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News Articles and Press
Releases
Kampfire Kowboys Work to Corral
Audiences
CHICAGO TRIBUNE May 2000
Metromix.com-review, April 2000
Kampfire Kowboys Releases New
Album
THE
BEACON NEWS April 2000
Local Bands
Present Their Own Material
KANE
COUNTY CHRONICLE March 2000
Batavia Band to Release CD, Play Concert
CHICAGO
TRIBUNE March
2000
Group will perform its Americana sound, opening
for Heartsfield
KANE
COUNTY CHRONICLE February 2000
Entertainers team up on behalf of legal services
for needy
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE January 2000
Gonna kick some ash at the Kampfire,
Kowboy?
SUBURBAN NITELIFE MAGAZINE April 1999
Hometown Heros
BACKSTAGE PASS CHICAGO March 1999
Kampfire Kowboys Kick Kareer Into High
Gear
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS POST February 1999
Civic Duty Never Sounded So Good
THE REPUBLICAN January 1999
Kowboys Appear on The Kevin Matthews Show
AM1000
Radio July 1998
Country Rock Band Shows Even Toughest Cowboy Has Soft
Side
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE July 1998
Give It A Whirl. Top Pick's Of Things To Do!
THE
DAILY HERALD July 1998
Kampfire Kowboys' Tunes Can't Be Labeled
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE July 1998
CHICAGO TRIBUNE Thrusday, May 25th, 2000
KAMPFIRE KOWBOYS WORK
TO CORRAL AUDIENCES
By Lynn
Van Matre, Tribune Staff Writer
With 20-year
plus years on the Chicago area rock scene, singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tom Colton knows what draws crowds on the club circuit: cover versions of
songs by big-name bands. He also knows what he wants to do: Play
original music.
“The
suburbs, especially, are tribute-band land.” says Colton, a St.
Charles musician whose resume’ includes stints with Chicago bands
Centerfold, which played cover and originals, and Rooster, which
specialized in tribute shows featuring songs by Genesis, Jethro Tull and other
progressive rock groups of the 80’s. “But I got real
tired of playing other people’s music. I wanted to start
writing my own songs.”
Two
years ago, Colton launched Kampfire Kowboys, a
five-piece band that does mostly original country-rock/Americana
material. The group, which recently released its second CD on Deagan
Records, performs Saturday with headliner Heartsfield
at Rory’s Music Cafe’ in Addison.
“People
sometimes think we’re strictly a country band because of our name,
but we’re not, even though the music has kind of a giddy-up sound to
it,” said Colton, who chose the
name Kampfire Kowboy
for its “tongue-in-cheek quality” and named Deagan Records
after his dog.
“We
started out saying we played rock with a western feel”
Colton said.
“Thenwe called our sound authentic American
rock. Now we say we play strictly Americana music, which to me
means taking older country and folks sounds and
updating them with a little harder drums and a rock feel. My
influences range from Woody Guthrie to Creedence
Clearwater to Harry Chapin and the Who, so it’s very much a mixed
bag.”
A
recent concert and release party for the group’s latest CD
“Stand Still” at a Glendale Heights club drew more
than 220 people-the biggest turnout for the band so far, according to
Colton.
“It’s
still a struggle to get people interested in original material, and
we’re still paying dues,” he said. “But we get up
on stage and rock, we do get people’s
attention. It’s interesting to see the look of surprise on
their faces.”
Colton initially put together the Kampfire Kowboys as a
three-piece group with bassist Dave Piper and drummer Gary LaPlante; the lineup now includes lead guitarist Brian Tedeschi and singer-guitarist Tadd
King. The band which maintains a web site at www.kampfirekowboys.com,
sells its CD’s at shows at local records stores and on the internet
through Amazon.com.
“Our
goal is to make our mark playing clubs and festivals in the
Chicago area, because most
of the guys in the band have family and work commitments,” said
Colton, who manages his
wife’s law office. (Attorney Kathleen Colton also manages Kampfire Kowboys.)
“My son is in college, so I would be willing to travel, but the other
guys aren’t that interested in touring. I want to get the music
out there, though. College radio stations might be one avenue.”
