Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
September 28 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
About
In conjunction with the release of their newest album on August 30th, “Love & Hate In Desperate Places”, The Boxmasters will also be kicking off a tour of the United States and Canada. This marks their 17th release as the ever-prolific J.D. Andrew and Bud Thornton tweak their sound for this album and add longtime road musicians Kirk McKim and Raymond Hardy to the recordings.
Kirk McKim joined The Boxmasters in 2015 after longtime collaborator Brad Davis had to return to his solo and studio work. Originally from the Houston area, Kirk played with Pat Travers for many years as well as other top groups. A master on the guitar, Kirk can play any style needed as well as sing the high harmonies Bud records on the albums.
Raymond Hardy joined The Boxmasters in 2010 as a guitar technician and immediately made himself indispensable. At the suggestion of former bassist Dave Fowler, Raymond became the bass player and also has made himself indispensable. Raymond’s low-end heft and stage persona add an extra valuable element to the show.
Singles from the album will be “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” which Bud, J.D. and Mike Butler wrote in 2009 but it never found a place on a previous album. The other single will be “Goodnight, Sleep Tight, I’m Gone” which was the last song written for the album by Bud, Kirk and Raymond.
The “2024 Love & Hate Tour” kicks off in Tomball, Texas at The Main Street Crossing for 2 nights and then continues through the Midwest, Canada and then back from the East Coast to California. Highlights are Knuckleheads in Kansas City on Sept. 7th, City Wineries in Chicago, Boston and Nashville and a mix of familiar and brand new venues. Joining J.D., Bud, Kirk and Raymond will be Nick Davidson on drums, a fixture since his addition in 2022.
Formed in 2007, The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960’s. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also important to The Boxmasters are The Mothers of Invention, The Allman Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star.
As a touring band, The Boxmasters have cultivated a rabid cult fanbase across the United States, Canada and now Europe and the United Kingdom. Opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Bubbles and The Sh*t Rockers, The Boxmasters have proven to win over large audiences. As a headliner, frequent stops in Kansas City at “Knuckleheads”, Los Angeles at “The Troubadour” and “Heritage Hall” in Ardmore, Oklahoma have shown dedicated yet still growing audiences. Two appearances at Levon Helm’s “Midnight Ramble” in Woodstock, New York were highlight performances for the band, as well as the “Ramble at The Ryman” that Levon hosted in 2008. Other highlights include The Boxmasters performing on “The Grand Ole Opry” in 2015, and in 2023 The Boxmasters fulfilled a life-long dream of playing The Cavern Club in Liverpool.