It used to be called boogie-woogie. It used to be called rhythm & blues. Now, they call it rock & roll."
Chuck Berry’s words are at the very heart of Roots Rock & Roll 5-piece, The 40 Acre Mule. The self-described “Rhythm & Blues Outfit” are a powerhouse of vintage revival with a reputation for seamlessly blurring the lines between country, soul and rock audiences with songwriting that borders between blues drenched heartbreak and an old school riot in the streets.
Influenced by the pillars of Rhythm & Blues like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Ray Charles and inspired by recent artists such as J.D. McPherson, Nathaniel Rateliff and Gary Clark Jr., The 40 Acre Mule features J. Isaiah Evans - guitar & vocals, Robert Anderson - drums, Tim Cooper - bass, Chris Evetts - baritone sax & percussion, and John Pedigo - guitar & vocals. They quickly built their own unique sound by blending vintage Rock & Roll, R&B, Soul with a touch of Country. It was a sound that soon caught on with The James Hunter Six, The Reverend Horton Heat and Alejandro Escovedo, just to name a few.
Since forming in 2015 in Dallas, The 40 Acre Mule has built a loyal following the old-fashioned way, playing countless bars and packed clubs. As the crowds caught on, so did the likes of legendary promoter Scott Beggs and Jim Heath (The Reverend Horton Heat) who gave The 40 Acre Mule their first break with an opening slot at a sold-out show at Dallas’ legendary Bomb Factory.
Playing to diverse crowds has made their fanbase explode. "We’ve gone from 10 to 15 friends in a dive bar on a Tuesday to playing full-on festivals without even having an album out yet. That says something. I think we’re making music that people from all walks of life…country fans, soul fans, rockabilly fans…find comfortable and familiar. It’s because all those genres can trace their roots to Rhythm & Blues, the very backbone of Rock & Roll ", says J. Isaiah Evans.
After years of paying their dues, The 40 Acre Mule are following in the footsteps of good friends and emerging Americana stars, The Vandoliers and Joshua Ray Walker, and signed with State Fair Records. The good times kept rolling with a show stealing appearance at the 2019 HomeGrown Festival with Tripping Daisy, Toadies and The Suffers as well as tour stops with JD McPherson and Charley Crockett. Now, fresh off their nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Act by Central Track, The 40 Acre Mule is set to make more noise with the release of their upcoming full-length debut, Goodnight and Good Luck on July 19, 2019.
