"If Honky Tonk has a future, hopefully it will sound a lot like [Arty Hill's] 'Driftin' In' or 'Bring out the Bible (We Ain't Got A Prayer)'" (Houston Press)
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Baltimore, Maryland, a hotbed of Honky Tonk? Thankfully, with Arty Hill in town, it's becoming just that! Arty's songs marry the soul of classic country with the wry storytelling of Townes Van Zandt, and have been recorded by Austin's Texas Sapphires, the Grammy-nominated Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, and award-winning Alt-Country pioneers, Jason &the Scorchers. He sings with an "'everyman' quality...reminiscent of Johnny Cash." (Vintage Guitar Magazine). And with his recent recordings topping the FAR chart, it's no wonder Rambles.net calls him "a country songwriter of the first order." His new tribute to Hank Williams (including three new original tunes about Hank and his music) further cements Arty's standing as a confident new voice in real country music.
A native of Cambridge, Maryland, Arty played bass with local bands at VFW and American Legion halls while still in his teens. Though Nashville was solidly rejecting steel guitars and fiddles in favor of a more pop-oriented sound, the music of Hank Williams and George Jones remained popular in Arty's hometown. He spent hours learning the country "canon," and reveling in the joy and pain heard in the music of his singing and songwriting heroes.
Arty later moved to Baltimore, and recorded two solo CDs of original songs — "Based on Real Life" and "Baltimore Reasons" - and his first full-band effort, 2005's "Back on the Rail." Recorded with the original Long Gone Daddys lineup of Dave Chappell on Telecaster and Craig Nachodsky on drums, "Back on the Rail" is a stripped-down, raucous, song-centered gem: 11 original tunes, ranging from the Sun-era rockabilly of "Jackson Shake" and "Big Daddy's Rye" to the stone country "Based on Real Life" and "Me &My Glass Jaw." "Drenched in sawdust-on-the-floor feeling and smarty sequenced, this entertaining release is what country music used to be all about." (Country Standard Time). And from Blue Suede News: "This self-released jewel is much too good to be overlooked. In fact, it's awesome...a great, mature release."
"Back on the Rail" soon garnered the attention of Bill Hunt's upstart country label, Cow Island Music. Arty and Cow Island joined forces in 2007, along with a re-vamped version of the Long Gone Daddys — including Jack O'Dell (Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun, The Twangbangers) on drums, Steve Potter on upright bass, Dave Giegerich (The Hula Monsters) on steel guitar and dobro, and Arty on Telecaster. Their first Cow Island release, 2008's "Bar of Gold," spent two consecutive months at #1 on the Freeform American Roots (FAR) Chart. Jason Ringenberg approved, proclaiming in the liner notes: "I doubt there is a better country album put out this year...the ghost of Buck is truly honored." It received 4.5 out of 5 stars from San Antonio's Third Coast Music, which raved "The whole album is tremendous..." At year's end, Arty and the Long Gone Daddys made four of the FAR Chart's "Best of 2008" lists: Best Songwriter, Best Male Artist, Best Group, and Album of the Year, while Cow Island took the FAR Chart's "Best in the Industry" award. And "Bar of Gold" was named one of the Top 20 Albums of the Year in the 2008 No Depression Reader's Poll.
In April 2009, Cow Island re-released "Back on the Rail," and it climbed to #9 on the FAR Chart. As one blogger noted: "If you're like me and are wondering who the hell Arty Hill &the Long Gone Daddys is and why their 5 year old debut record Back on the Rail is in the top ten of the Americana Charts then let me explain. The band's debut has just recently been re-released. And apparently this 5 year old honky-tonk is better than most of the stuff coming out at the moment." (www.songsillinois.net) Around the same time, Arty played four showcases at Third Coast Music's renegade NotSXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. He and his backing band of Austin pickers, the Pearl Dusters, consistently brought the house down, filling the dance floor at every show.
"Montgomery on my Mind; The Hank EP" is Arty's latest recording with the Long Gone Daddys. WZBC'S Cousin Kate raves: "The combination of Hank Williams classics and authentic originals reminds us all why we're still in love with 'ol Hank. There's a dead-on version of 'I Can't Help It if I'm Still in Love with You' (reminiscent of Hank's confessional duet with Anita Carter) and a boppin' treatment of 'Take These Chains from My Heart.' The originals are strong too: 'Church on Saturday Night,' a celebration of the Grand Ol' Opry's golden era, and the title track, an ode to Hank's hometown. And I really love 'Don's Bop,' a swinging tribute to steel great Don Helms! Timeless covers, and soon-to-be-covers...all in one nifty EP!"
Arty is currently touring the east coast, southeast and Texas. Meanwhile, have a listen and we're sure you'll agree that Honky Tonk's future is still in good hands.
