Hunter Wolfe & ARE

"Both Hunter and ARE are very accomplished musical artist. These tunes contain some deep dark lyrics from such young writers. These lyrics take your mind to a place that makes you pay attention to them .This is not a bad way to go. Check these two out on their web-site." - Harmonica Joe

Blues Underground Network, Canada

When I first received the Hunter Wolfe and ARE debut release “The Go”, it was not originally sent for a review, however after giving it a good listen recently, I really felt that this amazing album really deserved one.

Being blown away while listening to a new album does not happen everyday, but I must say that is what “The Go” did for me. The album, which consists mainly of just Hunter Wolfe (Organ/Slide & Acoustic Guitars/Vocals),and ARE (Drums/Percussion), brought to the forefront a spectacular mix of Blues, Blues Rock, Rock, and even a little Garage, which throughout, reminded me a lot of “Scissormen”, another fantastic Guitar/Drum Blues Duo, which also plays a lot of Slide Guitar, to the point of Psychodelic Blues, at times.

Hunter Wolfe and ARE are both young performers whom in their own right have already started making a name for themselves, with Hunter being a “National Slide Guitar Champion, two-time International Blues Challenge Showcase performer, and Blues Foundation Generation Blues recipient.” ARE, whom by the way stands quite nicely on her own, has shared the stage with Darrell Rose from the Dave Matthews Band and Bo Bobbic of The Clovers. ARE, along with Hunter, also sat in with the P-Funk band Let The Monkey Go. Hunter and ARE, whom are brother and sister, have been playing and recording together, all over the US, since 2008.

“The Go”, which was produced by Hunter Wolfe, is their Debut release, and contains 13 songs, all originals, and all written by Hunter and ARE. Recording, Mixing, and Mastering of “The Go”, was entrusted to the very capable Bobby Read. “In his 30 years in music, Bobby has covered a lot of territory. A saxophone, woodwind and keyboard player with training from the New England Conservatory and a long-time performer, he has produced, engineered or played on more than 100 records.”

Of the 13 Tracks on “The Go”, 5 have featured performers and included, on 1 or more Tracks, Cassie Taylor, Jackie Scott, Lamar (brother), and Lee Tee. As many of you probably know, Cassie Taylor is one of the daughters of Blues artist Otis Taylor and is featured on many of his releases.

“The Go” starts off high tempo with the opening Track, which is the title Track, “The Go”. Just Drums, Guitar, and Vocals from Hunter, a simple premise indeed, but when done with the kind of energy Hunter and ARE bring to the table, it is something to behold.

One thing that always intrigues me is how Albums get their names and what unique stories are behind it. I thought I would ask Hunter about the naming of this album, as I thought it was quite a unique name for an album and this was his story behind it.

“In October 2011 we were gearing up for a Mid-West tour and I was really stoked to hit the road. I was walking around the house saying “I’m ready to go, lets go, lets go, lets go.” Haha, we hadn’t thought of a name for the album yet so my mum said “Why don’t you just name the album “The Go”, it fits well with the first track off the album (which also didn’t have a name yet)”. So, long story short, we ended up naming the album and the title track both “The Go”.”

The intensity of Slide Guitar, Drums, and Vocals, which start with the opening Track, holds it’s form until we hit Track 4, “Aberdeen”, a Track in which ARE takes a break and leaves the show all up to Hunter with just Slide Guitar and Vocals. This slow and pretty toned down Track, compared to the opening 3, really got me thinking of the “Scissormen”, whom can also tone it down on Slide, making the music almost Surreal in Nature.

Track 5, “Midnight Heat” is the first Track for which featured guest artist appear, with Cassie Taylor on Bass and Jackie Scott doing Vocals. Having Jackie as Singer and Cassie’s Bass really gave this Track a big feel. One of my Favorite Tracks for sure.

