"These guys look like any other local bar band, but as soon as they get started, your ears will perk up to quality not commonly heard on the local club scene. The 2 guitarists are equally adept at soloing, though with different approaches. On this particular night, Scott executed a withering solo that left the crowd open-mouthed. And Gene Barkin not only soars with his axe, but sings as well, like he was born in the blues.
The spine of this group is a bassist Gary Way, who is as solid as granite and a drummer who makes most locals sound like amateurs. Any advanced student should be able to keep the beat and maintain a simple groove. John Hargis varies the groove within the context of the song and drills out fills that complete the texture of the soundscape with astonishing accuracy and sensitivity to the music. Missing these guys would be like not getting your butt to Jazz Alley to bask in the music of Taj Majal. Too bad some of them still hold down day jobs. It'd be nice if they could take their show on the road."
- Katie Keys, Gig Harbor, Washington
We play a diverse mixture of soulful blues, rock and dance music from timeless artists such as:
Gene has worked as a recording artist for various labels in Los Angeles (Columbia Records, United Artists, RCA, among them). In addition to recording numerous albums, Gene toured the world with a few bands, notably The Grass Roots and Australian pop-rock star Russell Morris. He was a finalist in the World Popular Song Festival, where he performed at the famed Tokyo Budokan.
From a desolate enamel dawn there came a figure: a silhouette, really, braised and textured of a path known by few. The man knew solitude, yes, but his steely gaze portrayed a vast depth of understanding and lucidity of all things guitar. He had done leads of penetrating angst. He knew rhythm from the bones of forgotten brethren, having once enamored a rooster to the point of destruction. He was more than a fisherman of rainbows; he had come to play. And with his Ford-plated amplifier wheeling softly across the warming sand he looked beyond the still and said: "My stage is here".
"If you can't play good, play solid" - Gary has been dabbling in music since the age of 10 when he began playing harmonica while growing up in Chicago, influenced by such greats as Sonnyboy Williamson, Corky Siegel, and Charlie Musselwhite. Gary is a firefighter by day but his real love is playing music.
"Serve the Song" - John is a drum teacher in Gig Harbor and at Federal Way School of Music in South King County. He discovered his passion for roots music in 2002, performing with 6-Pack of Blues around Western Washington. John has studied music production and sound design for film and television at Berklee College of Music and has worked with original, prog-rock, blues and classic rock bands for over 30 years.
Here are some samples of the Careless Hunters, recorded live from an undisclosed bunker on the outskirts of town. We would have dubbed some additional tracks, but Gary mistook the recording console for a deer, and... well, let's just leave it at that.
Private party? Upcoming benefit? We're your band! The Careless Hunters will delight and entertain your guests for the entire evening while you get all the kudos for finding music that hits the sweet spot. Just give us some basic information and we will get back to you with a quote.
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