the subdudes

The subdudes - live at Skipper's!

2010-02-18T20:48:17Z

A fan sent us this video clip of the band performing 'All the Time in the World' at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, Fla., back in January. Special thanks to Willie Scott for sharing this with us!

2010 Jazzfest night shows set

2010-02-03T03:26:44Z

It's official: The guys are playing four shows over three nights during Jazzfest, including a benefit for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund on Wednesday, 4/28, at the Rock 'n' Bowl. First time I can ever remember them playing at the Rock 'n' Bowl. (By the way, the Rock 'n' Bowl moved earlier this year to shiny new digs on Carrollton Ave.)

They follow that up with another appearance at the Rock 'n' Bowl on Sunday, 5/2, on a co-bill with Tab Benoit and another artist.

In between, they've got two shows on Saturday, 5/1, at Chickie Wah Wah, a cool, intimate club on Canal Street toward Carrollton Ave. Rare chance to hear the guys at a small venue in New Orleans. And it's usually a non-smoking venue.

And, of course, they're playing at the Fairgrounds on Friday, 4/30.

Check the tour page for full details and info on tickets, which are already available for some shows.

subdudes sound 'simply beautiful' in Orlando...

2010-01-29T15:39:41Z

The Orlando Sentinel's Jim Abbott had some nice things to say this morning about the subdudes' show last night at the Plaza Theatre in Orlando, Fla.:

A couple of guitars, an accordion, a rhythm section built on tambourines.

The elements that coalesce into the music of the Subdudes are so deceptively simple that it’s a constant marvel how the veteran, New Orleans-bred ensemble can twist them in so many fascinating directions. ... whether it was Amedee’s propulsive solo in “Light In Your Eyes,” the tremulous foundation of Magnie’s squeezebox in “No Man,” or the soaring voices in “Morning Glory.”

Most often, the music was lifted by Malone’s under-appreciated guitar work, which ranged from intricate Spanish-style arpeggios to steamy slide in “Barley in the Silo,” off the new Flower Petals.

In the end, the band was standing in the middle of the crowd, singing and playing utterly unplugged.

Sounding simply beautiful.

Read the entire article here.

Catch the Florida shows!

2010-01-28T17:00:39Z

The subdudes are in Florida this week. Be sure to check the tour page

Here's what Creative Loafing in Tampa says about Friday's Tampa show:

The Subdudes w/Beth McKee The Subdudes - led by singer/guitarist Tommy Malone and accordion player John Magnie - returned to a sparser, mostly acoustic sound for 2009’s Flower Petals. Their fourth studio effort since re-forming 2003 also finds the New Orleans quintet exploring a more roots and folk feel, and delivering a loose narrative set in turn-of-the-century America with country gospel-tinged vocal melodies. 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $17 in advance/$20 dos.

Subdudes to play New Orleans Jazzfest in 2010

2009-11-29T21:36:38Z

Although there are tons of great festivals that the subdudes play every year, we know that lots of people go out of their way to attend one in particular: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. There's just something special about it.

This spring, the subdudes are scheduled to play Jazzfest on the second Friday -- that's April 30, 2010 -- on the Gentilly Stage. As any experienced JazzFest attendee knows, it's never too early to start looking for a place to stay and for a cheap flight.

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First shows of 2010 announced

2009-11-17T15:51:20Z

The subdudes will be heading down to Florida for some shows in January.

The first (currently scheduled) shows of 2010 will take place in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Tampa show at Skipper's Smokehouse is set for Jan. 29, and the Lauderdale show is the next night at The Culture Room. The run will kick off in Tampa at the Plaza Theatre.

Tickets for the shows are on sale now. Check the tour page for details. More shows will likely be added soon!

Another nice review...

2009-10-28T16:13:34Z

Offbeat Magazine's John Swenson had a lot of nice things to say about the subdudes' new CD.

"The new subdudes album, Flower Petals, is a mannered, carefully wrought set piece that takes a dramatic step away from the grim reality of life in the new millennium...

"The songs are beautifully crafted, built around Tommy Malone and John Magnie’s strong lead vocals and superb harmony arrangements for their band partners. Acoustic strings and accordion provide the instrumental accompaniment, with no solos except on the instrumental coda, and only the bass amplified throughout."

Be sure to check out the review that was just published in the New Orleans music publication.

More praise for 'Flower Petals'

2009-09-26T20:43:22Z

In a brief write-up this week telling fans about the subdudes' show that night at World Cafe Live, the Philadelphia Daily News gave the subdudes' new album high praise:

Subdudes: With their warm 'n' sultry vocals, light acoustic instrumentation and minimalist percussion, these Bayou rockers boast a uniquely balmy, bouncy sound. And the fresh-cut album bunch "Flower Petals" is one of their best.

