Tim Zach & Whiskey Bent

Tim Zach & The Whiskey Bent Band

April 19, 2015 By hostne


Tim Zach takes unlikely path to successful music career with Whiskey Bent


Tim Zach is that guy who used to sip beers at your local bar on Karaoke night. Ball cap pulled down over his eyes. Killing the crowd with that smooth baritone voice. The guy who entered contests for the hell of it – and always won.

“I never had any ambition to become a musician when I was in high school,” admits The Whiskey Bent Band front man. “Playing in a band didn’t enter my mind. I just sang for fun. At that point in my life I was pretty focused on sports.”

Zach was exposed to country music at a young age. His dad, Frank, was a big Alabama fan and the two would drive on Highway 13 near Zach’s hometown of Glidden, Wisconsin, singing along to “The Closer You Get.”

“That’s still one of my fondest memories,” Zach says. Zach didn’t get serious about performing until 20 years later. Even then, his career as a musician happened almost by accident.

Some friends convinced him to enter the “Colgate Country Showdown” singing competition in 2009. A demo tape landed him a live performance, which led to being named the eventual contest winner and Best New Country Act in Nebraska.

Zach’s run in the contest ended at regional competition in Albuquerque, N.M. “But it’s where my career as an entertainer would begin.” The Whiskey Bent Band formed in 2009, but success didn’t come quickly. In fact, the band actually paid a small Nebraska bar $175 to rent the place and play its first gig.

“We called all of our friends, invited them to Third Base Bar in St. Libory and played a 45-minute set for them – because we didn’t know any more songs than that,” recalls Zach, who moved to Nebraska in 2003 and now lives in Loup City.

‘COUNTRY WITH CRUNCH’

Known for its high-energy shows, tight instrumentals and Zach’s strong vocals, Whiskey Bent is a five-man country rock band based in central Nebraska.

In addition to Zach, Whiskey Bent is made up of Jeff Westwood (guitar), Jeff Wilson (drums), Joe Parr (guitar, mandolin, harmonica) and John Victory (bass). Westwood and Wilson have been with the band since it formed in 2009.

Kevin Galvan is Whiskey Bent’s tour manager, sound tech and merchandise manager.

Whiskey Bent writes and performs its own music and covers a variety of top artists that include Eric Church, Toby Keith, Jake Owen, Gary Allan and Johnny Cash.

“Garth Brooks meets Metallica. We’re country with crunch,” explains Zach. “We like to push the limits with songs and bring a rock attitude to every song we play.”

In 2010, Whiskey Bent played at Nebraska’s popular Comstock Windmill Festival alongside national acts Clay Walker, Rodney Atkins, Trent Tomlinson and Emerson Drive. That appearance launched a relationship in 2011 with Kearney-based radio station Nebraska’s Hot Country Y102 and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which led to the first of many benefit concerts to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

Whiskey Bent solidified itself in the Midwest music scene in 2012. The band opened for legend Collin Raye while also playing shows with national acts such as Justin Moore, Ronnie Milsap and the Casey Donahew Band.

FIRST ALBUM RELEASED

Zach and his band mates also began writing and performing their own songs in 2012, beginning with the debut single “On The River,” which quickly became a top request on local country radio. Whiskey Bent followed that single with “Every Bar’s Got One” and released four songs
on its first EP.

In 2013, with its EP gaining momentum and increased airplay, Whiskey Bent expanded its fan base by booking shows beyond it’s Nebraska roots, playing in surrounding states such as Iowa, South Dakota and others. The band also increased its national presence, opening and playing alongside The Lost Trailers, Jerrod Niemann and Jake Owen.

Whiskey Bent is currently in its busiest year of touring, playing more than 80 live shows in 2014. In addition to being one of the most sought-after club bands in the Midwest, Whiskey Bent is a regular on the summer county fair and country music festival circuit, including the popular Kicker Country Stampede in Manhattan, Kans.

Riding the success of its first EP, the band also released its first full-length album in July 2014, which includes eight original songs. In May, Zach spent time at Station West studio in Nashville, recording songs written by songwriters such as Jamey Johnson. He co-wrote and recorded “Men Like Him” – a song about his grandfather – as part of a solo project.

For upcoming show information, news and photos of Tim Zach and Whiskey Bent, visit www.facebook.com/whiskeybentband - Custer County Fair Concert

