EJ in his home studio
(Photo courtesy of "Salem" Bob Caunter)
EJ Wells introduced the "new" Haymakers on Wednesday, December 18, 2002, at The Bottlerocket Bar in downtown Toledo, OH. They opened for Pittsburgh's "Tangerine" and took the stage around 10 p.m.
E.J. ANNOUNCES NEW GIG DATES:
"Fri - May 30 - Mickey Finns - Toledo - 9:30pm.
The return of the Rick Nease Band. We had such a good time at our debut show, that Mickey's asked us to do it again!
Opening act TBA. Stay tuned.
Sat- June 28 -Taste of the Town-Downtown Toledo-6:15pm.
E.J. Wells and his beloved Haymakers storm the outdoor stage at 6:15 pm, for an hour of spectacular entertainment. Many surprizes planned!
Sat- June 28 - Mickey Finns - Toledo - 9:30pm
The Rick Nease Band FEATURING E.J. WELLS ON HIS UNTAMED REVEREND GUITAR will open for Detroit's leading lady of rock, Liz Larin.
Liz is a phenomenal talent who recently was featured at the South by Southwest Music Festival. Here's what they had to say about her.
"Edgy vocals and groove-driven rock by 4x winner of Detroit Music Awards. "The Story of O-Miz" (Bona Dea Music) is Larin's fourth CD and second on her own imprint. Described by Detroit Metro Times as a "modern urban goddess," Larin combines "youthful sex-charged energy with a strikingly mature sensibility." Has worked with producers Ben Grosse (Ben Folds) and Scott Spock (Avril Lavigne). "
This will be a very special show, you will NOT want to miss Liz's first Toledo concert.
Sat - July 12 - Mickey Finns - Toledo - 9:30pm.
E.J. Wells and the Haymakers.
Our first headlining show!
Opening act TBA. Stay tuned."
Great news for fans of E.J.'s music!!! MP3's of seventeen of his vast catalog of songs - including a bonus "Hearsedriver" which in not available on "Rhyolite" - are on the www.garageband.com website. Some songs are listed under E.J. Wells, some under E.J. Wells and The Haymakers, and some are under E.J.'s side project the Human Darts. In addition, E.J.'s input can be heard on V.C. Graves' "Silver City Train" song on the same website. To get more information click on the garageband records logo near the bottom of our homepage.
12/16/02 - The latest from Patrick Potts concerning E.J.'s appearance on the Del Shannon Tribute CD - "I hesitate from putting a completion date but I can tell you we are running as fast as possible and look to complete ASAP."
Says E.J. - "Looks like we'll do the 'official' CD release party on Feb. 1st at Mickey Finn's. That's the same place you came to see us last time, corner of Lagrange and Huron, Toledo. We'll be opening for a band (a highly interesting band) called Glinda's Bubble. They're sort of a Joni Mitchell meets Jefferson Airplane folk/rock band from Sylvania, OH. Mom sings, dad plays guitar, and their son plays drums."
EJ Wells and his new Haymakers - Tim Gahagan (drums), Marty Greenberg (bass)and Dan O'Connor (rhythm guitar, vocals) - are hard at work rehearsing for the debut of the "Ryholite" CD.
Says EJ - "Tim played on 9 of the 13 tracks, the other drummer was co-producer Chris Arduser, who I've known since childhood, and who currently plays drums for Adrian Belew and the Bears, and heads his own outfit The Graveblankets. Chris plans to record a version of my song "Rising Sun" on his next Graveblankets CD."
"My plan is to record a second CD (tentatively titled "Undertakings") in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and as soon as possible. I'd like to have it out in 8 months." Among the songs tentatively scheduled are "Coopersville" and "Hearsedriver", a.k.a. "I Drive a Hearse."
E.J. was on the radio. Sunday, October 27, 2002 around 8:30p.m. during Root Hoot on WXKR 94.5 Toledo. Interview and selections from Rhyolite!
