“Less is more.”
That’s the mantra that Rev. Chitwood Hammaker, brothers Noah and Justin
Crowther, and Kelly Ravin deployed as they converged from a honky-tonk in
Burlington, Vermont, to create Waylon Speed.
Ever since Waylon Speed formed in April 2009, the four-piece brotherhood of
family and past friends has toured nationally and collected fans like
empties at a pig roast in support of their albums: the debut, Georgia
Overdrive; their two-disc sophomore set, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades; and
their latest effort, The Boots EP.
The press has called Waylon Speed “gas on the fire of the current music
scene” and “heavy, fiery country rock, for those who like their punk rock
with some twang in it – but also appreciate high quality, intelligent
songwriting.”
Ask Waylon Speed what it seeks from its stained-blue-collar,
straight-up-from-the-underground rock, and the answer is simple: make
people happy. The evidence is at their aim-to-please shows, where audience
connection is a priority.
Waylon Speed has shared bills with: Jane’s Addiction, Clutch, Little Feat,
Reba McEntire, Elvis Costello, Primus, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
Waylon Speed’s influences are Motorhead, Fugazi, The Mother Hips, The
Drive-By Truckers, and Frank Zappa. Waylon Speed’s influences are not
mainstream music.
‘Course, if the guys had to be someone else in another band, they would
choose either Kris Kristofferson (Kelly), Willie Nelson (Noah), Johnny Cash
(Justin), or Waylon Jennings (The Reverend).
Welcome to Waylon Speed.
--- --- ---
Waylon Speed is:
•Rev. Chitwood Hammaker – guitars, vocals, van mechanic, gear modification
specialist
•Justin Crowther – drums, vocals, tattooer, comic relief
•Kelly Ravin – guitars, vocals, lap steel, gig-booker, can drive the
longest without taking a piss
•Noah Crowther – bass, vocals, band face, comfort consultant
They all prefer hair and beards.