Whiskey Bent is known for their high-energy shows that are like a thunderstorm on the horizon. You see the clouds rolling in from the horizon; you brace yourself for the storm and when it hits you embrace it like a long lost friend. Their “Country with a rock attitude” will be taking stage at Rednecks on 84th and Center on Oct. 16. This is the perfect venue in Omaha to catch Whiskey Bent. With an amazing dance floor, a great stage and AMAZING drink specials this sure to be an amazing night for anyone. Rednecks is very selective in who they bring to their stage, they refuse to bring just anyone. They want to bring its patrons only the best performers the area has to offer. Tim Zach and Whiskey Bent is no exception to this. People have been begging for them, and Rednecks is bringing them. If you haven’t been to Rednecks it’s slogan “Ain’t No Ordinary Hick Bar” is the perfect description. Contrary to the name this is a warm and welcoming bar that embraces all types of people. The bartenders are known for slinging their drinks at a nearly super-sonic speed so there is never the dreaded 15 minute wait just to get another drink. Get there early and you can enjoy the Happiest Hour in Town pricing and enjoy their free dance lessons from 8-9 teaching some of the hottest new dances. As always for groups of over 20 there are FREE VIP areas with NO COVER, party busses NEVER PAY A COVER and MILITARY ALWAYS GETS IN FREE! Get out to Rednecks for a great night of live music, with great people and enjoy some of the best prices in town with the best servers and bartenders in town. - See more at: http://nightlifeco.com/omaha/article/whiskey-bent-live-rednecks-oct-16#sthash.8mCUxDZ0.dpuf - Jacob Christoffersen

By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com


Harold Reutter


Posted on Apr 6, 2015

by Harold Reutter

In recent years, the Hall County Fair has booked acts such as the Beach Boys, Tommy James and the Shondells, Grand Funk Railroad and the Fifth Dimension for rock/pop music, while bringing in the Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, Craig Morgan and Joe Nichols for country music fans.

For 2015, however, the Hall County Fair is going strictly local and regional, with bands that include Tim Zach and the Whiskey Bent, the Emmett Bower Band, 5 Off Faid and Bases Loaded.

All the bands will perform in the Barn Bar, with tickets costing $5 each. No advance tickets will be sold, with tickets sold at the door until capacity is reached.


Whiskey Bent will perform on Thursday, July 16; the Emmett Bower Band will play on Friday, July 17; 5 Off Faid will perform Saturday, July 18; and Bases Loaded will be in concert on Sunday, July 19.


Hall County Fair Manager Corby Flagle said he would call all the bands “local” because they have all played in Grand Island and Central Nebraska numerous times, even though some people would say a couple of the bands are based in Kearney, one is based in Grand Island and another is based in Lincoln.


Flagle said that the great entertainment coming into the Heartland Events and the Nebraska State Fair both before and after the Hall County Fair influenced his decision to go with entertainment that has a more local flavor and who will perform in a more intimate setting in the Barn Bar. “People will be able to go right up and talk to them (band members),” he said.


The $5 admission price is a good value that will allow people to have a lot of fun during the evening, especially with some of the more expensive national groups coming into Grand Island this spring and summer.


REO Speedwagon will be performing at the Heartland Events Center in April, Rodney Carrington will in the same venue in June and Boston will also be at The Heartland Events Center in June.


Keith Urban will perform an outdoor concert at the Nebraska State Fair on Aug. 29, as part of his “Raise ‘Em Up” 2015 tour. Tickets for the Keith Urban concert are $60 plus gate and fees, while tickets for the pit are $90 plus gate and fees.


Flagle said that each of the local groups has a little bit of a different musical style.


The website for Whiskey Bent describes itself as a country, red dirt, southern rock band that plays “county music with a rock attitude.” The group features Tim Zach, lead vocals, Jeff Westwood, guitar and vocals, Joe Parr, guitar and vocals, John Victory, bass guitar, and Jeff Wilson, drums. Kevin Galvan is sound tech and merchandise manager.


The Emmett Bower Band website describes its “as a rock influenced alt country act born in Nebraska in late October 2010.”


The band’s current line up includes Jeffrey Emmett Bower - acoustic/electric guitars and lead vocals; Jeff Chelewski, electric guitar, Troy Johnson, bassjo/electric bass/upright bass; Josh Rector, fiddle/mandolin/harmonica; Matty Sanders drums/percussion. The band has released two self-produced records and is ready to record a third.


The website for 5 OFF FAID said that band rocks some of the best classic rock songs ever made, with a focus on 80’s rock and some 60’s, 70’s, 90’s and current rock throw into the mix.


The website cites “Kiss, Journey, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, Kenny Loggins, Led-Zeppelin, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Queen, Styx, Kansas, Foreigner, The Beatles, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Metallica, ACDC, and of course O.A.R.” as some of its musical influence.


Band members are Todd “T-Mader” Mader, lead vocals; Zach “Duck” Martinez, guitar; Brady “Dierks” Buettner, Guitar; Kayla “Kayfay” Faaborg, bass guitar; John “J-Crow” Crogan, keys; and Michael “Beatz” Garcia, Drums.


Bases Loaded is a group whose members have played with a number of other groups before coming together to form the Nebraska band. Its website noted that its playlist is a combination of “cool country” and “classy rock.”


Steve Main has been songwriter and drummer for The Seven Hills Project, which won the prestigious state championship in the GMC/True Value Country Showdown. During the course of his career, Main has shared the state with Charlie Daniels, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Billy Dean, Head East, Chuck Mangione and others.


Gordy Chapin has worked with The Traveling Gamblers, Roger Pape and Company, Snapshot, Sweetwater, Borderline and Exit 342. He joined Bases Loaded in July of 2013.


