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| Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band |
| If someone had walked up to me three months ago and asked me to name a Mississippi Delta Blues band, I would have been speechless. When I used to think of the blues, I would think of the typical artists you hear of like BB King, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughn. After seeing Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band's intense live show, I knew I needed to sit down and speak to them. |
| Writer: Patton |
Jan 10 07 |
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If someone had walked up to me three months ago and asked me to name a Mississippi Delta Blues band, I would have been speechless. When I used to think of the blues, I would think of the typical artists you hear of like BB King, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughn. These, however, might be blues but they aren't Delta Blues. Delta Blues is actually one of the earliest styles of blues music. It was first recorded in the early 1920s with just one man and one instrument and only using an actual band during live performances. This style of music is making a come back though. I recently went to a local coffeeshop to see a band I was told would "blow my mind." My friend was right. I saw The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band from Westfield, Indiana. The trio consists of Reverend and Kentucky Colonel Josh Peyton on guitar, his wife Breezy Peyton on washboard and his little brother Jayme Peyton on drums. After seeing their intense live show, which they told me can sometimes get quite rowdy (they usually dont play coffee houses), I knew I needed to sit down and speak to them.
How long has the Big Damn Band been together? What are the origins of the band?
Rev Peyton: Well Jayme and I have been playing together since I was 13, so for about 12 years. I met Breezy right after my hand surgery, and we started playing around the house back then. We have really been touring and playing out for about two years.
Your website talks about influences like Charley Patton. How did you first get into this type of music?
Rev Peyton: I have been into it for a long time, but it wasn't until after my hand surgery that I was able to play it. It is a more difficult style of guitar playing, and it is kind of a dying art.
Breezy: I have always listened to old-timey music, and really liked country blues before I ever met the Rev. After we had been together for a bout a year the Rev came home with a washboard and said "Learn how to play this, if you want" and I did. Washboard Sam is probably the biggest influence in my washboard playing but fife and drum music (such as Othar Turner) is a big influence on my music too.
Jayme: I can't really name someone who has directly inspired my sound. There are many drummers that inspire me to play better. I love listening to old Max Roach recordings. For me I just listen to a song and play what I hear in my head.
Who primarily writes the songs? Many seem to be inspired from your family, is this their typical inspiration? Could you possibly give some examples of where you derive your song writing from?
Rev Peyton: I write the songs, and then I bring them to Breezy and Jayme. I give a little direction sometimes, and then they run with them. We grew up out in the country, and I pull from people I knew growing up, my family, and also people I meet in our travels.
What guitarist(s) inspired your style? Have you always played in this style or did it develop over time?
Rev Peyton: Growing up in the middle of fields and forrests, country blues always made more sense to me than city blues. Country blues is Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt, etc. City Blues is BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, etc. I always wanted to play it, but electric urban blues came easier... until after my hand problems.
How long have you been on Tour full time?
Rev Peyton: Completely full time for 6 months.
What has been your favorite place to visit during your travels and why?
Rev Peyton: Oh man this is too tough. I have decided that I just love the road. I can't be in any one place for too long.
Breezy: Our European tour was definitely a highlight but there are really too many places to name them all. I really love the Southwest and the South. I love the people and culture in Mississippi. We have met so many great friends on the road in the Southwest.
Jayme: I don't know. I love hills and mountains, but the desert has a sinister look about it that I am starting to love as well. I have met some nice people in a few cities and towns that have made my visits much more comfortable. Meeting and interacting with people is my favorite part about traveling.
What are the Big Damn Band's goals for the new year?
Rev Peyton: Keep playing, keep travelling, and also to work on a new record. Big Damn Nation is just released, and we still haven't taken it to all the places it needs to go, but I am always writing new songs. We hope our fans continue to help us. They are the secret to our success and we don't take it lightly. That is why stickers are free at shows, and there are always a few free MP3's on our website.
Breezy: I would love to play 250 shows next year, and hopefully play some great festivals with a lot of exposure to all genres. We are already well on our way with some great shows planned in 2007.
The comic bio on your website mentions a hand injury and surgery that almost prevented you from playing music. How did this injury affect your playing?
Rev Peyton: When I was 19 I lost the use of part of my hands. I was unable to play guitar for over a year and a half. I found a doctor who thought he could help, and he operated. I was playing again in two weeks, only then I was able to play all the roots blues stuff that I had always wanted to play. I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but it ended up being the best. I am now 25, so really I have only been playing fingerstyle for 4 years.
You are an ordained minister and Kentucky Colonel. Could you explain how you acquired these titles?
Rev Peyton: Well I officially became ordained online, though I have been nicknamed "Reverend" for a long time. I have done marriages for people all over the country. Usually for fans. Being made a Kentucky Colonel is an honor that comes from the governor's office. It is like being knighted in Kentucky.
If you could play with any musician, alive or dead, who would it be? what song? why?
Rev Peyton: Charley Patton. He died in 1934. I love his music. He played party music - his blues wasn't just 12 bars and turn arounds. He played whatever was in his heart and mind, and I love it. Second after him would be Furry Lewis.
Breezy: Honestly, there is no one that I would rather play with than my husband. It is a great bond to have with your soul mate. We are very lucky to be able to do what we do together. However, if that answer is too cheesy I would have to say the Mississippi Sheiks. They were one of the most original blues jug bands ever and their music is as fresh today as it was in the early 1900's. They kick ass!
Jayme: I've never thought about this before. I guess it would have been fun to play with Mississippi Sheiks. They always sound like their having a good time and I love their music. I don't think I would really care what song we played, it would mean more to me if they picked the song.
Where do you see the Big Damn Band ten years from now?
Rev Peyton: Well I hope to one day have a home where Breezy and I can rest when we aren't on tour. She deserves that. I hope that more people are wise to what we are doing, and I hope I can look back at ten years of doing this and feel like I made a positive impact on the world. Hopefully we'll have a bunch of records made by then.
Jayme: I hope that we can still be able to perform, and make music. I hope to have a house to go home to every once in a while. Who knows, maybe ten years from now I might have a family of my own.
For more news, updates, videos and other Big Damn Band related stuff check out their homepage at www.bigdamnband.com. Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is currently under no label. You can also hear them at www.myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband and check out their latest release Big Damn Nation.
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