Track 9, “Letter”, was another one of my favorites and featured Cassie Taylor, not only on Bass, but also as part of a Vocal Du - Blues Underground

Blues Underground Network, Canada

When I first received the Hunter Wolfe and ARE debut release “The Go”, it was not originally sent for a review, however after giving it a good listen recently, I really felt that this amazing album really deserved one.

Being blown away while listening to a new album does not happen everyday, but I must say that is what “The Go” did for me. The album, which consists mainly of just Hunter Wolfe (Organ/Slide & Acoustic Guitars/Vocals),and ARE (Drums/Percussion), brought to the forefront a spectacular mix of Blues, Blues Rock, Rock, and even a little Garage, which throughout, reminded me a lot of “Scissormen”, another fantastic Guitar/Drum Blues Duo, which also plays a lot of Slide Guitar, to the point of Psychodelic Blues, at times.

Hunter Wolfe and ARE are both young performers whom in their own right have already started making a name for themselves, with Hunter being a “National Slide Guitar Champion, two-time International Blues Challenge Showcase performer, and Blues Foundation Generation Blues recipient.” ARE, whom by the way stands quite nicely on her own, has shared the stage with Darrell Rose from the Dave Matthews Band and Bo Bobbic of The Clovers. ARE, along with Hunter, also sat in with the P-Funk band Let The Monkey Go. Hunter and ARE, whom are brother and sister, have been playing and recording together, all over the US, since 2008.

“The Go”, which was produced by Hunter Wolfe, is their Debut release, and contains 13 songs, all originals, and all written by Hunter and ARE. Recording, Mixing, and Mastering of “The Go”, was entrusted to the very capable Bobby Read. “In his 30 years in music, Bobby has covered a lot of territory. A saxophone, woodwind and keyboard player with training from the New England Conservatory and a long-time performer, he has produced, engineered or played on more than 100 records.”

Of the 13 Tracks on “The Go”, 5 have featured performers and included, on 1 or more Tracks, Cassie Taylor, Jackie Scott, Lamar (brother), and Lee Tee. As many of you probably know, Cassie Taylor is one of the daughters of Blues artist Otis Taylor and is featured on many of his releases.

“The Go” starts off high tempo with the opening Track, which is the title Track, “The Go”. Just Drums, Guitar, and Vocals from Hunter, a simple premise indeed, but when done with the kind of energy Hunter and ARE bring to the table, it is something to behold.

One thing that always intrigues me is how Albums get their names and what unique stories are behind it. I thought I would ask Hunter about the naming of this album, as I thought it was quite a unique name for an album and this was his story behind it.

“In October 2011 we were gearing up for a Mid-West tour and I was really stoked to hit the road. I was walking around the house saying “I’m ready to go, lets go, lets go, lets go.” Haha, we hadn’t thought of a name for the album yet so my mum said “Why don’t you just name the album “The Go”, it fits well with the first track off the album (which also didn’t have a name yet)”. So, long story short, we ended up naming the album and the title track both “The Go”.”

The intensity of Slide Guitar, Drums, and Vocals, which start with the opening Track, holds it’s form until we hit Track 4, “Aberdeen”, a Track in which ARE takes a break and leaves the show all up to Hunter with just Slide Guitar and Vocals. This slow and pretty toned down Track, compared to the opening 3, really got me thinking of the “Scissormen”, whom can also tone it down on Slide, making the music almost Surreal in Nature.

Track 5, “Midnight Heat” is the first Track for which featured guest artist appear, with Cassie Taylor on Bass and Jackie Scott doing Vocals. Having Jackie as Singer and Cassie’s Bass really gave this Track a big feel. One of my Favorite Tracks for sure.