Mike Sciachitano grew in Des Moines, Iowa, where he played in Top 40 bands during the week, then go to jazz jam sessions on Sunday evenings. He has performed with Flipside and has had the opportunity to share the stage with various artists such as Eddie Money, The Gin Blossoms, Lee Ann Womack and Tower of Power.


At one time, he was in High Profile with Lori Dodson, another current member of Loaded Bases. Sciachitano he re-joined Flipside before coming to Central Nebraska in 2007


Lori Dodson has collaborate with Steve Main in the Main Event project, been a member of Flipside and also a member of High Profile.


In additional to four great nights of local entertainment the Hall County Fair will feature the DC Lynch Shows Carnival on the Midway from July 16-19. “Everybody’s familiar with the DC Lynch Shows Carnival,” Flagle said.


He noted that sand volleyball will be at the Hall County Fair for the first time ever. Other activities will include several evenings of bingo, as well as mud drags, 4-H exhibits, open class exhibits, livestock shows, vendor booths, antique farm equipment display, kids pedal pull and many more activities. - Harold Reutter - The Independent

By Kayla Prasek news@yankton.net

An up-and-coming country-rock band will bring its music back to Yankton tonight (Friday).

Tim Zach & The Whiskey Bent Band will play at Happy Hourz starting at 9 p.m. Zach and his band played at Happy Hourz last summer and enjoyed it so much, they reached out to Neal Anderson, owner of the venue, to book a show again this summer.

“Last year we got a call to play a street dance in Ponca, Nebraska, and some ladies from Yankton, who I’ve known for years, asked Neal to bring us in,” Zach said. “We had so much fun and people were so responsive, we thought we should do it again.”

Zach said Happy Hourz is a fun place to play. “We love the atmosphere there with the outdoor stage,” Zach said. “It has a cool vibe, and it’s always good to get up to South Dakota.”

Anderson said he’s excited to have Zach and his band back at Happy Hourz. “It’s not too often a group like this comes to Yankton,” Anderson said. “They’re bigger now than they were last year, and they just got done recording in Nashville, so we’re excited to have them here again.”

Zach got his start in country music competing in the Colgate Country Showdown in 2009. After winning the Nebraska state title, he moved onto the regional competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Zach formed the band five years ago and the group has seen steady growth regionally since then, playing shows most every weekend.

Zach and his band released a new record, “That’s How We Roll,” on July 1, which is already receiving radio play in Nebraska. The group has played shows with national country artists Collin Raye, Clay Walker, Rodney Atkins, Trent Tomlinson, Justin Moore and Ronnie Milsap, among others.

“We have a passion for good music,” Zach said. “We try to put on high-energy shows and bring the party. We don’t slow it down.”

The Whiskey Bent Band puts on a show with full production every night. “We have all the lights and smoke machines,” Zach said. “We like to have the concert atmosphere, where people get right up to the stage and dance along.” - Kayla Prasek - Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan

MANHATTAN, Kansas (WIBW) -- Country music fans descended on Manhattan, Kansas, for the 19th Kicker Country Stampede, where the event had record-breaking crowds all four nights of the festival. Chris Young and Dustin Lynch helped bring this year’s event to a close with high-energy performances that had thousands of cowboy boots stompin’ in the mud and fists pumpin’ in the air.

Sunday was also Military Appreciation Day, with thousands of active and retired military and their families, who were provided courtesy tickets as a thank you for their service, converging on the festival from Fort Riley Kansas (Manhattan/Junction City), Fort Leavenworth Kansas (Leavenworth), Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), McConnell Air Force Base (Wichita) and Offutt Air Force Base (Omaha). The record-setting crowd was treated to the biggest and brightest stars in country music throughout the weekend, including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Young, Easton Corbin and more.

“This year’s festival has been the best Country Stampede to date,” said Wayne Rouse, general manager of the festival. “I hope everyone comes back for another amazing year in 2015. If you think Blake Shelton is exciting, just wait!”

As previously-announced, Country megastar and judge on NBC’s The Voice Blake Shelton will be one of the headliners for Kicker Country Stampede 2015. Stay tuned for even more exciting artist announcements in the coming months! Early-bird, weekend, VIP and Reserved tickets are currently on sale, along with 700 reserved camping spots, for June 25–28, 2015.

VIP tickets are available for $490, four-day GA passes for $120, four-day, jump-the-line passes for $130, reserved camping sites for $250 and all other camping is available starting at $135 until Nov. 30. For more information on tickets or for any of your Kicker Country Stampede needs, visit www.countrystampede.com or call 800-795-8091.

Kicker Country Stampede offered a full-fan experience with fun for attendees of any age. In addition to the main stage boasting the biggest names in country music, Steel Rodeo Tours provided non-stop, action packed freestyle motocross exhibitions.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International Songwriters Tent featured established, as well as up-and-coming songwriters, including Lance Carpenter, Rob Northcutt Band, Tony Ramey and more. Kite's Grille & Bar Tuttleville Stage once again showcased the best local talent the Midwest has to offer, including Tim Zach & Whiskey Bent, County Road 5, Jared Daniels Band and more. Other activities included a carnival, mouth-watering vendor food, shopping, interactive exhibits and much, much more. - Ralph Hipp - News 13