MINI-DOC ON PETUNIA & THE VIPERS TRACES HIS PATH FROM HITCHHIKING BUSKER TO HOT SHOT BANDLEADER

NEW ALBUM ‘DEAD BIRD ON THE HIGHWAY’ EARNING ACCLAIM

Today, a new mini-documentary was released about Petunia, bandleader of Petunia & The Vipers, which touches on his yodeling, hearing early western music as a young punk music fan, performing on street corners and in subways to get his start, Jean Cocteau and the mystique of traveling, the effects of being adopted, the sacrifices touring musicians make, and his real name:


Here’s what we’re reading about new album ‘Dead Bird on the Highway’:

"Different than anything you've ever heard... not exactly something you come across every day."
– Christina Vinson, The Boot, May 10, 2016

"Strikingly original... timeless… avant-country.”
- Sarah Murphy, Exclaim, May 13, 2016

“Infectious and invigorating… some of the best goddamn yodeling you're ever going to hear.”
- Ryan J. Prado, Portland Mercury, May 19, 2016

"While listening to Petunia and the Vipers, it's easy to pick out a variety of influences- country, some twang, western swing, and the likes. But there's also more with a hint of rock and a dash of jazz. Is this starting to sound like a recipe of sorts? Sure... if David Lynch was the guy serving it all up." – Elmore, May 12, 2016

“Wonderfully weird.”
- Rob Cullivan, Portland Tribune, May 18, 2016

“Enigmatic… a star-studded who's who of the West Coast's roots scene… Petunia — a natty-suited gentleman with floppy hair — croons, yelps and yodels as the room starts spinning around, and things take a strange turn. His words start to burble into each other in a polyrhythmic, polysyllabic flood that upsets the straight-up flaming roots boogie of the backing band. The lyrics take off down some dark and twisted lane where no love song should ever go. Suddenly you've got a wilting begonia in your hair, and you're enmeshed in a song that sounds like Marty Robbins lost a fight with a Bossa Nova. And now what the — is that a kazoo stealing the solo spot from the pedal steel?”
- Orange County Weekly, May 25, 2016

“A dynamic whoop and holler that can drop from a boisterous crescendo to mousy whisper at a moment’s notice…. Fusing early country stylings with gypsy jazz, rockabilly, and surf. At the helm of this movement are Canadian firebrands Petunia and the Vipers… strange charisma.” Feature
- Tyrell Trimble, Daily Messenger (OR), May 25, 2016

DENVER (THE BAND) EARNS RAVES FROM PRESS AND MUSICIANS, SELLS OUT RELEASE SHOW

‘Rowdy Love,’ the killer second album from the Americana band Denver, is earning them raves from the press and fellow musicians alike. Denver sold out its hometown (Portland, OR) album release show, which also featured legendary songwriter Michael Hurley on the bill. Next up is an appearance this weekend at Timber! Music Fest, which also features J. Mascis, Charles Bradley, Damien Jurado and Horse Feathers. Additionally, the band will be headlining The Tractor Tavern in Seattle on Sunday night.

“When we BBQ in our driveway, we prefer to do it listening to Denver, the band.” – Shovels & Rope

“Rambunctious… ‘Rowdy Love’ lands somewhere in between icons like Townes Van Zandt and Hank Williams, and modern favorites like Wilco and Blitzen Trapper (whose frontman Eric Earley produced the LP).”
-Laura Leebove, Wondering Sound, July 10, 2014, full album stream

"Rowdy Love is, true to its title, bummed out, hopeful, joyful and conciliatory... For fans of The Rolling Stones, Hank Williams, Guy Clark."
- John Freeman, Country Weekly, June 26, 2014

“Ramshackle but right.”
-Ned Lannamann, Portland Mercury, July 14, 2014

“Dubbing Denver ‘heavy’ would be an understatement. But good country shouldn’t tread lightly. After all, it’s an American institution wallowing in booze and breakups. Drink it in, but expect a hangover.”
-Mark Stock, Willamette Weekly, July 16, 2014

“Glowing… [Music] you’ll want to listen to while drinking a beer in your backyard, thinking deep deep thoughts.”
-Kyle Mitchell, Music Savage, June 25, 2014