For
Colton, whose songs often
draw loosely on historical themes, a high point for Kampfire Kowboys occurred
last year when the band was invited to perform at a ceremony to dedicate a
historic bur oak “witness tree” in
McHenry
County. Such trees,
cited by surveyors who measured off the land during pre-settlement days in
the 1980’s, were so designated because they served as
“witnesses” to boundary lines. Earlier Colton had written a
song, “Tri-City Line,” about a similar ancient tree in his back
yard.
“I
was just staring out the window at the tree and I started imagining what
could have happened under it,” he said.
“I
don’t get too serious about lyrics. The chord patterns come
first and then I jot down random thoughts and try to make something out of
them,” he added. “A lot of time I write about fun
stuff. But I also like to imagine I am in another place and time, and
of lot of my lyrics end up having something to do with history or with
western images; I don’t know why. So it was neat to be able to
perform’ Tri-City Line’ at a historical society
ceremony.”
Colton’s other career highlight
occurred 20 years ago, when Centerfold opened a show for blues rock
guitarist Jeff Beck at the Granada Theater in Chicago.
“I’ll
never forget it,” Colton said. “ A band called Trillion was supposed to open the
concert, but at the last minute they couldn’t do it, and we got the
job. We happened to be in downtown Chicago, doing a showcase
or something, when we got a call from our agent about doing the show.
We were young and inexperienced, but we packed up our equipment and headed
over to the Granada and acted like we
were big time.”
Heartsfield and Kampfire Kowboys perform Saturday at Rory’s Music Cafe,
701 W. Lake St. in Addison. Showtime
is 9 p.m. Cover charge
is $8; reserved tables available with advance ticket purchases. Call
(630)543-3101.
METROMIX.COM-REVIEW, April
2000
Sound and
style:
This four-piece is doing its darndest to keep
the Americana faith with this
new full length CD. Led by singer, guitarist and producer Tom Colton and
his earnest, Elvis-without-the-drugs meets Roy Orbison
voice, the Kowboys deliver a polished folk,
country and rock mix. In the tradition of classic country, the story's the
thing in each song. “Albuquerque Rose” remembers a sweet old
love, while "Fire in the Hole" tells the tale of working on the
railroad. The musicianship sparkles with Brian Tedeschi
on lead and rhythm guitars, Dave Piper on bass and Keith Daproza on percussion. They can turn on the blue collar
charm, as in "Born in Boston,"
or lead you to two-step, as in "Runnin' Outta Town." The final track, "Dear
Starlight," flows methodically, with a mandolin adding a sense of
dream-like departure from the modern world.
Recording
quality:
Recorded and mastered at Star Trax Recording in
Crestwood, some songs have a muted quality, but otherwise clear and strong.
Bottom line:
By the end of the album, Colton's
voice may be a little too predictable, but this doesn't really detract as
each song conjures visions of the West, complete with tumbleweeds and
tangerines. --Lisa Phillips
THE
BEACON NEWS, Tuesday, April 11th,
2000
KAMPFIRE KOWBOYS
RELEASE NEW ALBUM
Local
Buzz, By Gary Schaefer
Artist:
Kampfire Kowboys.
The Skinny:
Kampfire Kowboys has
just released its
second
album titled, Stand Still. These men have their own rocking western
style, setting them apart from any band here in the suburbs. Stand
Still at one glance, unique, Yet never strays too far from the group’s rock
roll blueprints.
Background:
Tom Colton is the lead vocalist, guitar player and song writer of Kampfire Kowboys. With
30 years of performing and recording experience, he echoes familiar guitar
licks from the likes of Mark Knopler (Dire Straits)
and smooth vocal sound reminiscent of Roy Orbison.
Dave
Piper is the bass player and also chimes in on vocals. Piper is
originally from Florida, but moved to
Chicago in the late
1980’s. In the fall of 1997, Piper met up with his old friend
Tom and decided to contribute the bass lines for their first CD.
In
April 1998, the group welcomed the addition of a second lead guitarist,
Brian Tedeschi. He contributes 30 years of
playing experience heavily influenced by Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana
and it shows on the new CD.
The
local boy, Tadd King from Yorkville, joined in
late 1999. He performed with other bands such as Plain Dealin’ and the Core.