-- Philadelphia Daily News

'Flower Petals' reviews

2009-09-02T14:37:19Z

The initial reviews of the subdudes' new CD, "Flower Petals," are starting to roll in. So far, it seems pretty unanimous: a collective thumb's up!

"Flower Petals," which was recorded by the band in Fort Collins, Colo., and produced by the band and well-known producers Ron Albert, Howard Albert and Steve Alaimo, weaves a tale of murder, deceit and redemption.

It's a departure for the band - there's hardly any tambourine, plus there's a definite Americana or even country feel to the proceedings. But the sound is still unmistakably the subdudes.

Here's what some of the reviewers are saying:

"Leave it to the 'Dudes and their unique folk, country, and blues to help define what it means to play Americana and show the world that New Orleans still thrives."
-- Twangville, which named the new CD its reader's pick this week

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"This album may be set in the Old West, but it touches on modern themes in a subtle way. ... This CD is a story of heroism, love, greed, vengeance, betrayal and finally, redemption, and something totally unexpected from the Subdudes. I really like it!"

-- Grand Junction [Colo.] Sentinel

"Even in their most musically stripped-down form, the 'dudes reek of funk and soul ... Though Flower Petals is a concept album, you can enjoy the songs on their own without deciphering the tale... The music stands on its own - shuffle up the order and this would still be a good album. Flower Petals finds the subdudes as cool in their own skins as they've ever been."

-- Relix / Jambands.com

Be sure to pick up a copy of the CD from the merchandise page!

Order 'Flower Petals' via thesubdudesstore.com!

2009-08-22T03:05:31Z

The subdudes' latest studio CD, "Flower Petals," is now available for pre-ordering via Biographica, the company that put out last year's subdudes DVD. The subdudes hope all fans will take advantage of this chance to buy the CD online - today!

The CD is officially released on August 25, and fans should have their copy within a day or so after that.

You can order the CD by visiting thesubdudesstore.com. The band receives a significant percentage from the sale of CDs via this site -- as opposed to virtually nothing from sales via Amazon.com, iTunes, Wal-Mart, etc. You can also order the CD via our merchandise page [which links to the items offered Biographica].

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The bottom line, of course, is that the band hopes everyone will purchase a copy of the CD -- whether it's through Biographica or whoever. Sales through other outlets do help in the long run, of course. A rise in the overall numbers helps ensure the guys are offered the chance to record later CDs.

The band expects to expand the offerings that are available through the online store, including a new poster based on the CD artwork.

Gregg Allman digs the subdudes...

2009-08-14T16:01:38Z

Gregg Allman, the lead singer and co-founder of the legendary Allman Brothers' Band, recently offered up the subdudes as one of his favorite new bands when asked by a reporter about new music he liked.

"Well, I just got turned on to these guys called the subdudes. I just got their first album that came out in '94. Man, they are kick ass," Allman told reporter Tim Parsons of tahoo.com.

"I've never really heard of them, but this girl that I know I was over to her house. I heard it and said 'Man, what is that?' It's big band, all black guys and, wow, they're incredible," Allman says in the July interview. The complete interview with Allman is here.

Allman gets a few facts wrong, but who's keeping score?

Tommy Malone and friends to play Orlando

2009-07-31T16:33:45Z

Tommy Malone and former Evangeline singer-accordion/keyboard-player Beth McKee will be joining forces for a show in Orlando in September.

The rare non-subdudes gig for Malone will be Sept. 12 at the Plaza Theatre in Orlando and will feature him and McKee with a backing back consisting of McKee's drummer-percussionist husband Juan Perez and bassist Gery Wilhelm. They're calling themselves Pan Fried. It'll surely be a night to remember, a mixture of rock, blues, soul, gospel and country music.

McKee, a Mississippi native and former New Orleanian, moved to Orlando after Evangeline broke up. She, Malone and Perez have been collaborating on some new songs, and they will be previewing some of the new material at the show.

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"If it turns out OK and fun and successful, we might do some more," Malone says. The show is slated to start at 8 p.m. Tickets are available from the venue or by calling 407-228-1220

Longtime subdudes fans may recall that back in the early '90s, the subdudes and Evangeline were featured on the Festival New Orleans tour that Jazz Fest impresario Quint Davis organized to share the Jazz Fest experience with the rest of the country.

