Four Star Combo
Reston, Virginia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2007 | SELF
Music
Press
"The sounds of primal rockabilly music filled the town of Vienna’s Town Green as part of the Summer on the Green concert series on June 14. Concertgoers unfolded lawn chairs, spread blankets and unpacked picnics as The Four Star Combo band provided the soundtrack to a beautiful evening." - Fairfax County Times
"Self-released promo cd of American band “Four Star Combo” is ready to be judged. Good recordings and also playing. Two songs “Wait a Minute, Baby” and “Conscience to the Wind” (simple and catchy… also in different styles, which shows creativity of author) are self penned by rhythm guitar player and vocalist Ron Scott. In general I liked the band very much... the whole opinion would be certainly very positive." - www.rockabillybash.com
This type of CD suits me marvelously. Ron Scott (voc, gtr, hca), Eric Hurtt
(lead gtr, voc), Donovan Stokes (bass) and Drake Sorey (drums), after years
spent in various formations, combined their talents in 2007 for a Rockabilly/Hillbilly Bop/Honky Tonk quartet. They do not confuse rhythm with
excessive speed, and Eric-like Carl Perkins-reels off notes with ease, which
doesn't prevent the guitar from being incisive. In short, they understand
everything about the music they play. There is no weak title among the 12
songs, mixing well chosen covers (two rockin' Blues /Rockabilly's: Down In
The Alley & Lover Not A Fighter, and a Hillbilly Bop revival of Jeepster by
T Rex-the original of which was unknown to me) and original compositions
(Wait A Minute, Baby-classic Rockabilly with call & response, and the superb
Honky Tonk/Bakersfield-flavored, Conscience To The Wind). The only question
I ask myself is: why did it take seven years for a 1st album?
MAN-O-MAN 1001 - Le Cri du Coyote, No 141, Fall 2014, page 52, Bernard Boyat
"I received this album from 2014 on Man O Man! Records from The Four Star Combo. The band, all dressed up looking perfect for the music they bring to you on their first full length album. What do I see? A mix of plain good old rockabilly, honky tonk and vintage instruments. Well, that’s exactly what I heard on their album, containing the bands' originals and covers (A Hole in My Pocket). Honky tonk original, "Conscience To The Wind, makes you sing along with the lyrics easily. Buzzsaw is an instrumental with a surf style. A variation of Americana roots styles and influences you can hear very well in this album. Ron has a deep rock and roll voice you can compare easily to singers of the ol’ days. They have a sound Gene Vincent would appreciate, especially the guitars. If you are an “old school rock and roller” type, looking for some traditional roots music, here you are! An album many would like to bop on!" - Rockabilly Online, Holland
"Man I dig rockabilly. The sparse arrangements, the twangy guitars, the hiccupped, deep-throated vocals, that slap bass. And there are just some albums that make me remember exactly why I love it so much. Wait a Minute Baby by The Four Star Combo out of Washington DC is one of those records. This record sounds really great. It’s modern recording but with all the elements of classic rockabilly. I’ve listened through this record numerous times, and I’m still enjoying it. These guys have a great feel for the music. And they’ve perfected the rockabilly attitude which shines through on each tune. And those other influences that, while of course went into spawning rockabilly in the first place, are not usually so close to the surface as they are with Four Star Combo…I like it." - Rockabilly Romp
Discography
Four Star Combo: "Wait A Minute, Baby" CD 2014
Four Star Combo: "Let's Dog This Beat!" CD (EP) 2009
Four Star Combo: "Wild Hare Sessions" CD (EP) 2008
Photos
Bio
The Four Star Combo is the brainchild of bandleader, Ron Scott, who has a long resume in the East Coast Roots music scene. The sound of The Combo is high-energy 1950s Rockabilly (think early Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins), and Honky Tonk (Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Lefty Frizzell, etc), played without any pretense of modernization or any kind of damn-fool 'fusion' of styles. The band engages the audience with a mix of Four Star originals and covers ranging from well-known to utterly obscure. Appearing in 1950's 'cat' clothes, playing vintage instruments-including the classic upright slap bass-the band, and it's lively stage show are typically met with a raucous welcome, even from crowds unfamiliar with the style of music.
The Four Star Combo, which made it's debut in December, 2007, has at this point played extensively in the greater Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia area. After two lineup changes in our early years, the band solidified in early 2010, and has been gathering a serious head of steam since then. Individually, the band members all have long resumes in the roots music field. Collectively, the band combines an encyclopedic knowledge of these styles with deep feeling and some serious chops. In addition, the group has
released it’s first full-length CD album, “Wait A Minute, Baby”, which has
enjoyed wide distribution, airplay, and and rave reviews.In addition, the group has
released it’s first full-length CD album, “Wait A Minute, Baby”, which has
enjoyed wide distribution, airplay, and and rave reviews.
Band Members
Links
