Artists

Mick Rhodes & The Hard Eight

Mick Rhodes and the Hard Eight have been described as AC/DC meets Lucinda Williams, then they go out on a bender with Paul Westerberg, only to find themselves at a late night diner with Tom Petty, when out of the blue Ron Sexsmith sits down for pie, and then they all somehow end up in Little Richard’s hotel room, listening to the Faces, and watching the sun come up.

There are no boundaries to what MR8 does; Songs that would not be out of place in a southern rocker’s set share space with others that would work just fine in Laurel Canyon of the 1970s. Lush three-part harmonies coexist with raucous fuzz guitar, and strings and cello share space with empty whiskey bottle percussion.

MR8’s newest release, “Paradise City,” features guest spots from Rick Shea (Dave Alvin, Wanda Jackson) Danny Ott (Dave Alvin, Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts), John McKnight (Fishbone), Solid Ray Woods (Jayhawks) and Roger “King” Ehrnman (Stan West Band).

Mick Rhodes and the Hard Eight is Mick Rhodes on electric and acoustic guitars and lead vocals, Wyman Reese on keys and guitar, John Sleeger on bass and vocals, Brian Wells on drums and percussion and Steve Sturgis on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals.

“Paradise City,” along with MR8’s acclaimed 2010 debut, “’Til I am Dust,” are available on Hot Tramp Records, the usual online suspects, and at discriminating record stores. More info at www.mickrhodes.com.

Human Therapy

Formed in the wake of the original punk explosion of the late 1970s, Human Therapy has been writing, performing and recording since 1980. The band’s classic debut EP, “American Dream,” was originally released in 1983 on Doctor Dream Records. “The Sky Falls” single followed in 1985, with a song (“No More”) on Toxic Shock Records’ “Barricaded Suspects” compilation rounding out the band’s initial recorded output.

Human Therapy’s early years included shows with legendary names like the Cramps, Social Distortion, the Minutemen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dickies and countless others. The band toured the USA in 1985, after several regional tours around the Southwest. Human Therapy has played sporadically over the past few years, spending enough time together in the summer of 2007 to record its latest, “It’s So You,” for Hot Tramp Records.

There are no impending plans for a follow-up to “It’s So You,” but we here at Hot Tramp hope the band will someday soon accept our invitation to record again. Check back here for news on this and for information regarding the band’s annual summer live shows.