That tour also included Buckwheat Zydeco, Beausoleil, The Radiators, The Olympia Brass Band and the Zion Harmonizers. McKee would often sit in with the subdudes on the tour, and she later contributed harmony vocals to the Primitive Streak CD.

Be sure to visit McKee's web site at bethmckee.com

A look at the new 'Flower Petals' CD...

2009-07-22T16:10:53Z

Here's a sneak peek at the cover art for the subdudes' upcoming CD, "Flower Petals." (Click on the image for a better view.)

The artwork was done by Willy Matthews, an artist known for his Western-themed work.

The CD is still set for release around Sept. 1. No word yet on pre-orders, but stay tuned!

New single features members of the subdudes

2009-07-16T04:14:41Z

Texas singer-songwriter Shelley King has just released a new CD single recorded with members of the subdudes. "Summer Wine" is available now from iTunes and other outlets, and the album, "Welcome Home," is set for release this fall.

"Welcome Home" is her fifth independent CD and features John Magnie, Tim Cook and Steve Amedee singing and playing on every song. Like the subdudes' soon-to-be-released "Flower Petals" CD, King's CD "Welcome Home" was recorded in Magnie's home studio in Fort Collins, Colo.

]]> King, who is a veteran of the Austin music scene and was named the Official State Musician of Texas last year, wrote nearly all of the songs on the CD. "John wrote one song, and I got to kick in a few lines to help put the finishing touches on it. And Tim wrote one of the songs," King says.

Two years ago, she was featured on the June 2007 podcast performing a cover version of "Carved in Stone," which she recorded with her band especially for the podcast. She later released that recording and another subdudes song, "Help is on the Way," on one of her CDs, "Armadillo Bootleg #1."

Read more about Shelley on her web site, shelleyking.com

Work is complete on new 'Flower Petals' CD

2009-06-23T15:44:13Z

Mastering work on the subdudes' forthcoming album, "Flower Petals," has been completed, and the finished recording will soon be delivered to the record company. That means promotional copies could be in the hands of radio stations within a month or so.

The CD is slated for official release on 429 Records on Sept. 1. It’s the band’s first studio album in two years. The subdudes will tour widely to support the album.

"Flower Petals," in fact, has something of an Old West flavor. The songs are loosely tied together by a common theme, set at the turn of the century and mostly told from the point of view of a soldier who has passed on. Toward the end of the recordings, the narrator's spirit is finally released to the great beyond.

]]> 2005 2004, the songs for "Flower Petals" were all written, and rough demo recordings had been made. The band’s label at the time, however, persuaded the band to put the project on the backburner and focus on what the label thought would be more appealing: slicker, more commercial songs.

In conversations through the years, each of the band members, though, has talked about wanting to return to "Flower Petals." Then, last fall, the band embarked on an all-acoustic tour and the guys found themselves returning to the stripped-down sound that harkened back to their earliest days as the subdudes. It was the perfect sound to complement the rootsy, Americana songs of "Flower Petals," so proper studio work on the songs finally got under way earlier this year.

The band performs mostly unplugged on the recordings. Tommy Malone, of course, is prominent on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, with electric guitar on a number of songs; Magnie plays mostly accordion in lieu of organ, and Steve Amedee is featured prominently on mandolin on several songs. Tim Cook and Jimmy Messa again split bass chores, with Tim also helping out on percussion. The compositions are jointly credited to the five subdudes.

Unless the lineup changes - and that’s always possible - there are 14 songs slated for inclusion on the CD: "Flower Petals" [a snippet]; "The Flower and The Fire"; "Standing Water"; "Barley in the Silo"; "The Blacksmith Song"; "False Front"; "Town Square"; "Sho' Look Guilty"; "The Shepherd Will Keep"; "Wedding Rites"; "Redemption Dance"; Flower Petals" [the full version]; "My Soul"; and "Night Shade" [an instrumental].

All of the songs were recorded in John Magnie’s home studio in Fort Collins, Colo.

The album was produced by the subdudes and Ron Albert, Howard Albert and Steve Alaimo.

The songs were mixed in Miami by the Albert Brothers and Steve Alaimo. Ron and Howard Albert are something of legends in the business - probably best known for their work at Criteria Studios in the ‘70s, when they crafted the sound of albums like "Laya and Other Assorted Love Songs" by Eric Clapton [Derek & the Dominos]; Crosby Stills & Nash’s "CSN" album; and the Allman Brothers’ “Idlewild South” and “Eat a Peach” albums. More recently, they’ve worked with artists as diverse as Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Usher, Pink, Method Man and Bone Thugs N’ Harmony.

The band is currently in the process of working on cover art with William Matthews, a Denver artist well-known for his old West-style paintings.