JD & The Straight Shot joins ZZ Top for 4 Canadian Shows

Article Contributed by Big Picture Media | Published on Thursday, October 11, 2012

The NYC blues-rock band JD & The Straight Shot announces today they will play four Canadian dates in support of rock legends, ZZ Top. The shows will be held on November 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th with performances in both Ontario and Quebec provinces. Founder and frontman, James Dolan, commented, "We're honored to open for ZZ. We look forward to playing our new music for their fans. We will do our best to warm everyone up for a fun night of ZZ music."

JD & The Straight Shot just recently released their latest album Midnight Run, a finely crafted collection of New Orleans-flavored roots music. Midnight Run is the group's second project with esteemed producer Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel) at New York's famed Avatar Studios. The group has toured with Joe Walsh, Don Henley and played with The Eagles, Allman Brothers, Robert Randolph and more. Find out more on JD & The Straight Shot's latest release, here: www.thestraightshotmusic.com

Dolan formed JD & The Straight Shot in 2000 with friends from the office. His day job is President and CEO of Cablevision and Executive Chairman of Madison Square Garden, Inc. where he also oversees New York sports teams such as the Knicks and the Rangers. "I don't actually set up cable and I don't really shoot hoops, I suck at that," he says laughing. "Music is something I've played since I was a kid. It's me purely expressing myself."

The band's creative nucleus is Dolan, guitarist Marc Copely (B.B. King), and guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Amos Lee), this trio pens all the band's music and lyrics. Instrumentally indispensible is keyboardist Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm) who also adds harmonica and accordion to the sonic stew. Rounding out the band are some of pop music's finest session players, drummer Shawn Pelton (Rod Stewart, Pink, Daryl Hall, Buddy Guy), bassist Zev Katz (Aretha Franklin, Elton John), and violinist Lorenza Ponce (Sheryl Crow, Ben Folds, Bon Jovi).

JD & The Straight Shot has been covered by The New York Times, ESPN, and New York Magazine, among other publications. Their song "Cant Make Tears" is the theme song for AMC's TV show Hell on Wheels, and their music has been featured in many films, including the critically acclaimed Hurricane Season.

Upcoming Shows:

Oct 28      The Voodoo Experience Festival          New Orleans, LA

Nov 3        K-Rock Centre                                   Kingston, Ontario, CA

Nov 4        John Labatt Centre                             London, Ontario, CA

Nov 7        Bell Centre                                         Montreal, Quebec, CA

Nov 8        Southam at National Arts Centre          Ottawa, Ontario, CA