Past
Performances: The Kampfire Kowboys
has covered a lot of ground, having already played on more than a dozen
venues in Chicago and the
suburbs. The group just had its CD Release party at Club 602 North in
Glendale Heights and has played local venues like
McNally’s in St. Charles. Their first
CD release party was held at Chord on Blues celebrating their debut CD,
somewhere blue, which was released in the Summer of 1998.
On the
CD: Stand Still was recorded and mastered at Star Trax
Studio in Crestwood,
IL and engineered by
Jeff Luif. A follow up to the group’s
first album, somewhere blue, this hoe-down has 13 tracks with continuity
written all over them.
So
What’s the Rumpus: The Kampfire Kowboys play catchy tunes that leave the listener
feeling good. The topics in the album are
easy to relate to, yet the band brings their own twist to make it something
original and emotional. Colton said Kampfire Kowboys caters to
people who enjoy a rock & roll with a Texas swing to it.
“This is roots rock and that is what America is all
about,” said Colton.
Need
to Know: To pick up the CD, the band sells them at all shows or go to Kiss
the Sky Records, Batavia, or Bark at the Moon Records in Geneva. For
more details, call (630)443-1440 or at the web site
www.kampfirekowboys.com.
KANE COUNTY
CHRONICLE Friday, March 17th, 2000
Page 6 Sidetracks; Review
LOCAL BANDS PRESENT
THEIR OWN MATERIAL
By Eric Schelkopf
You
don’t have to go into Chicago to hear some great
music.
Some of the area’s best music is right in our backyard, as St.
Charles bands Saldo Kreek
and Kampfire Kowboys
proved Saturday in playing electrifying sets at club 602 North in Glendale
Heights.
Both bands play original material, a refreshing alternative to the sea of
cover bands that are clogging the Chicago music scene. The
show was a CD release party for Kampfire Kowboys’ new album, “Stand Still.”
Saldo Kreek started off
the evening in fine fashion with their appealing acoustic pop and
folk-rock. This was Saldo Kreek’s
first show with its new lineup, with violinist Carrie Davids
and drummer Lou Celenza recently joining the
group.
Both are already making strong contributions to the group, with Davids’ lush violin-playing bringing a warm
dimension to their songs.
Everything clicked for the band on the song “You Can’t Come
In,” one of several new songs Saldo Kreek premiered during their set.
As Davids’ violin weaved through the song,
Tom Wade growled out the vocals with bluesy, Joe Cocker-like delivery.
But the music was only getting started as the group finished its set and Kampfire Kowboys stepped on
stage.
Playing songs from its new CD, Kampfire Kowboys kicked up more than a little dust with its
driving country-rock sound.
The new songs feature more of the band’s twangy
rock along with the out-on-the-dusty trail vocals of lead singer and
songwriter Tom Colton.
Unfortunately, Brian Tedeschi’s furious
guitar licks got drowned out in the mix for much of the evening. Even so,
the band produced a sound that could easily fill a bigger venue.
Showing off their rockabilly roots, Kampfire Kowboys capped off the evening with a storming version
of the Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town.”
If the show sparked your interest in Kampfire Kowboys, the band will hold another CD release party at
the Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln
Ave., Chicago, on Thursday,
April 6.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Metro Dupage Section, Page 6
BATAVIA BAND TO RELEASE CD,
PLAY CONCERT
Thursday, March 9th, 2000.
Batavia-based
country roots-rock band the Kampfire Kowboys celebrate the release of their second CD,
"Stand Still," with a party and show Saturday at 602 North,
located at 602 North Ave. in Glendale Heights.
Doors open at 9 p.m. and the music begins at 10 p.m.; cover charge is
$5.
Formed in 1997 by lead vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Tom Colton, the band
also features Dave Piper on bass and vocals, Brian Tedeschi
on lead guitar and vocals, Tadd King on guitar
and vocals and Keith Daproza on drums. The first Kampfire Kowboys CD,
"Somewhere Blue," was released in 1998.
Band members all are longtime veterans of the Chicago-area rock,
country-rock and blues scenes, and their soulfully energetic sound reflects
a variety of past influences while taking the music in more westerly
directions.