Track 9, “Letter”, was another one of my favorites and featured Cassie Taylor, not only on Bass, but also as part of a Vocal Du - Blues Underground

In de traditie van bands als The White Stripes en The Black Keys maakt dit blues duo bestaande uit Hunter Wolfe (gitaar en zang) & ARE (drums) alternatieve, rauwe blues die buiten de lijntjes kleurt. Net als bij White Stripes is de drummer een vrouw, Are is namelijk Hunter's zus. Er zijn dus veel overeenkomsten, en Hunter & Are danken dan ook Jack White op het binnenhoesje voor de inspiratie en is er zelfs een nummer dat de titel " Mr. White" draagt. Toch zegt Hunter dat zijn invloeden in feite terug gaat naar de oudjes, die in de jaren 20 tot 50 de blues brachten. De grootvaders van de blues. Hij is dan ook trots dat hij nog op het podium stond bij David Honeyboy Edwards, die onlangs overleden is.

Natuurlijk is wat hulp hier en daar nodig om het geluid toch wat voller te krijgen, dat komt ondermeer van bassiste Cassie Taylor, dochter van Otis Taylor, die op een aantal nummers de bas bespeelt en ook meezingt op de track "Letter" en een aantal van de nummers hielp producen. Rapper Lamar is de zanger op het nummer "On The Tracks", terwijl Jackie Scott op "Midnight Heat " zingt en Lee Tee op het a capella nummer "50's Kay".

Hunter komt uit Tulsa, een stad in Oklahoma, bekend vanwege het aparte laid-back geluid van onder meer JJ.Cale en dat later ook Clapton, Delaney en Bonnie en Leon Russell tot de hunne maakten. Niets van dit alles echter bij Hunter Wolfe, net het tegenovergestelde eigenlijk. Wie het geluid van de in de inleiding vermelde voorbeelden kent weet ook precies wat te verwachten bij deze twee jonge muzikanten, die onlangs pas 19 en 15 werden. Luister maar naar "Make You Mine" en je weet direct hoe laat het is. "Midnight Heat" doet daar nog een schepje bovenop. Met hulp van Cassie Taylor en gastzanger Jackie Scott en een paar overdubs van zichzelf weet hij op deze song een vol, robuuste sound te creëren die niet moet onderdoen voor menig Black Keys nummer.

Ondertussen zijn er natuurlijk al meerdere groepen die zich door Jack White's en Dan Auerbach's muziek lieten inspireren, neem bijvoorbeeld maar Left Lane Cruiser of The Kills , maar toch kan het debuut van dit duo met hun totaal ontklede gut bucket blues ons meer aanspreken dan menige gelijkgestemde duo’s in dit genre die hun al vooraf gingen. Hunter is namelijk een prima slide gitarist en zijn stem past perfect bij dit stijltje, en ARE is niet zomaar een piepjong drumvrouwtje dat als gimmick achter het drumstel zit, maar een drummer met power, die zorgt voor een zeer solide basis. Ze schreef trouwens mee aan alle songs.

Dertien nummers lang laten Hunter Wolfe & ARE ons horen dat de blues dankzij hun alive & kickin' is, en dat ze met "The Go" een aanrader op ons los gelaten hebben.

Begin translation to English-

In the tradition of bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys makes this blues duo consisting of Hunter Wolfe (guitar and vocals) and ARE (drums) alternative, raw blues that colors outside the lines. Like the White Stripes drummer is a woman, is in fact Are Hunter's sister. There are so many similarities, and Hunter & Are want to thank Jack White on the inner cover for inspiration and there is even a song titled "Mr.. White" bears. Still, Hunter says that his influences in fact goes back to the old ones, which in the years 20 to 50 brought the blues. The grandfathers of the blues. He is proud that he was on stage with David Honeyboy Edwards, who is recently deceased.

Of course, some help here and there needed to sound a bit fuller to get that is partly of bassist Cassie Taylor, daughter of Otis Taylor, who on some tracks the bass plays and sings on the track "Letter" and a number helped producers of the songs. Rapper Lamar is the singer on the song "On The Tracks", while Jackie Scott on "Midnight Heat" at the Tee and Lee sings a capella song "50's Kay."

