“Earl Cate, Arkansas native and one-half of the acclaimed Cate Brothers, exemplifies the kind of world class talent you can find right on Fayetteville’s fabled Dickson Street.” — www.nodepression.com (The Roots Music Authority)
Members of Earl and Them include (from left): Terry Cagle (drums and vocals), Earl Cate (lead guitar and vocals), Jason Davis (guitar and vocals) and John Davies (bass).
Staff Report
The second album of Earl and Them, the Fayetteville-based blues, rock & roll, Americana band, is now ready to hit the CD players and airwaves. The new album is called “Same Love” after the title track, and includes over 60 minutes of rockin’ Blues and Americana music. The band will celebrate the event with a CD Release Party at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville on Nov. 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. And at Cajuns Wharf in Little Rock on Nov. 23 from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
The new CD features 13 tracks recorded and mixed over the past eight months at Insomniac Studios and George’s in Fayetteville. Earl and Them is comprised of the core four: Earl Cate (who has been named one of Steve Cropper’s top ten guitar players of all time), Terry Cagle (who has been playing drums with Cate since the 1970s), Jason Davis (a previous member of Arkansas Tablerockers for seven years, who has performed at Blues Festival in Nebraska for 17), and John Davies (the newest addition to the band, who has toured nationally and internationally with Michael Burkes and others).
As with the previous Earl and Them album there are plenty of special guests to add excitement and energy to the project. David Renko (Saxophone) and Jeff Gray (Trumpet) add horns to three of the tunes. Ernie Cate plays keyboards on four tracks, Jimmy Thackery brings his wailing blues guitar to a couple of songs, and R.J. Mischo plays his harmonica on a classic John Lee Hooker tune. And, Dawn Cate, Earl’s daughter unleashes a blazing rendition of the band song “The Weight.”
The CD is produced by Swingin Door Records in Fayetteville, and can be purchased at cdbaby.com, earlandthem.com, swingindoorrecords.com or at select area merchants.
Earl Cate may be a man of few words, but he gets his point across as we saw when we asked Cate a few questions. Here’s what he had to say:
Q. How did the band get started?
A. When the Cate Brothers semi-retired, I still wanted to play and after a few gigs with Jimmy Thackery , RJ Mischo and others, Myself and Terry Cagle joined with Jason Davis and Mike Murray to form Earl and Them. After Mike moved to Idaho last year, John Davies joined the band.
Q. Tell us about the album, how it was recorded, the sound and any good surprises?
A. The basic tracks were recorded at George’s (Majestic Lounge) on a Monday while they were closed. The new stage made for a big sound, and other tracks and guest players were recorded later at Adam Putman’s Studio.
Q. What are the bands aspiration for the future?
A. Staying in the groove!
Q. What can concert goers expect from upcoming shows?
A. Songs from our new CD, plus special guests, and a heck of a good time.