Colton, whose musical influences include
Pete Townshend and Woody Guthrie, played lead
guitar with rock group Centerfold and recalls an early 1980s date when the
band opened for Jeff Beck as a career highlight. He also sang with
progressive rock group Rooster in the 1980s. Piper played with Release;
King performed with Plain Dealin, the Core and
other groups based in the Fox
Valley, and Daproza has played with a number of Chicago groups, including
Igneous Biscuit. Tedeschi also has worked with a
number of local bands over the last 17 years.
In addition to the Glendale Heights CD release party, the Kampfire Kowboys also will
perform April 6 at the Elbo Room,
2871 Lincoln Ave. in
Chicago.
KANE COUNTY
CHRONICLE Friday, Feb 18th, 2000
Page 8 Sidetracks; CD Spotlight
'KAMPFIRE KOWBOYS'
GROUP WILL PERFORM IT'S AMERICANA SOUND, OPENING FOR HEARTSFIELD
By Eric Schelkopf
They aren't rock and they aren't country.
The Kampfire Kowboys
are a little bit of both. And the St. Charles band fits
comfortably in a genre that is gaining increasing poularity
across the Chicago area and nation -
Americana.
"We are not categorized as country and somewhat categorized as rock.
I'm really glad that there is this other classification for offering
something in between. I feel thatwe are in the
driver's seat when it comes to this classification", said Tom Colton,
lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for Kampfire
Kowboys.
After gaining attention with its first CD, "somewhere blue," Kampfire Kowboys is ready to
round up some new fans with a second album of all original material - the
soon to eb released "Stand Still."
The album features more of the band's drivin' mix
of country, rock, and rockabilly, tied together by Colton's Elvis
Presley-tinged voice.
It's a high energy CD. When you hear us live, this is what you will
hear," Colton said.
Kampfire Kowboys will
be selling the new CD when the group opens for another country-rock combo, Heartsfield, at 9pm Saturday, Feb 26,
at Rory's Music Cafe, 701 W. Lake St., Addison.
Heartsfield is a Chicago-area band that gained a
strong local following in the 70's, garnering comparisons to The Eagles.
"I used to listen to them when I was in high school. People who like Heartsfield will like us and visa versa. It is a
perfect bill. I am hoping we get to play with them more,"
Colton said.
Following that show, Kampfire Kowboys
will play as part of a CD release party at 9pm Saturday, March
11, at 602 North in Glendale Heights. The club is
located at the corner of North Avenue and
Main Street.
Opening for the Kampfire Kowboys
that night will be another St. Charles band that has been
gaining a following of it's own, Saldo Kreek.
Colton formed Kampfire
Kowboys in 1997 with fellow St. Charles resident Dave
Piper, who plays bass in the band.
Rounding out Kampfire Kowboys
is lead guitarist Brian Tedeschi and the band's
two newest members, Tadd King on guitars and
vocals and Kieth Daproza
on drums.
And when she is not defending justice as a local attorney, Colton's wife, Kathleen,
acts as the band's manager.
Colton said the band continues to grow,
and is especially proud of the strides they made on the second CD.
"We want our music to sound as good as anything on the radio and to be
radio ready. We will do everything possible to sell it that way,"
Colton said.
This included bringing the guitars to the front on the new CD, along with
his voice.
"Our engineer, Jeff Luif, brought my real
voice out. It si more natural,"
Colton said.
Colton also is proud of the barriers the
band has broken down by bringing its sound to venues more likely to embrace
cover bands than groups which perform their own music.
"In the suburbs there areclubs riddled with
cover bands. It is very frustrating for an original band to even get things
started. You have to get people interested by putting out a good
product," Colton said.
He just hopes people like the band's music, and that Americana music continues to
grow in popularity.
"I hope the industry does go back to this type of music. I think it is
good, hearty, fun music. It's not depressing. It's just fun music,"
Colton said
"The
Right Track" Featured Attraction.
MUSICAL FUND-RAISER.
ENTERTAINERS TEAM UP ON BEHALF OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR NEEDY.
Kane
County Chronicle, Friday January 14th,
2000
Officially
kicking off the second annual Campaign for Legal Services, Prairie State
Legal Services Inc. announces Prairie State Aid II
fundraiser/social/musical event...
Kampfire Kowboys are part
of the entertainment lineup for fund-raiser Friday, Jan 21 at the
Batavia VFW...
