TOMMY MACK & THE LIFTERS are a Austin, Texas based American rock band. edit
Biography edit
TOMMY MACK & THE LIFTERS are TOMMY MACK (vox/guitar) BILLY CHAINSAW (bass/vox) LANCE FARLEY (drums) ROB BENTLEY (Guitar). Together they have crafted a sound that has been called "Rock, Punk, Country and Texas all in one " but, THE LIFTERS are a hard one to peg. With obvious rock, country and americana influences they successfully blend the three seamlessly and are still able to stick to the essential ingredients for all genres ...songs about girls, cars, guns, Texas and ...hotel rooms?!.
THE LIFTERS started out in 2001 and have since released three CD's, two on Austin label Killingbird records and the latest "Rolas Para Gringos" on TOMMYPLANET RECORDS . THE LIFTERS released their second CD "Texas Trash" in 2005 to positive reviews in the USA and abroad. The single "She's A Devil" was in heavy rotation in Brazil, Argentina and the UK prompting plans for a future tours. Included on the new CD are two country standards 'Make Believe' by Conway Twitty and "Mama Tried' by Merle Haggard. Both songs have a refreshing rock edge that is synonymous with the bands 'Big Texas Sound'. THE LIFTERS started 2007 by playing La Zona Rosa on New Years Eve With Reckless Kelly and later securing a spot in SXSW. After two mini-tours of Texas they began laying ground work for the next CD.
In 2011 they finally released their third CD "Rolas Para Gringos" on the newly formed Tommyplanet Records label in september 2011. With help from good friends Bukka Allen (Bodeans), Kelley Mickwee (The Trishas), Cody Braun (Reckless Kelly) and Bobby Rock (Honky) they have finally hit their stride and don't plan on looking back.
Having adopted the new moniker "Tommy Mack And The Lifters" due to the constant rotation of band members has led to speculation that the sound had shifted away from the original format showcased on the first two CD's "Engine Music" and "Texas Trash". "Nothing could be further from the truth" says Tommy Mack " We finally have a CD that was recorded all in one studio with one engineer and produced by our ears exclusively. The songs are a mix of old un recorded material and new stuff I wrote just for this project, and believe me, it's all LIFTERS all the way. The name change might take a while to stick and cause some confusion but, it was a chance I had to take to let people know I was in this for the long haul no matter who else was in the band at any given time." Be sure to Check out ROLAS PARA GRINGOS on iTunes and soon in your local record stores.
Influences edit
THE LIFTERS have a street rock/Texas sound that's had them compared to Hank lll, Social Distortion, Joe Ely, and ZZ Top. Make no mistake THE LIFTERS mix of Mexican food, Lone Star Beer, boozy dames, and a "Hell Yeah!" attitude are pure Texas and right on time.
Band members edit
Current members: Tommy Mack - Guitar/Vocals, Lance Farley - Drums, Billy Chainsaw - Bass/Vocals, Rob Bentley - Guitar
Past members: Freddie Ramirez, Gary Herman, Bruce Rivers, MJ Wane, Joe Eddy Hines, Mike Watson, Todd Rondenelli.
"bunch of jerks"
Discography edit
Made In TeXas 2001, Engine Music 2003, Texas Trash (Killingbird) 2005, Rolas Para Gringos TOMMYPLANETRECORDS 2011