Truckstop Preachers

Overview

When today's country music is driven by cowboy wanna-be's and prom queens who couldn't cut it on MTV, Truckstop Preachers make it a point to deliver freight loads of raw honky tonk music to their audience. Loyal and traditional country listeners are attracted to the truthful song writing. At the same time, fans of hard driving music anticipate a gritty rock driven beat that brings them out of their seats. Forming in 2001, they began to perform thoughout the Carolinas, honing their honky tonk prowess in every hole-in-the-wall that would have them. In a short amount of time, they were welcomed by crowds up and down the east coast. After perfecting their sound, they put together a hymnal of original material for their first release in 2005. Soon after, the band was booked for a European tour. On this pilgrimage, they performed in front of thousands at festivals and European honky tonk venues and came away with a newly converted following. Within a couple of months, the album made it into the Americana Top 50. Quite a feat for a band with no huge record deal backing them up. The Preachers music defies any easy categorization. Each member brings their own background to form the sound heard from the stage. Nathan Palmer, lead vocalist, attests his rich baritone voice from the likes of Ernest Tubb and Johnny Cash, while his stage presence resembles that of Jim Morrison and David Yow. Jamie Ray's incredible guitar riffs come from his country upbringing listening to his parent's Waylon Jennings records, with an added edge from his love of players like John Sykes, making him a unique, one of a kind guitar player. Jeff Faulkner's walking bass lines compliment every song, and stamp out his own signature sound and edge. Much more than a drummer, Jason Herring's amazing backup vocals give the band a distinct sound. Untie The Horses, the latest release, offers up 11 songs spun from southern gothic roots that offer mayhem and hope. Every track holds enough imagery to pull you in so that you feel like you're lving in the middle of each one of the stories being told. As much as they love writing and crafting songs, their true passion comes in playing shows. They feed off of the energy and connection shared with a live audience, and you'd be hard pressed to find any other band as entertaining. The band has also shared the stage with artists such as Dwight Yoakam, The Avett Bros, Dale Watson, Wayne Hancock, David Allan Coe, Southern Culture on the Skids, .38 Special, and many more.