Texas Hippie Coalition
Encyclopedia
Texas Hippie Coalition is a band out of Denison, Texas. They have released their first nationally released album, Rollin distributed by Carved Records and Sony RED, which moved into the top ten on the CMJ Loud Rock Chart. Nicknamed "The Band of Outlaws", THC is a hard rock band with influences in Metal and Southern Rock. THC is made of lead vocalist Big Dad Ritch, bassist John Exall, guitarist Randy Cooper, drummer Tim Braun.
Big Dad Ritch, Randy Cooper and John Exall found each other in a backwater town on the Oklahoma border in Denison, Texas. Being a small town with a very limited amount of musicians and fans, rival bands were forced to work together to set up road trips to cities, such as Dallas, in order to play shows. Originally starting in rival bands, Ritch, Randy and John banded together and started playing, writing and eventually recording together.
Shortly thereafter, Texas Hippie Coalition emerged from The Red River Valley that borders Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma and began touring in support of their self-released album Pride of Texas. They toured from coast-to-coast, putting themselves in front of fans everywhere with their style of music dubbed “red dirt metal.” When the group had an opening for a new drummer, Ryan Bennett, who was a graphics designer at the band's management company, auditioned. The band was impressed and invited him to join when they parted ways with their original drummer. In mid 2011 Bennett left to join Eye Empire
and Timmy Braun joined the line up.
Texas Hippie Coalition calls their blend of music Red Dirt Metal, a mix of Southern Rock and Metal. Their influences include Lynyrd Skynrd, Molly Hatchet
, ZZ Top
, Waylon Jennings
, Willie Nelson
, Johnny Cash
, Black Label Society
, and Pantera
.
On December 22, 2009, Carved Records signed Texas Hippie Coalition as the first artist on their new label. The group teamed up with multi-platinum producer, David Prater (Dream Theater, Firehouse) and headed to his studio in Oklahoma to record their second album, Rollin’. On July 6, 2010, Texas Hippie Coalition released Rollin', their label debut and first national release. Riding on the single "Pissed Off and Mad About It", the album went to the top ten of the CMJ Loud Rock Chart and generated spins on radio stations across the country.
In the summer of 2011, the band went into the studio again with Prater and re-recorded Beg, the final track from Rollin, and turned it into Beg (The 420 Recording). It was released digitally in August 2011.
Rollin' - 2010 via Carved Records
Beg (The 420 Recording) - 2011 via Carved Records (single)
Forming THC
Big Dad Ritch, Randy Cooper and John Exall found each other in a backwater town on the Oklahoma border in Denison, Texas. Being a small town with a very limited amount of musicians and fans, rival bands were forced to work together to set up road trips to cities, such as Dallas, in order to play shows. Originally starting in rival bands, Ritch, Randy and John banded together and started playing, writing and eventually recording together.
Shortly thereafter, Texas Hippie Coalition emerged from The Red River Valley that borders Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma and began touring in support of their self-released album Pride of Texas. They toured from coast-to-coast, putting themselves in front of fans everywhere with their style of music dubbed “red dirt metal.” When the group had an opening for a new drummer, Ryan Bennett, who was a graphics designer at the band's management company, auditioned. The band was impressed and invited him to join when they parted ways with their original drummer. In mid 2011 Bennett left to join Eye Empire
Eye Empire
Eye Empire is an American rock supergroup, formed in 2009, consisting of former Dark New Day members Corey Lowery and B.C. Kochmit as well as Donald Carpenter formerly of Submersed. Garrett Whitlock, formerly of Submersed, and Dixie Duncan were Eye Empire's drummer and guitarist respectively from...
and Timmy Braun joined the line up.
Influences
Texas Hippie Coalition calls their blend of music Red Dirt Metal, a mix of Southern Rock and Metal. Their influences include Lynyrd Skynrd, Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
, ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
, and Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
.
Label and recording
On December 22, 2009, Carved Records signed Texas Hippie Coalition as the first artist on their new label. The group teamed up with multi-platinum producer, David Prater (Dream Theater, Firehouse) and headed to his studio in Oklahoma to record their second album, Rollin’. On July 6, 2010, Texas Hippie Coalition released Rollin', their label debut and first national release. Riding on the single "Pissed Off and Mad About It", the album went to the top ten of the CMJ Loud Rock Chart and generated spins on radio stations across the country.
In the summer of 2011, the band went into the studio again with Prater and re-recorded Beg, the final track from Rollin, and turned it into Beg (The 420 Recording). It was released digitally in August 2011.
Discography
Pride of Texas - 2008Rollin' - 2010 via Carved Records
Beg (The 420 Recording) - 2011 via Carved Records (single)