Kampfire Kowboys, led by
Tom Colton, is completing work on it's second CD
to be released in late February. A combination of rock 'n' roll, country, rockabily and folk, this band is based in
St. Charles.
The Newsletter For Chicago Rockers!
BACKSTAGE PASS CHICAGO
Taken from the "HOMETOWN
HEROS" section
by Tony Shark, March 1999 Issue, Page 6
The Kampfire Kowboys bill
themselves as "Authentic American Rock" and have been busier than
a mule at feeding time lately. This unit of kowpokes
has really only been struttin' their stuff for a little less than a year but so far
they have made stops at many of the major clubs during their recent rodeo
tour of the city and suburbs. A staple at such clubs as Harry's of
Arlington, Synergy and Durty Nellie's in the suburbs, they can also be found
down at places like Elbo Room, and Abbey Pub in
the city. Their CD release entitled "Somewhere Blue" was
premiered with a bang this summer with the release party at Chord on Blues
in St. Charles, which is the home
base for the band.
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."
The
Republican, January 28, 1999
St. Charles, Illinois.
CIVIC DUTY NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD
Rockin' lawyers entertain at Prairie State benefit Friday
to launch 3-year 'Campaign for Legal Services'
Singing
lawyers provide the entertainment at a benefit for Prairie State Legal
Services on Friday eveneing Jan. 29, in Batavia,
raising funds for free services in civil cases for lower income individuals
and senior citizens.
The evening celebrates the beginning of the three-year "Campaign for
Legal Services." The performers include attorney Michael Blake and
local attorney bands Rosetta West, Kampfire Kowboys, Rusty Metal and The Trousers...
To date, the campaign has raised more than $39,000 in pledges from local
attorneys. Partners in the campaign are the following law firms which have
pledged $5,000 or more: Drendel and Tatnail; McNamee and Mahoney; and Murphy, Hupp, Foote, Mielke and Kinnally. The goal is $300,000 for services in Kane and
DeKalb counties. The campaign's leadership committee is co-chaired by
attorneys Shari Bertane and Robbin
Stuckert
Appearance on the Kevin
Matthews Show!
 
Kampfire Kowboys made a
special appearance and performing "unplugged" on AM 1000 in
Chicago Thursday, July 23rd. Kevin talked to the band and they performed
"Waited Too Long To Reply" and "Arizona Emily". Great
Job!!
Taken from
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE Friday, July 17, 1998 Entertainment PLUS, Section D,
Page 7
COUNTRY
ROCK BAND SHOWS EVEN TOUGHEST
COWBOY HAS SOFT SIDE
 By Eric Schelkopf
ST CHARLES-
They may call themselves Kampfire Kowboys, but these guys can rock That was evident
Thursday night, when they brought their unique country/rock/folk sound to
Chord on Blues for a concert celebrating the release of thier
new CD, "somewhere blue." With thundering drums and searing
guitar licks, the four-piece group played with the intensity of a larger
band and should have no trouble handling a bigger venue like Synergy II in West Chicago, where they will
perform July 24. Kampfire Kowboys
is fronted by St. Charles resident Tom
Colton, whose country-ish,
out-on-the-dusty-trail voice is perfectly suited for the band. He also
handles guitar duties. Rounding out Kampfire Kowboys are co-founder Dave Piper, also of St. Charles,
on bass and vocals; Brian Tedeschi, on lead
guitar and vocals and Gary LaPLante, on drums.
The show opened with a campfire-like setting, with only a lone harmonica
and guitar playing. Then the band ripped into "You Waited Too Long To
Reply," from its new CD. But Kampfire Kowboys showed they can tackle other people's music as
well, when the group did a countrified version of Creedence
Clearwater Revival's "Who'll Stop The Rain" while keeping the
rock edge of the song intact. Several of Kampfire
Kowboy's songs deal with relationships, such as
on the title track of "somewhere blue." As the song's chorus
says, "It's good love, good love will find
me, somewhere blue." In another song, "Break the Silence,"
Colton sings, "I
still want to be loved again, loved by you." So it seems it's not true
that a cowboy's best friend is his horse. You can't lump Kampfire Kowboys' music into
a certain category. Just when you think you know what to call this band, it
throws something else into the mix. Such was the case with it's
rockabilly-influenced "My Pretty Little Baby and Me," which
really got the crowd at Chord on Blues jumping. The band treated the
audience to an extended version of it's
instrumental "Waygone Daddy," the three
guitars provided plenty of raw energy. Later on in the show,
Colton and Tedeschi got into a guitar duel on "Tin Can
Man," trading licks as they tried to out-gun each other. In my
opinion, it was a tie. Kampfire Kowboys will make an appearance and perform
"unplugged" on the Kevin Matthews show on AM1000 July 23rd.
