Like a brilliant poker player, they upped the ante in 2015. They followed up their self-titled debut with a stunning sophomore effort, Trece Diablos, in 2012. Righteous Hillbillies released their first record of original, instant classics in 2008. Trained in rock ‘n’ roll and jazz, Bret adds a unique ingredient to the Hillbillies tonic. On lead guitar is Andy Ross, who has played with Eat a Peach, Cooper's Grove and the Alex Hoffer Band. Andy is a great addition to the band adding soul and melody into every note he plays. Jeff Bella pours the foundation on the bass, knowing when to inject color and character into the music, behind Bella is Bret Figura, fellow drummer of the Stone City Stragglers (Americana band with Brent James) – whose drumming ability is innovative and dynamic. Also keeping the rhythm on guitar, James is a charismatic but commanding front man, steering the Southern Rock ship to conquer new territory at every concert.
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The lineup of Righteous Hillbillies consists of Brent James, a singer and songwriter bringing together such seemingly disparate elements as hard rock, country, with rhythm and blues to form an unforgettable style. Their high level of skill, energy, and intensity will make anyone dance in one moment, and then knock the wind out of them the next.” After a recent live performance at a music festival, music critic David Masciotra, author of Mellencamp: American Troubadour, said, “Righteous Hillbillies stole the show. With every Allman Brothers or Stax-Volt style lick, and impassioned and intense shout in a mode and method similar to Chris Robinson, Righteous Hillbillies are an axe shredding, ace dealing demonstration of Southern Rock vitality and the value of authenticity. Their hometown of Joliet, Illinois is not the likeliest headquarters for one of America’s best Southern Rock bands, but Righteous Hillbillies put the map of convention in the shredder a long time ago.
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Brent James & the Righteous Hillbillies formed in 2007 by lead singer/songwriter Brent James as a rock ‘n’ roll band who helped launch a revival of the Southern spirit of blues boogie, soul groove, along with the primal and visceral energy of rock ‘n’ roll power.