Big Red And The Soul Benders

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:46 am Post subject:

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Fantastic show! Big Red & The Soulbenders were in top form last night as she brought some red-hot roadhouse blues to red-river country! Joined onstage by Brian Crittenden on percussion, Miki Self on guitar, and a two-pronged blues-harp attack led by Tony Weaver & Chuck Fulco, this band was primed and ready to leave no doubts that Big Red & The Soulbenders are a legitimate, big-time contender in today's world of blues entertainment!

The approval of the audience was marked by the multitude of compliments given about the band. One gentlemen remarked, "These guys are the "real deal"! Well, sir, I'd have to agree with you on that one, and soon, even more people will be aware of that as Big Red announced last night that they have been selected to represent the Texarkana Blues Society in the 2006 International Blues Challenge January 26-28th in Memphis, TN. There they will be competing with blues acts from around the world.

Kudos to Big Red & The Soulbenders...you are well on your way!
The Texarkana Blues Society:
http://www.texarkanablues.com/ - Bluesdawg

“Big Red has once again been invited to preform in this year's Women in Blues festival!

Deb Hemingway - Chitlin' Circuit Magazine
- Deb Hemingway - Chitlin' Circuit Magazine

Aaron Brand - Texarkana Gazette, “Big Red takes T-Bone Walker Blues Festival by Storm” - Aaron Brand - Texarkana Gazette

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Issue: September 2008
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Section: Blue Moon
Artist: Big Red and the Soul Benders
Article Title/Subtitle: Tasty Southern Blues
Author: Joey Stuckey

It's swampy, yeah, that's right, swampy. What does that mean? Well, it means that the music has a hot and sultry sound just like great blues music should. It also has driving bass and drums, edged-out guitar, blues harp (not John Popper, but quite tasty nonetheless) and finally that all important growling vocal style. Hailing from Mountain Home, Arkansas, this august blues ensemble led by the husband and wife team of Mike and Kelley "Big Red" Taylor has garnered many accolades and
awards including the 2005 Arkansas Blues and Heritage Award, the 2006 Texarkana Blues Society Battle of the Bands, and the Sonny Boy Blues Society Battle of the Bands.

Big Red and the Soul Benders have shared the stage with blues staples Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Billie Able, Dave Riley, EG Kight, Deanna Bogart, and many more. If you're hankering for a sampling of some of Big Red's southern blues delicacies, you currently have three items on the menu. Their debut release The Devil Made Me Do It (a phrase that never gets me out of trouble with my wife) and their brand new release Under the Delta Moon recorded and mastered at Raney Recording Studios are tasty blues entrees that will leave you hungry for more.

There is also a limited release version of a live performance the band captured titled Live at Cinema 218 which was recorded in Texarkana. It is a straight ahead, no thrills, house recording of the show mixed by the front of house engineer for Eddie Money. If you are interested in a copy of the live album,
you may email the band from their website www.bigredandthesoulbenders.com.

The blues fare from their current album ranges from the danceable up-tempo number "Change in the Weather" to the slow and haunting blues ballad and title track "Under the Delta Moon". But my personal favorite from the new album is the track titled "That Ass". With its groovy, Bo Diddlyesque rhythm stylings and its outrageous lyrics it is sure to become a fan favorite.

Having an inquiring mind I naturally wanted to know why front woman Kelley Taylor is known by the moniker "Big Red". She explains that when 'she was growing up in St.Louis she used to sneak out of her mother's house and visit all of the hot blues clubs. She was underage but still managed to get in and absorb the blues from the master musicians performing. She remembers that an old black blues piano player started calling her "Big Red" because of her red hair and avoirdupois. Years later as the two became good friends the piano player revealed himself to be none other than the now legendary Johnny Johnson-most noted for his work with Chuck Berry.-

Being a "starving artist" myself, I always take a great interest in how other Musicians make a living and view the music industry in general. An interesting aspect of Big Red and the Soul Benders' career is that they refuse to play what is popular with the masses just to secure stage time. Big Red feels that contemporary blues artists such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Johnny Lang have "sold out". She says that the band is "only going to play original music and true blues music for those true blues fans". Surprisingly, staying true to their roots keeps Big Red and the Soul Benders busy enough with three or more bookings per week that Red is able to be a full-time musician without the necessity of the dreaded day job. In regard to the industry, the band feels that the two most damaging factors in the music economy are karaoke nights and DJs at performance venues.

These factors demote live music performed by dedicated musicians making it; more difficult to maintain a career. With Big Red's influences ranging from the blues music of the 1930s through more modem incarnations and with Red's "off color stage antics", the band is sure to entertain and satisfy even the most voracious blues appetite. For more helpings check out the daily specials on the band's website www.bigredandthesoulbenders.com. They are sure to be
coming to a blues festival or honky tonk near you.
[End Article]
- Texarkanna Gazette/Joey Stuckey