It’s been quite a year for the Reverend Peyton and his Big Damn Band, starting with the Rev and his washboard-banging wife Breezy bidding adieu to brother/drummer Jayme Peyton last December. For anyone worried that Jayme’s departure would alter the BDB’s genetic vibe, fear not.
The Rev didn’t have to look to a significantly lower branch on the family tree to find a new skinsman in cousin Aaron Persinger. With their freshly invigorated lineup in tow, the BDB hit the studio to record their fourth full-length album, The Wages, released last May to overwhelming critical and commercial response.
Reviews were wildly positive, and the album debuted on Billboard’s Blues charts in the No. 2 slot. After that triumph, there was nothing left for the Rev, Breezy and Cuz to do but mount a full-scale assault on the Alternative Press stage of the 2010 Warped Tour, playing every date of the respected traveling fest to an equally ecstatic response.
It might seem unlikely that the Big Damn Band could present their high-octane take on Country and Delta Blues — fueled by traditional influences like Charley Patton, Pink Anderson, Bukka White, Otha Turner and Mississippi John Hurt — and make it work for a primarily Punk audience, but the Indiana trio has been defying expectation since first appearing over five years ago. Since then, the BDB caught a huge break opening for Flogging Molly, warmed up crowds for ZZ Top and Clutch and played Blues festivals, Punk clubs and Rock venues. The group also wound up as the house band on a Jerry Springer pay-per-view special, largely on the basis of their 2009 white-trash fist-pumper “Your Cousin’s on Cops” from their previous album, last year’s The Whole Fam Damnily.
Blessed with the ability to appeal to almost any musical taste and the energy to captivate any audience, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band are bringing their family and coming for yours.
(Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here.)