8:00pm $6.00 advance / $8.00 door
Formed as a trio in May of 2008, Aaron Williams (Vocals, Guitar), Eric Shackelford (Drums, Vocals) and Z (Bass, Vocals) have the blues deeply rooted in the music they love to play. The trio all met while Aaron was hosting a blues jam at the now defunct club, The Cuda Café. Not to long after this fateful night the band was playing all over their hometown of Madison, WI.
As word continued to spread beyond their hometown the trio began to tour all over the Midwest playing sold out shows as far away as North Dakota and Indiana. As the band continues to grow musically they've fused blues, roots and rock music into and original sound that a growing fan base is recognizing and following.
This stripped down trio has been catching a buzz across the Midwest and South with their constant touring (over 180 shows in 2008) and exciting live shows. Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo even had the distinct pleasure to be invited by Harley Davidson to play Bike Week in Daytona Beach, FL in February 2009. A Madison Favorite the last two years as voted on by Isthmus Newspaper readers has been a testament to the bands success in a very short period of time. They have had the pleasure to play at some of the Midwest largest festivals including, Summerfest, BAM Fest and many more top venues across the Midwest and South. They've shared the stage with such notable artist as the Black Keys, The Roots and Bernard Allison. With the release of their debut full length album "It Ain't Easy," the band looks to move forward and bring their sound to more and more fans looking for real original American music.
Hounds Tooth has stormed onto the regional scene with their high-energy show of modern Soul Rockin' Blues. This band has been winning critical acclaim across the Midwest behind the extraordinary guitar work of Jared Nichols. With a set list rich in modern blues, original material, and blues-rock numbers, Hounds Tooth's Soul Rockin' Blues appeals to a wide range of audiences. Hounds Tooth has opened for national acts including Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Shannon Curfman. Additionally, they have appeared at some of the top blues festivals, blues rooms, and local festivals in the Midwest including: Big Bull Falls Blues Festival; Paramount Blues Festival; Summerfest; The Slippery Noodle; BB's Jazz, Blues, and Soups; Riversplash; and River Rhythms.
"Jared James Nichols has been playing at jam sessions in our area for several years, so we have been able to witness his growth as a guitar player. Hounds Tooth is the perfect vehicle for his outrageously fine playing...JD Optekar's guitar work constantly pushing Nichols' to be at his best, the group is rapidly becoming a band to be reckoned with!!" – Mark Thompson, President, Crossroads Blues Society
Fronted by Nichols, the band has evolved into a core group of musicians that share a passion for writing original modern blues numbers and pushing the outer edge of the genre. JD Optekar shares in the vocal duties and his guitar playing is the perfect foil for Jared's fretboard exploits. Anchored by the solid rhythm section of Bob Noll (bass) and Jeff Oscarson (drums) the band is razor-sharp delivering their own brand of blues.