Listed in the Daily Herald
Time Out Section 6
July 3rd 1998
GIVE IT A WHIRL, "Our top pick's of things to do."
Mark Guarino - Daily Herald
Western Wear-
"Kampfire Kowboy's
might sound like a Saturday morning cartoon, but in reality it's a new
country rock outfit out of the Northwest and Western suburbs. The band will
debut its music at 9pm Thursday at Chord
On Blues, 106 S. 1st Ave., St. Charles. The groups self
released CD is "somewhere blue". Call 630-513-0074."
Taken from
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE Saturday, July 4, 1998 Entertainment PLUS, Section D
KAMPFIRE KOWBOYS'
TUNES CAN'T BE LABELED
By Eric Schelkopf
ST CHARLES - You can't put a
label on Kampfire Kowboys.
Not even the band knows what to call their blend of country, folk and rock.
"We didn't know how to classify it. So we started a new category, -
'Rock Western Style,'" said Tom Colton of St. Charles, lead vocalist and
guitarist in Kampfire Kowboys.
The band just released its first CD,"somewhere
blue," and on Thursday will hold a CD release party at Chord On Blues,
106 S. First Ave., St. Charles.
Kampfire Kowboys will
take the stage at 9PM. Doors open at 8PM.
The band will also be at Synergy II in West Chicago on July 24.
Colton formed Kampfire
Kowboys in 1997 with fellow St. Charles resident Dave
Piper, bass player in the band.
Rounding out Kampfire Kowboys
are drummer Gary LaPlante
of Hanover Park and lead guitarist Brian Tedeschi from Carol Stream.
"This is the best group of guys I have ever played with" said
Colton, 43, who has been
playing in bands since he was 18.
Colton got his first taste of stardom at
age 20, when the band he was in, Centerfold, opened for Jeff Beck in
Chicago.
In 1994, he released a CD called "Welcome The Rain," which has
more of a pop-rock feel than Kampfire Kowboys. He described Kampfire
Kowboys as having a sort of sing-along sound.
"It is based on one vocal and one acoustic guitar. Because of that, we
also can perform unplugged. Kampfire Kowboys has its folk and bluegrass roots to it, and the
band puts more of a rock'n roll foundation to
that."
Kampfire Kowboys are
known for their energetic shows. "Each band member puts their
personality into the performance," he said. When he is not
moonlighting as a cowboy, Colton manages a law
office in Batavia. All of the band
members have full-time jobs.
Colton and Piper recorded "somewhere
blue" with the help of engineer Jeff Murphy, who has worked with such
bands as The Shoes, Material Issue and Local H. Colton released the
15-track CD on his own label, Deagan Records, a record and publishing
company. "It fuels the whole project of Kampfire
Kowboys," he said.
The CD is being sold at such stores as Kiss The Sky Records in
Batavia, Borders Books in
Geneva and Tower Record
stores in Bloomingdale and Schaumburg. Right now, the
band is working to develop a fan base. It just launched a web site, www.kampfirekowboys.com
"Our goal is to find our audience, to find those people who will like
our music. I really think there is an audience just waiting for us,"
Colton said. And he
thinks Kane
County is the perfect
place to win over fans. "This county is the perfect base for this kind
of music. It is still rather rural and a little bit farther from the city.
We like the idea of being from Kane
County," he said.
So round up some of your friends and go see the Kampfire
Kowboys from Kane
County.
You'd be krazy not to.
© Kampfire
Kowboys, P.O. Box 876, Batavia, Illinois 60510 (630)443-1440
For information
regarding this website, contact webmaster@kampfirekowboys.com
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