Hunter is from Tulsa, a city in Oklahoma, known for its laid-back sound of separate include JJ.Cale and later Clapton, Delaney and Bonnie and Leon Russell were to theirs. None of - Rootstime Magazine

In de traditie van bands als The White Stripes en The Black Keys maakt dit blues duo bestaande uit Hunter Wolfe (gitaar en zang) & ARE (drums) alternatieve, rauwe blues die buiten de lijntjes kleurt. Net als bij White Stripes is de drummer een vrouw, Are is namelijk Hunter's zus. Er zijn dus veel overeenkomsten, en Hunter & Are danken dan ook Jack White op het binnenhoesje voor de inspiratie en is er zelfs een nummer dat de titel " Mr. White" draagt. Toch zegt Hunter dat zijn invloeden in feite terug gaat naar de oudjes, die in de jaren 20 tot 50 de blues brachten. De grootvaders van de blues. Hij is dan ook trots dat hij nog op het podium stond bij David Honeyboy Edwards, die onlangs overleden is.

Natuurlijk is wat hulp hier en daar nodig om het geluid toch wat voller te krijgen, dat komt ondermeer van bassiste Cassie Taylor, dochter van Otis Taylor, die op een aantal nummers de bas bespeelt en ook meezingt op de track "Letter" en een aantal van de nummers hielp producen. Rapper Lamar is de zanger op het nummer "On The Tracks", terwijl Jackie Scott op "Midnight Heat " zingt en Lee Tee op het a capella nummer "50's Kay".

Hunter komt uit Tulsa, een stad in Oklahoma, bekend vanwege het aparte laid-back geluid van onder meer JJ.Cale en dat later ook Clapton, Delaney en Bonnie en Leon Russell tot de hunne maakten. Niets van dit alles echter bij Hunter Wolfe, net het tegenovergestelde eigenlijk. Wie het geluid van de in de inleiding vermelde voorbeelden kent weet ook precies wat te verwachten bij deze twee jonge muzikanten, die onlangs pas 19 en 15 werden. Luister maar naar "Make You Mine" en je weet direct hoe laat het is. "Midnight Heat" doet daar nog een schepje bovenop. Met hulp van Cassie Taylor en gastzanger Jackie Scott en een paar overdubs van zichzelf weet hij op deze song een vol, robuuste sound te creëren die niet moet onderdoen voor menig Black Keys nummer.

Ondertussen zijn er natuurlijk al meerdere groepen die zich door Jack White's en Dan Auerbach's muziek lieten inspireren, neem bijvoorbeeld maar Left Lane Cruiser of The Kills , maar toch kan het debuut van dit duo met hun totaal ontklede gut bucket blues ons meer aanspreken dan menige gelijkgestemde duo’s in dit genre die hun al vooraf gingen. Hunter is namelijk een prima slide gitarist en zijn stem past perfect bij dit stijltje, en ARE is niet zomaar een piepjong drumvrouwtje dat als gimmick achter het drumstel zit, maar een drummer met power, die zorgt voor een zeer solide basis. Ze schreef trouwens mee aan alle songs.

Dertien nummers lang laten Hunter Wolfe & ARE ons horen dat de blues dankzij hun alive & kickin' is, en dat ze met "The Go" een aanrader op ons los gelaten hebben.

Begin translation to English-

In the tradition of bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys makes this blues duo consisting of Hunter Wolfe (guitar and vocals) and ARE (drums) alternative, raw blues that colors outside the lines. Like the White Stripes drummer is a woman, is in fact Are Hunter's sister. There are so many similarities, and Hunter & Are want to thank Jack White on the inner cover for inspiration and there is even a song titled "Mr.. White" bears. Still, Hunter says that his influences in fact goes back to the old ones, which in the years 20 to 50 brought the blues. The grandfathers of the blues. He is proud that he was on stage with David Honeyboy Edwards, who is recently deceased.

