sandlin (RTB2, Boxcar Bandits). The genesis of the band came with the release show of Becker’s most recent solo album, Neighborhoof (Gutterth Records), where Rogers was added on bass guitar (along with Sandlin on drums) to better present the songs from that album. Impressed with the outcome, Becker enlisted Tony Ferraro to further elevate the sound for future band shows.
RTB + Last Joke performs material from Becker’s solo records and songs by other artists and friends related to the local music community. With a few notable gigs under its belt (including a last-minute show at 35 Conferette last March in Denton, TX), the band decided to record a short collection of locally grown covers. Last Joke Band features songs by New Science Projects (Denton), Ron Scott (Austin), Randy Reynolds (of Leatherbag in Austin, TX), Grant Cross (a lifelong friend of Becker’s), Jeffrey Gruber (of Descender in Dallas, TX), and band mate Tony Ferraro. The album was recorded over the course of one weekend by Justin Collins (Burntsienna Trio, Satisfactory Recording, Echo Lab) at his home studio in Denton, TX.
Last Joke Band engineered & mixed by Justin Collins at Satisfactory Recording in Denton, TX
Mastered by Dave Willingham at 70 Hurtz Audio, Argyle, TX
Performed by Ryan Thomas Becker & Last Joke
Grady Don Sandlin: drum kit, percussion, vocals
Andy Rogers: bass, vocals
Tony Ferraro: guitar, vocals
Ryan Thomas Becker: guitar, percussion, vocals
"No Time Lover" written by Ron Scott
"The Train" written by Dale Jones (New Science Projects)
"Tom Petty Summer" written by Randy Reynolds
(c) 2009 Randy Reynolds Music (ASCAP)
Originally performed by Leatherbag
"No, We Can't Be Friends" written by Tony Ferraro
(cc) 2007 Rancho Folly
"Theme to House Party 3" written by Grant Cross & Jimmy Pell of the Deer Knifes
"Death & Taxes" written by Jeff Gruber
(c) 2007 jeffscrapmusic (ASCAP)
"The ensuing performance was confirmation only that every musical instinct Ryan Becker or Grady Sandlin has is flawless. Their performance of New Science Projects’ “The Train” was like a revelation. Accompanying guitarist and fellow collaborator Tony Ferraro added stunning flourishes of guitar. It was the fullest I have ever heard Ryan Thomas Becker sound and damn near perfect." --D Magazine
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