JB Joins the Recliners
Posted August 16, 2009

Apparently noting JB's masterful stage presence at a Venture Rays show, the executives running the Recliners, an Austin, TX-based band which is opening what amounts to franchises utilizing their successful formula in other cities, offered He of the Hair (JB) a position in their expanding organization. Glimpsing a rare opportunity to stand onstage & sing without a cumbersome instrument to cramp his style, JB accepted, and within three weeks they were performing at Café Diem in Richmond, which is where I saw them perform on August 7th. Their music is incredibly tight and well-honed (especially for having only played together for a few weeks!); pop songs from the 60's through the current day, rearranged with a big-band, swing kinda sound. It's an absolute delight to hear song lyrics sung completely out of the context of the song's original version; you recognize the words, but have to puzzle out what song it actually is...and if you figure it out before the chorus, when everybody can figure it out, you feel like rewarding yourself with some expensive prize.
Brian Pulley, friend of the Illbillys and until recently bassist for the Venture Rays, is in the Recliners' new lineup as well, and as a result has decided to leave the Venture Rays, deciding two bands at once is one too many for him.

Tshirts Tshirts Tshirts!
Posted June 5, 2009

Working together seamlessly as always, the Illbillys' rhythm section has put together a new design for the upcoming crop of Illbilly Tshirts! These notional Tshirts will be black, will sport the breathtaking image you see to the left, and will be available in a variety of sizes, sure to fit everyone except for the very small and the very large. And why would they wanna wear a Tshirt ANYway?! At presstime these shirts were just about to start rolling off the production lines, for eventual availability for purchase @ Illbilly shows. Ask the nearest Illbilly about these shirts, and they'll be sure to say something.

Recording Commenceth!
Posted April 21, 2009

In the interest of creating a proper demo CD representing the current state of the Illbillys, the band (minus Chris) descended upon Bales Studios on Sunday, April 19th to be recorded by The Joe Himself. JB's voice was on the ropes from two Venture Rays shows over the past two days, so there'll be some overdubbing in the near future; Chris will be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the studio to perform his contributions shortly.
The basic tracks for four songs were recorded on this date:

• Mule Train
• Lady Madonna
• 19th Nervous Breakdown
• Hey Bulldog

The finished product will be featured here on our Downloads page. Stay tuned for info as it develops!

JB's New Guitar
Posted January 18, 2009

At the behest of his other band ("dude! Git you a REAL guitar already!"), the Venture Rays, JB recently painstakingly researched and eventually selected an electric guitar, a Washburn Scott Ian model, with a "fresh asphalt" finish. "I was looking for something light that looked good, and the Washburn fit the bill," says JB. "Oh yeah, and you can plug it into an amplifier if you want, and it makes noise!" That, too.
What will this mean for the Illbillys? Not a goshdarned thing. JB will continue to play his signature Ovation acoustic onstage, but may resort to his lovely new 'lectric if suddenly every one of the strings on his 'coustic break: Illbilly fans with an interest in seeing this happen are encouraged to bring their own scissors.

Meet the Newest Illbilly!
Posted December 14, 2008

Work has commenced in the sacred quest to install the proper amount of Illbilly software into Chris Vasi to make him an Illbilly. After their first practice together, Chris showed the admirable qualities of not only playing his instrument with astounding verve and psychological accuracy, but also seemed willing to put up with whatever harebrained frippery was asked of him; such as posing for ridiculous pictures!
He really truly is frightfully good, and the band sounded great...make absolutely certain to catch the Illbillys when they come to your city* in 2009, and prepared to be amazed!

*Assuming your city is either Richmond or Powhatan

D-Day For Auditions: December 8
Posted November 30, 2008

JB's placement of an ad in the Richmond Craig's List resulted in twelve responses, most of whom have now auditioned with the Illbillys at Jack's palatial home in south Richmond. Three more are scheduled to audition on Sunday, December 7th, after which the Illbillys will make their fateful decision! Some great musicians have wowed the band with their chops, but thus all have shared two traits: They're all male, and they're all caucasian. The Illbillys' dreams of featuring a hermaphrodite Filipino as a lead guitarist may be in jeopardy, but rest assured, the Illbillys will rock you like a particularly clever, entertaining hurricane once this position is filled.

Lead Guitar Auditions: Arooooo!
Posted November 17, 2008

No moss gathers upon the Illbillys. Though capable of effortlessy rockin' the notional house while simultaneously triumphing o'er the forces of evil in their three-member configuration, they're holding auditions for a new lead guitarist!
Two gentlemen were kind enough to share their monster licks this past weekend, and the Illbillys are hoping to audition another couple-few shortly. How long will this process take? WHO CARES!? Well, it would be nice to have a new member in place and furiously pluckin' away in time for the 2008 Beef 'n' Music Festival in the Spring, but don't hold your breath, because it makes your face an unpleasant color that I'm not interested in looking at.

Joe: Not Any Mo'
Posted November 1, 2008

The Illbillys' show at Cafe Diem on October 25th of this year was the last one for Joe as a bandmember. Although amusing, none of the following were reasons for his decision to leave the Illbillys:

• His background check finally came back: Twelve convictions for shoplifting
• He has decided to devote all of his time and effort to his true calling: Mashed-potato sculpture
• He asked for a raise, and the rest of the band thought the $250,000 he was already getting per show was more than enough
• The band inexplicably wasn't playing enough Beatles songs to satisfy his needs
• The band's anal, perfectionist attitudes in reference to sound clashed with his easy, freewheeling nature

Noo, his decision had more to do with a desire to spend more of his time with his family, which is in the process of largening, and to concentrate more on recording than performing...and to play music that's closer to his heart, i.e. southern rock, which the Illbillys would sooner immolate themselves than embrace.
Joe played a vital role as built-in soundman as well as lead guitarist for the Illbillys for two years, and his presence will be missed. The presence of his lovely daughter Morgan and equally lovely girlfriend Luanne will be missed as well, both of whom helped the Illbilly cause over the years by taking excellent pix at shows.
Joe has expressed an interest in acting as Occasional Sound Dude for the Illbillys in situations of need, which may just come in handy when Beef & Music season rolls around again in the spring!