Of course, some help here and there needed to sound a bit fuller to get that is partly of bassist Cassie Taylor, daughter of Otis Taylor, who on some tracks the bass plays and sings on the track "Letter" and a number helped producers of the songs. Rapper Lamar is the singer on the song "On The Tracks", while Jackie Scott on "Midnight Heat" at the Tee and Lee sings a capella song "50's Kay."

Hunter is from Tulsa, a city in Oklahoma, known for its laid-back sound of separate include JJ.Cale and later Clapton, Delaney and Bonnie and Leon Russell were to theirs. None of - Rootstime Magazine

I just got a copy of the new Hunter Wolfe and ARE release entitled The Go. This kid was listening when he first learned blues music. You don't need all that extraneous crap going on … This is stripped down gut bucket blues primarily primitive slide, understated vocals and drums although there are a few featured guests … This is basically Hunter just singing and wailing away on guitar with ARE hammering away on drums. It's great! Hunter is a really strong vocalist and knows his way around the guitar. I really do think that they are creating something special here without all of the commercial hype that goes along with it. If you like the raw blues... here is the next great thing. This band gets my endorsement and you won't see Beavis and Butt-head looking at each other in disbelief on this one...it's for real! Hope that you can find a copy! - Bman

I just got a copy of the new Hunter Wolfe and ARE release entitled The Go. This kid was listening when he first learned blues music. You don't need all that extraneous crap going on … This is stripped down gut bucket blues primarily primitive slide, understated vocals and drums although there are a few featured guests … This is basically Hunter just singing and wailing away on guitar with ARE hammering away on drums. It's great! Hunter is a really strong vocalist and knows his way around the guitar. I really do think that they are creating something special here without all of the commercial hype that goes along with it. If you like the raw blues... here is the next great thing. This band gets my endorsement and you won't see Beavis and Butt-head looking at each other in disbelief on this one...it's for real! Hope that you can find a copy! - Bman

This is a great example of a few musicians that are well beyond their years. In a thirteen track ode to powerful slide-guitar, you can find an array of fantastic raves and rants presented by someone who is not even old enough to buy alcohol. Hunter Wolfe accompanied by the abusive drumming of his sister, somehow has found his youthful niche for a classic style and has produced a record that is more pure and blue than any other work from a 19-year-old that I've heard lately. ''The Go'' is captivating and full of a few great songs, one of which is "Aberdeen". The acoustic track is a prodigious interlude and truly a tear-jerker for fans of jailbreak songs. The finale is "50's Kay" an a cappella, which really caps off the album nicely. It's damn pleasing to hear an exceptional album from any blues-rock duo, but having considered this generation's need of enterprising young people in the genre, debuts like this invoke hopefulness for an exceptional decade of blues on the horizon. - R. Luca

This is a great example of a few musicians that are well beyond their years. In a thirteen track ode to powerful slide-guitar, you can find an array of fantastic raves and rants presented by someone who is not even old enough to buy alcohol. Hunter Wolfe accompanied by the abusive drumming of his sister, somehow has found his youthful niche for a classic style and has produced a record that is more pure and blue than any other work from a 19-year-old that I've heard lately. ''The Go'' is captivating and full of a few great songs, one of which is "Aberdeen". The acoustic track is a prodigious interlude and truly a tear-jerker for fans of jailbreak songs. The finale is "50's Kay" an a cappella, which really caps off the album nicely. It's damn pleasing to hear an exceptional album from any blues-rock duo, but having considered this generation's need of enterprising young people in the genre, debuts like this invoke hopefulness for an exceptional decade of blues on the horizon. - R. Luca

