Originally from Birmingham, AL, Banditos is a group - more like a gang, actually - of six 20-somethings, nowadays operating out of Nashville, close to, and simultaneously very far away from, the gleaming towers and industry hustle of Lower Broad and Music Row.
With
the rugged power of a flashy Super Chief locomotive, the Banditos’
self-titled debut album bodaciously appropriates elements of ‘60s
blues-fused acid rock, ZZ Top’s jangly boogie, garage punk scuzz a la
Burger Records, the Drive-By Truckers’ yawp, the populist choogle of
CCR, Slim Harpo’s hip shake baby groove, gut bucket Fat Possum hill
country mojo and the Georgia Motherf**king Satellites. From backwoods
bluegrass, to slinky nods to Muscle Shoals soul and unexpected bits of
doo-wop sweetness, the Banditos recall many, but sound like no one but
themselves.
The
members of the band first met playing in various punk and rock ‘n’ roll
projects around Birmingham at D.I.Y., all-ages venues. In 2010,
singer/guitarist Corey Parsons and singer/banjo player Stephen Pierce
began busking around town and were soon asked to perform at their
favorite local bar. Without a full band they invited friends Randy Wade
(drums), Jeffrey Salter (guitar), and Mary Beth Richardson (vocals) to
join them.