THE BEST BAND AT THE BAR AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, PETUNIA & THE VIPERS, PREP MOST ECLECTIC ALBUM TO DATE ‘DEAD BIRD ON THE HIGHWAY’

WEST COAST TOUR CONFIRMED

“Absolutely one-of-a-kind… a powerhouse of emotion, grit and wit… the savior of country music?” – The Bluegrass Situation

"Petunia and the mother****ing Vipers. One of the best bands in the world today, of any kind" – Phil Alvin

“Amazing… incredibly entertaining” - Bob Harris, BBC

You walk into a western saloon. Doors creak, the bartender glares at you, and windows are covered in dust kicked up by the wind. But the band in the corner is utterly spectacular, the best you’ve heard. In that David Lynch meets Quentin Tarantino setting, there’s only one band that could possibly live up and it is led by a western Canadian man named Petunia. Petunia & The Vipers are a crack band that take rockabilly, western swing, surf, honky tonk, gypsy jazz, and film noir music, and wrap it up with a beat-poetry and punk-attitude twist. Their new album ‘Dead Bird on the Highway’ is their most eclectic to date.

Petunia’s originals shine through. Among the highlights is surreal personification “Death Himself,” reminiscent of fellow Canadians Timber Timbre; and “Chained,” which draws from gypsy jazz  “Gonna Put On My Suit” kicks off like an obscure Sun Records side before diving deep into Bob Wills-inspired territory. “Lou Lou” breaks out the echo box and demands to be blasted from a giant chrome-covered car with the top down.

Petunia also proves himself an expert crate-digger. “I’m Shakin’,” most recently reinterpreted by Jack White, swings and sways with horns. Otis Blackwell’s “Oh What a Wonderful Time” gets a sultry rendition. (Blackwell is the author of “All Shook Up,” “Fever,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Return to Sender.”) Petunia also shines a light on local Vancouver legend the Minimalist Jugband with the weirdo-poetry of “Bloom Bloom Bloom.” Petunia sings in Swahili on the surfy “Asaw Fofor.”

‘Dead Bird on the Highway’ CD/digital track list

1.      Blue Yodel Blues
2.      Asaw Fotor
3.      Oh What a Wonderful World
4.      Death Himself
5.      My Heart Cries Out For You
6.      Bloom Bloom Bloom
7.      Lou Lou
8.      Chained
9.      My Love Is (A Deep Blue Sea)
10.     Gonna Put On My Suit
11.     Way Down Here
12.     Put Yourself On the Market
13.     Try To Enjoy Yourself
14.     I’m Shakin’

Petunia & The Vipers Tour Dates

April 14 - Mississipi Studios - Portland, OR (w/ Lindi Ortega)
April 15 - Sam Bonds - Eugene, OR
April 16 - Majestic  - Bellingham, WA
April 22 - Red Lion Pub - Powell River, Canada
May 20 - Shanty Tavern - Seattle, WA
May 22 - Old St. Nick's - Eugene, OR
May 23 - Arcata Playhouse - Arcata, CA
May 25 - Don The Beachcomber - Los Angeles, CA
May 26 - El Cid - Los Angeles, CA
May 27 - Alex's - Los Angeles, CA
May 28 - Don The Beachcomber - Los Angeles, CA (w/ Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys)
May 31 - Riverwood Inn - Phillipsville, CA
June 1 - Johnny B's - Medford, OR
June 2 - Axe and Fiddle - Cottage Grove, OR
June 3 - Skyway Bar & Grill - Zigzag, OR
June 4 - Bubba's - Sultan, WA
June 24 - Boundary Bay - Bellingham, WA
July 1 - Conor Muse - Conway, WA
July 2 – Voiceworks - Port Townsend, WA
Aug 11-13 - Bellingham, WA - Subdued Stringband Jamboree