February 15, 2012 Hunter Wolfe is a dynamic 19-year-old from Orange County who performs a rocking brand of blues with his 15-year-old sister. Wolfe says he draws inspiration from music of past generations. "I'm influenced by the old guys. Gentlemen from the 20s, 30s and 40s, they were the grandfathers of music and they really speak to me through their music," he said. Wolfe plays a special and challenging style of guitar, perfect for his favorite genre of music: the blues. "Everybody goes through a rough patch at least once in their life that's what blues music is about. It's not about wallowing in your depression and being upset," said Wolfe. "Let it go and start healing, and that really relates to everybody." Wolfe got a guitar for his 14th birthday. A year later he and his sister pooled their money together to buy a drum kit and started playing together. "She started hammering out some beats and I started wailing out some chords and [for the rest of the story, follow the link] - Tara Wheeler

February 15, 2012 Hunter Wolfe is a dynamic 19-year-old from Orange County who performs a rocking brand of blues with his 15-year-old sister. Wolfe says he draws inspiration from music of past generations. "I'm influenced by the old guys. Gentlemen from the 20s, 30s and 40s, they were the grandfathers of music and they really speak to me through their music," he said. Wolfe plays a special and challenging style of guitar, perfect for his favorite genre of music: the blues. "Everybody goes through a rough patch at least once in their life that's what blues music is about. It's not about wallowing in your depression and being upset," said Wolfe. "Let it go and start healing, and that really relates to everybody." Wolfe got a guitar for his 14th birthday. A year later he and his sister pooled their money together to buy a drum kit and started playing together. "She started hammering out some beats and I started wailing out some chords and [for the rest of the story, follow the link] - Tara Wheeler

February 24, 2012 - Hunter just heard your new music. Killer.... Will feature you in about a week.... thanks again.... Robert Bartosh- Radio Submit- Roots Music Report - Robert Bartosh

February 24, 2012 - Hunter just heard your new music. Killer.... Will feature you in about a week.... thanks again.... Robert Bartosh- Radio Submit- Roots Music Report - Robert Bartosh

…primarily a duo affair with a female drummer who goes by the moniker ARE and co-wrote all the songs with Hunter. ..definitely a plugged in duo with intense drumming and slide... Indeed, one track is entitled “Mr White”! All the songs are original ... songs are relentlessly up-tempo with busy drums and frenetic slide guitar. “Make You Mine” is probably the most typical of that approach whilst “Aberdeen” is one of the few quiet tracks ... Without the drums and at a slower pace we can hear Hunter’s breathy, almost spoken vocals well on a song... slower paced … “Guiding Light” the lyrics…on the CD sleeve … I listened several times to “McKinley Morganfield" to try to discover the Muddy link,...Track 5 is “Midnight Heat” on which Cassie Taylor’s bass and Jackie Scott’s vocals add to the basic format. Jackie’s voice is always a pleasure to hear... It’s a song about love and lust and Hunter … throws down some tasty guitar licks, doubletracking himself
- John Mitchell

…primarily a duo affair with a female drummer who goes by the moniker ARE and co-wrote all the songs with Hunter. ..definitely a plugged in duo with intense drumming and slide... Indeed, one track is entitled “Mr White”! All the songs are original ... songs are relentlessly up-tempo with busy drums and frenetic slide guitar. “Make You Mine” is probably the most typical of that approach whilst “Aberdeen” is one of the few quiet tracks ... Without the drums and at a slower pace we can hear Hunter’s breathy, almost spoken vocals well on a song... slower paced … “Guiding Light” the lyrics…on the CD sleeve … I listened several times to “McKinley Morganfield" to try to discover the Muddy link,...Track 5 is “Midnight Heat” on which Cassie Taylor’s bass and Jackie Scott’s vocals add to the basic format. Jackie’s voice is always a pleasure to hear... It’s a song about love and lust and Hunter … throws down some tasty guitar licks, doubletracking himself
- John Mitchell

"We are running your tracks like crazy! We LOVE your work and so do our listeners! You have been developing a rather large fan base already here. Brilliant work on this Album!" - Shashona

"We are running your tracks like crazy! We LOVE your work and so do our listeners! You have been developing a rather large fan base already here. Brilliant work on this Album!" - Shashona