The Kettle Drivers

"It's like listening to a Tarantino movie," though not as vile. Greg Johnson, who wields the Fender Telecaster, assembled close friends and talented musicians to form The Kettle Drivers in late 2009. Greg, along with Shane Thompson (drums), a longtime collaborator and friend, and Carlen Walth (bass), form a brick-house of a band that is reminiscent of Link Wray, The Mar-Keys and Phil Spector's infamous Wrecking Crew. The band spent 2010 on-stage and in-studio prepping the stew that is ready to serve. "What a Thrill," recorded and mixed in Los Angeles with Jeb Lipson and mastered with Shantih Haast in Brea, California, is the band's debut full-length. Greg, who also produced the record with his long-time collaborating engineers, feels that it is his best work. Vinyl, CD and Digital Download, available in April, 2011 through: www.thekettledrivers.bandcamp.com and www.swindletone.com Along with their debut LP, in 2011 The Kettle Drivers graced the pages of The OC Weekly in print (Locals Only, November) and online (Heard Mentality, September), and scored a film titled "Black Luck." The film's sound and score, both by Greg and Shane, won high praise at the Los Angeles Action on Film Festival. Busy with live shows in Orange County (Detroit Bar, La Cave, Avalon Bar Residency, Slidebar, Copper Door, Tiki Bar, Woody's Wharf, Diggs, The Lab, The Prospector, Anaheim Art Crawl, Malones) the group has ventured to Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and San Francisco. With Greg and Shane as Co-Producers and Shantih Haast (Studio 770) as engineer, The Kettle Drivers' next EP, which began at Hurley Studios with Davey Warsop, will be FREE for friends and fans. It features Erick Holloway of STAR OFF MACHINE and special guests. Released in August, 2012 Digital Demons & Black Luck is available FREE as a CD or streaming on bandcamp, Spotify, and various digital music services. In addition to live shows, 2012 closes with group and individual efforts though each is backed by each other. Shane, as Shape Pitaki, is currently recording his debut single and full-length LP/CD with Kettle Drivers and guests as backing musicians. Carlen plays for various bands including Los Angeles based Opus Orange. Greg continues to score films at his leisure. PRESS http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2012/10/guitarist_and_kettle_drivers_m.php http://www.hurley.com/blog/blog.cfm/aid/47910/KETTLE-DRIVERS-IN-STUDIO http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2011/09 http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-11-17/music/locals-only-kettle-drivers-costa-mesa-greg-johnson//local_record_review_what_a_thr.php http://figgzillamusic.com/?p=356 http://www.life-is-awesome.net/2012/05/07/the-kettle-drivers http://musicinpress.com/2012/05/the-kettle-drivers-what-a-thrill Digital Demons & Black Luck, Available NOW www.thekettledrivers.bandcamp.com