Kevin Russell, a Seattle native, is a singer, a songwriter and a talented multi-instrumentalist. Kevin plays guitar, mandolin, 5-string banjo, resophonic guitar and sings both lead and harmony vocals. Kevin plays in the alt-country band the Laughing Gravy, and in a five piece rock/blues/swing/country band called The Rhythm Rangers. He also plays in an all acoustic small rootsy quartet called Under the Radar. UtR plays acoustic bluegrass-informed folk, blues, swing & more (http://www.myspace.com/4undertheradar).
Kevin has released a number of CD's in various bands, & under his own name. These include:
Out Among the Stars -Modern Hicks [1999]
Tornado Alley - Modern Hicks [2001]
Under a Stormy Sky - Modern Hicks [2004]
You Don't Know Me - Kevin Russell [2002]
A Tribute to Gram Parsons - Laughing Gravy [2005]
Trouble in Mind - Kevin Russell [2005]
Not Out of the Woods Yet - The Rhythm Rangers [2007]
Live - Under the Radar [2006]
Beyond the Niche - Under the Radar [2009]
Pilgrim - Kevin Russell [2010]
There Ain't Nobody Home But Me - Kevin Russell [2010]
Kevin also contributed tracks to these compilation CD's:
Connections I [1996]
Freight Train Boogie [2000]
Connections II [2004]
Kevin has also contributed as an instrumentalist to these other people's CD's:
The Ruminators “Wild West”
The Ruminators “Loomings”
Terry Pinnegar “Expeditions”
Kirk Keeler “Notes from the Underground”
Mark McLay “Just Glad to be Here”
Doug Jayne “Looks Like She’s going on a Trip”
Doug Jayne “Voice in the Wind”
Moss Henry “Autumn Rain”
Lisa Redfern “All is Bright”
Mark Beynon “At the Right Time”
Mark Beynon “Maybe”
Brian Gale “Deserted Country”
Danny Sorrentino “Lucky Buck & the Winners” 2008
Mark McLay & the Dustdevils “Love & Barbwire” 2008
Teresa Tudury's "Such Fine Things" 2009
Doug Jayne "Folk University"
Moss Henry "Roll the Bones"
check out Kevin's myspace page for the most recent updates: http://www.myspace.com/kevinrussell411
Kevin Russell: Bio
The Rhythm Rangers is a five piece band that plays blues, rock, western swing, & alt-country music. The band features:
Kevin Russell on guitar & vocals
Dave Zirbel on lap, pedal & standard guitar
Ric Cutler on drums & percussion
Blair Hardman on bass
Kirby Pierce on keyboards
Our first CD,"Not Out of the Woods Yet", was released in July 2008, & features versions of songs by Johnny Cash, Bob Wills, Jon Randall, Tim O'Brien & others.
“I think of us as America’s Jukebox,” says band leader Kevin Russell. We cover all the bases. If you want to dance, we're the band for you. We play family friendly music that'll put a smile on your face."
Part of the success of the band is due to the many years experience of the band members. “We’ve all played in many, many bands and logged thousands of hours in the studio, doing live gigs and touring.”
One fan’s view: “Thank you Kevin and thank you Rhythm Rangers! What a wonderful fun danceable upbeat positive vibrant rockin' down home bluesy glorious funky sandal kickin' show you put on for those of us lucky enough to hear you last night. And I got your new CD!
Thank you!” - Kim K.
venues performed at include:
Sonoma County Fair
Apple Blossom Fair
Forestville Youth Park Celebration
KRSH backyard concerts
The Mystic
Ace Cider Pub
The Black Rose
Town Of Windsor Earth Day celebration
Highland Dell
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Rancho Nicasio
Hopmonk Tavern
Laughing Gravy is all about having fun playing music. Fronted by three vocalists & doing great original songs, as well as cool covers of our musical heros, we entertain ourselves as much as the audience! Good humour, good friends, good music. The band features:
Allegra Broughton on guitar & vocals
Doug Jayne on guitar & vocals
Kevin Russell on guitar, 5-string banjo, resophonic guitar, mandolin & vocals
Dean Wilson on guitar or bass & vocals
Sam Page on bass & vocals
Ron Stennit on keyboards
Dan Ransford on drums & percussion
and guest Gravies:
Dave Zirbel on pedal & lap steel
Bobby Lee on pedal steel & vocals
Our 2006 CD release, "A Tribute to Gram Parsons" was nominated for a Grammie!!
Under the Radar is a four piece acoustic band that plays the edge of new acoustic music. This is music rooted in traditional bluegrass but with a modern sensibility. Using the traditional bluegrass instrumentation of mandolin, dobro, guitar, string bass and 5-string banjo these folks are as likely to do an Irving Berlin swing song from the 40’s, or an old Ray Charles R&B tune , as a hard driving Bill Monroe bluegrass song, or that classic Jimmie Rogers country song. They’ve even been known to sneak in the occational bluegrassified Beatles song! And when was the last time you heard a bluegrass reggae version of “Sitting Here in Limbo”? In addition to creating lively new versions of old songs, UtR also features crisp engaging original compositions.
With musical ties going back many years these folks have been around and played a lot of music together. Consequently their two and three part harmonies leave you wondering if they grew up in the same family singing together! Their relaxed on-stage banter will leave you laughing and their adept musical genre hopping will leave you smiling, dancing or singing along.
Kevin Russell-guitar, resonator guitar, banjo & vocal
Layne Bowen-mandolin, guitar & vocal
Markie Sanders-bass & vocal
Michael Capella- resonator guitar, guitar & vocal
venues performed at:
The Mystic-Petaluma
Sebastopol Center for the Arts-Casual Concert Series
Station House Café - Pt. Reyes
Lagunitas Brewing Company-Petaluma
Café Azul-Santa Rosa
Rancho Nicasio-Nicasio
Sausalito Arts Festival- Sausalito
Murphy's Irish Pub-Sonoma
The Black Rose- Santa Rosa
Ace Cider House-Sebastopol
Aqua Café- Petaluma
Saylors Restaurant- Sausalito
CD review of Under the Radar:
Under the Radar: Beyond the Niche
by Brenda Hough, Bluegrass Breakdown (Aug. 09)
Fans of northern California band Modern Hicks may have wondered what happened to the band. Some of the band members have moved on to become Under the Radar, a band with it's own vision of music that crosses genres and blends bluegrass, blues, swing and folk to produce a compelling musical vision.
The band members are Kevin Russell on guitar, banjo, dobro and vocals, Layne Bowen on mandolin, guitar and vocals, Ted Dutcher on bass and harmony vocals, and Michael Capella on dobro, guitar and vocals.
The band is like one of those little White Castle burgers - smooth, slippery (is this why they are called sliders?) and satisfying. The songs are perfect vignettes of life - the hopes for happiness, the posers and street corner blues dudes, and the hope that all this living will still win a chance for heaven's "long white robe". Michael and Kevin mix some wonderful dobro that wail and whoop. Swing rhythms abound, and "This Heart" has some slick mandolin and guitar solos. And the classic "Falling in Love" will remind you of a smoky nightclub.
"Twelve Reasons" to "ride these flames" are because I'm "falling in love", and "running from myself" But I "just ain't" "reckless in Public". Must be a novel here, but meanwhile just listen to these guys weave their magical music around you.
Additional info: Kevin @ 707-824-1858 or krussellmft@aol.com or www.myspace.com/4undertheradar