E.J. also made an appearance on The Kelly and Staples Show, 11/22/02, 7:30 a.m., Oldies WRQN 93.5, Toledo, OH. E.J. sang Hearsedriver live with an acoustic guitar."
The reviews for "Rhyolite" are beginning to pour in folks!
"...The ghosts of old gunslingers and long dead guitarslingers echo to life again in Mr. Wells’ haunting epic that plays like a shotgun wedding of Morricone's 'The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly', and all the rockabilly greats of the 50's. Highly original, distinctly American, and really catchy, 'Rhyolite' is an important new contribution to American pop music - and to American folklore and mythology as well..." Tom Toth - The Bohemian Embassy
"...Man, you write great songs. The production is excellent..." Johnny Porkchop Dupree - Host of The Root Hoot, WXKR Radio
"...E.J. and Chris assembled a murder's row of seasoned players, and brought forth a compelling, unique, and refreshingly original debut disc. Truth be told, it's as good as anything I've heard. It's world class." V.C. Graves - President, Ruin Records
"...Man and Woman, Rock and Roll, Life and Death, Shortstack and a Longneck..." Richard Ruse - LA Studio Musician (Tom Petty, Robin Zander, Scott Henderson, Jon Bon Jovi)
"...E.J.'s 'Rhyolite' rocks! Very nice work, Very nice indeed..." Scott Shriner - Weezer
"...forget the rest, the West is the best...and 'Rhyolite' is the best of the West..." Chip Kinman - Cowboy Nation
"...E.J.'s 'Rhyolite' paints a vivid and scary portrait of the American West. Wells has a distinct, convincing voice, and the musicianship is outstanding..." Max Crook - Keyboardist, inventor of the fabled Musitron, and co-writer of the Del Shannon classic "Runaway"
"Dark, fun , twangy and real. 100% American art, no additives..." Chris Casello - The Starlight Drifters
"...A crisp-sounding set of 12 edgy, highly original self-penned numbers, plus a drivin' cover of Del Shannon's immortal Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun). Western-themed tunes are worthy, if darker, additions to that genre. Shortstack and a Longneck should be on every trucker's radio, and Downstairs At the Funeral Home is a bang-up adult contribution to the Monster Mash genre. There's even a tasty instro in the mix. Highly recommended..." Jim Bartlett, Washington, D.C.
"Rhyolite Burns, Rhyolite Rocks, Rhyolite has a story to tell. After listening to Rhyolite, the story is clear. If you listen, you will hear the ghosts come alive and a Ghost that will never die (Cemetery Man/my fav). E.J. has raised the bar with this well written and produced CD. So saddle up, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride." Bob Caunter PWKM
"...welcome to the world of E.J. Wells. If you like a song with a story and style, look no further! I call his music "gothic-western", but you'll call it an American classic! So sit back with an issue of the comic book "Preacher", take a pull on a longneck, and settle in for a night of E.J. Wells' "Rhyolite"...ya might want to leave the lights on though..." The Hearsedriver - Hearsedriver.com
"Western music is strange. It had it's heyday in the 30's, and has not been commercially viable since the late 50's (eg: "El Paso" by Marty Robbins.) It is now a genre populated by failed country singers, folkies, and hobbyists. E.J. Wells has done something remarkable. He has released a new album that is at once modern, AND evokes the old west...no small trick. Western music has always been a blend of sounds and traditions, and "Rhyolite" carries this blend to new and thrilling heights- with an ingenious mix of folk, glitter rock, Mersey beat, spaghetti, surf and...Pink Floyd-esqe atmospherics!!!???!!! I love this record. It works best as a set piece...listen to it all the way through. And I mean LISTEN to it. It will take you somewhere dry, dusty, and dangerous. The songs also work individually...RHYOLITE, BLOOD ON THE MOON, CEMETERY MAN, RISING SUN, UNDERTAKER'S LAMENT...WOW!!!!! An essential record by one of the best. Buy it....nuff said?" Chip Kinman - founding member of Rank and File, Blackbird, and Cowboy Nation
