Article taken from ARLINGTON HEIGHTS POST Thursday,
February 4, 1999; Diversions column Page B6
KAMPFIRE KOWBOYS KICK KAREER
INTO HIGH GEAR By Martin A. Bartels

It took long enough, but after a lifetime of playing back-up in cover bands in nightclubs around Chicago, Tom Colton finally decided to do his own thing.

"I started writing my own music at a late time in my life," Colton said. "I had played in cover bands most of my life, covering people like Roger Daltry and The Who, Phil

Collins, and Genesis, even Yes, when I was back pushing my voice. I just got tired of doing that and sat down with an acoustic guitar and started writing."
As quickly as that, Kampfire Kowboys was born. Well...not quite.

"A lot of the first music was really sophmoric," Colton admitted. "But then you realize you want to try to do something different."
So he took a handful of songs he was happy with and went to Short Order Recorder in Zion to lay down some tracks, where engineer Jeff Murphy lent a hand getting the music just right.

The next step was to share his new creations with others.

"We really didn't start as a band at all," Colton said. "I played the music for a friend, Dave Piper, who plays bass. He like it and agreed to play bass in the next studio session."

The long and short of it is that Piper, along with Brian Tedeschi (lead guitar) and Arlington Heights resident Keith Daproza (drums) ended up joining the cause.
The result is an energetic, upbeat blend of counrty-and-folk-influenced rock 'n' roll that makes Kampfire Kowboys the best new band in the area. Period.

Not bad for a group of guys who have been together for less than a year.

"It's been goin' pretty well," Colton admitted humbly. "Audiences have been really good and have really liked the music a lot. Though we're still pretty much a band in search of an audience, like any other band."

What's unlike any other band is the style of music that comes out of the four piece group. "We call it rock 'n' roll with a Western flair," Colton said. "I have a little of a folk influence, but it's rock 'n' roll, not folk/rock."

Even country/rock doesn't quite describe the hard-core approach to some heart-felt subjects. Their first CD, "somewhere blue'" features low-key tunes like "Arizona Emily" and "Broken Feather," with lyrics and melodies that will remain firmly planted in your memory. Then again, the rousing instrumental "Waygone Daddy" is the kind of song that will keep you on your feet all night.

The band is already talking about their next CD, and Colton is beginning to see a future for the group. "I think we're just trying to sell some CDs and have a good time," he said. "Now there's a future here. I don't see this as a flash in the pan - I can't.

"The next CD is going to be a lot of fun. We'll have all these guys together, putting their hearts into it. I'm just going to let these guys go and say 'Play.' "
That attitude also characterizes the band's live presence - they've played at such venues as the Abbey Pub in CHicago and Harry's in Arlington Heights. And adiences like them.

"We were playing at a club and one guy came up to me and handed me a napkin," Colton said, "I thought, 'Oh no, he's going to rip us.' But his note said'You guys are Klassy,' with a 'K.'

"I remember those things."