If country music’s original outlaws had made their break with Nashville in the post-punk era, it might have sounded a lot like this.” –No Depression
The Famous forge a sound that combines the transcendent roar of punk with the brutal honesty and black wit of traditional country. With echoes of early rock-n-roll, yet still standing firmly rooted in alt-country, The Famous ignite their rousing brand of post-punk Americana honoring a classic country sound while delivering energetic live shows.
Founded in San Francisco by Laurence Scott (vocals/guitar) and Victor Barclay (guitar/backing vocals), and currently based in Oakland, The Famous have played at prestigious venues throughout the Bay Area including Great American Music Hall, Bottom of the Hill and Cafe du Nord, both as headliners and supporting artists such as OK Go, The Toadies, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Robbie Fulks, and Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. The Famous have also made appearances at numerous festivals including Toronto’s NXNE, South Park Music Fest in Colorado, SF Giants BrewFest, SF Giants GarlicFest, Peninsula Oktoberfest and Redwood City’s Music in the Park.
The Famous have released three full-length albums – Light Sweet Crude (2005), Come Home To Me (2010) and Ghost Town Parade (2015) and have received airplay on college radio and inclusion on top-rated Americana podcasts such as Roots Rock Radio, Country Fried Rock, Twang Nation, and Americana Rock Mix. They are currently hard at work on their upcoming record slated for late 2019.
For press inquiries or bookings please contact: info [at] thefamous [dot] net
…practically everyone who’s listened to the band’s cheese-free, slightly punkified hillbilly jangle thinks it’s the greatest.”
—San Francisco Weekly
Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
Note: The burlesque dancers are unfortunately not included with every show…
…the sort of music that makes one release the demons, both good and bad, and rejoice in the redemptive powers of maximum (country) rock and roll. Rating 10/10. Essential.” –Nine
Bullets
Live at the Kessler Theater, Dallas
9 out of 10 stars — The Famous deliver the goods straight up with no filler”
—Whisperin’ and Hollerin’
“… one of rock’s best-kept secrets.” -National Review
“The Famous successfully combine the transcendent roar of punk with the brutal honesty and black wit of traditional country on Light, Sweet Crude” —Trouser Press
“Distilled from the grains of traditional country but infused with power chords and scorching lead guitar, this audacious album is both out of control and expertly crafted.”
“If you’re any kind of roots rock fan, you’d be a eejit to miss this album!”
Click to download full size. Photography by Bart Bishoff.
The time has finally come. Sunday, September 13th in San Francisco we’re celebrating the release our third album Ghost Town Parade with an afternoon show at Thee Parkside.
It’s a free, all-ages event and we hope you bring your friends and family to the party.
The Famous — Ghost Town Parade CD Release Show
SUNDAY, 9/13 at 4 p.m.
Thee Parkside – 1600 17th Street in SF
w/ Secret Town and special guests on the bill
FREE SHOW/ALL-AGES
Joining us will be master of the pedal steel Joe Goldmark and trombonist Charlie Wilson. They both played on the album and we’re thrilled they’ll be part of the live show on Sunday.
We’ve have always worked to deliver on the alternative side of alt-country and Ghost Town Parade is no doubt our most extensive blast through the alternatives yet.
We can’t wait for you to hear it in full and hope to see you Sunday afternoon, 9/13 in SF at Thee Parkside.
Over the years we’ve certainly enjoyed the variety of great beers coming out of the brew scene in San Diego and especially the darker beers from Ballast Point.
Day 29 of ’50 Miles in 50 Days’ is dedicated to both Sea Monster (2013 edition pictured) their bold imperial stout, and Victory at Sea, a killer coffee vanilla imperial porter.
Both are strong picks if you can grab one or both heading into any Super Bowl Sunday plans for this coming weekend.
We’ll have a few more days of suggestions before getting back on the trail to Firebaugh next Monday.
Day 29 of 50
Day 17 of ’50 Miles in 50 Days’ is little more than a tease for what’s to come… even more days upon days of beer talk.
We found ‘the’ room to be in as we make our way to Firebaugh.
Yes, the Beer Pump Room.
Next up, a discussion about the Harpoon Brewery for Day 18… then much more.
Day 17 of 50 (digressing for beer, as usual)
“Passing through Lost Hills…” is where our I-5 trucker song “50 Miles to Firebaugh” picks back up for Day 11 of ’50 Miles in 50 Days.’
The stops along I-5 as we make our way to Firebaugh now bring us to a town around 40 miles northwest of Bakersfield.
Lost Hills memorializes actor James Dean as the last place he stopped for gas before his fatal crash in 1950.
From Lost Hills, you’re never that far away from Wasco to the west and Buttonwillow to the south with these other towns just about 20 minutes away.
Day 11 of 50
Breakfast in songs is the Sunday topic for Day 4 of ’50 Miles in 50 Days.’
A huge country breakfast at the Iron Skillet ends up accidentally rerouting the journey in ’50 Miles to Firebaugh’ a few extra miles… this video preview shares some of the details.
Songs about breakfast come in all genres. What are your favorites?
Our choice is the Western Swing classic from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, “Roly Poly,” where scrambled eggs for breakfast accompanies bread and jelly ‘twenty times a day.’
Breakfast songs — please share — but, you might get blocked if you bring up Deep Blue Something.
Day 4 of 50
There was brief conversation about making the title of this post ‘DDP Master of Puppets,’ but this is simply too serious a matter for that kind of talk.
This is a banner week for The Famous. The often discussed, ever-elusive third album has just exited the mastering phase. Next stops on the trail, design then duplication.
There is a track in the middle of the album titled ‘Long Time Coming,’ and while it may be somewhat appropriate, it will not be the title track. (We also considered a subtitle… the ‘Alt-Country Chinese Democracy,’ but that didn’t test market too well, even within key GNR-friendly demos)
“Ghost Town Parade” as it will forever be known is having its packaging designed. Then we figure out how to get it to your very patient ears.
So why has “Ghost Town Parade” taken so long in the making? Life.
But let it be known. This is a real album. While neither live, nor Memorex, it will be evident when you finally hear it — that the long time spent in the making was well worth it.
