The Codetalkers feat: Col. Bruce Hampton and Jimmy Herring August 5, 2005

TICKETS $35.00 ADVANCE / $40.00 DAY OF SHOW
Doors 9pm, 2 sets starting at 11pm
Only 250 tickets available
Tickets Available Now @ the Pepper Jack Cafe

Col. Bruce Hampton and Bobby Lee Rodgers both knew upon first meeting that they were destined to work together. It has now been 5 years since the pair formed The CodeTalkers, and once again Col. Bruce Hampton has managed to bring us music that will tickle your fancy and kick your ass, as he has been doing for over 30 years now. After starting acts such as the Hampton Grease Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit (where he helped start the H.O.R.D.E. Tour), and the Fiji Mariners, in 1999 he formed his most accessible group yet. Along the way, Col. Bruce appeared with Billy Bob Thornton in "Slingblade" and in Mike Gordon of Phish?s movie ?Outside Out? which features Bruce as a guitar instructor who teaches "how to play out." The film won best picture at SXSW 2000.

Hampton seemed to be astrologically attracted to Rodgers, as he immediately guessed his birthday, and went on to discover both shared the same major planetary influences, as well as the same unique sense of humor. Hampton also saw a great song-writing and musical talent and set upon the mission to get Rodgers' music heard. The band these days consists of Hampton on guitar and vocals (and occasionally harmonica,) Rodgers on guitar, banjo and vocals, Tyler Greenwell on drums, and Ted Pecchio on bass. This line-up has been intact since last spring (when Pecchio re-joined after a brief hiatus,) and have really gelled over the past months into one of the tightest jam bands on the scene, thanks in part to this rock-solid rhythm section which keeps things ?groovy and neck-nodding as hell (Jambands.com).?

Rodgers' musical past is deeply rooted in both bluegrass and jazz, as he started playing blugrass at age 8 and went on to teach jazz at The Berklee College of Music right out of college. Rodgers' spent many years as a sessions musician as well as playing with artists as varied as Sting and Jimmy Heath. His music has been honored by numerous industry award nominations, and his songs have been heard on both MTV's "The Real World" and "Road Rules." Because he writes the bulk of the CodeTalkers songs, The CodeTalkers sound delves into many genres from bluegrass to jazz to country to blues, switching styles seamlessly.

JIMMY HERRING recently toured for two weeks with the band, and is joining them for another run including this stop in Hamilton Ontario. Herring, who played with Bruce some years ago in The Aquarium Rescue Unit before going on to tour with The Allman Brothers Band, is now with The Dead. A new alliance was formed between Herring and Rodgers last fall when Herring sat in with The CodeTalkers at MagFest (though it wasn't his first time playing with the band). Rumor has it that there are many big-name bands out there who have been asking Herring to join their crew, but he has chosen to hit the road with The CodeTalkers for a few weeks for reasons that you would only know if you have been out to see them lately. Each show seems to take on a life of its own, and its been said that the best thing about a Codetalkers show is that you don?t know whats going to happen. You may even see some bass-surfing and cymbal-eating if you stay long enough!