“Way down in West Virginia / there are some people who are one of a kind.” – Hank Williams III, “D. Ray White.”
Try to picture a tight-knit family that does hardcore drugs, gleefully breaks the law and tap dances.
Can’t do it? Don’t worry. Such a family already exists.
That family is the Whites, and they’re the subject of the new documentary, “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.” The film, which makes its Los Angeles debut on June 26th at Laemmle Sunset 5, follows various members of the outlaw clan over the course of a year, chronicling their larger-than-life ups and downs.
For the uninitiated, Hank Williams III (grandson of the legendary Hank Williams, son of Hank Williams Jr.) puts on one of the most exciting live sets in music right now. Reaching deep into the roots from whence he came, he plays almost an hour and a half of unadulterated outlaw country complete with banjo, fiddle and pedal steel guitar. He segues into a more rocking form of country that he refers to as “Hellbilly” music, adding electric guitars to the mix and dialing up the volume. And then finally, eschewing the country base, Hank III (as he commonly refers to himself) returns with his co-lead singer Gary Lindsey and his metal group Assjack. All told, the man performs a staggering set nearing three hours in length. On a brisk night in West Hollywood at the Roxy, a sold-out crowd was primed and ready for this and more.
Hank William III’s latest creative project, ASSJACK is dropping their first album of “authorized” music on August 4, 2009, out on Curb Records. The death-metal self-titled will feature the songs “Redneck Ride,” “Wasting Away,” and “No Regrets,” among others. Hank III performed, wrote, and produced everything on the album and hopes the audience will include “cowboys, punks, metalheads, jocks, grandmas, and the average everyday person under the same roof.” Read more…
Hank Williams III’s follow-up to 2006’s masterful Straight to Hell has clocked in his highest chart debut to date. Titled Damn Right, Rebel Proud, the album arrived on October 21 and has sold close to 20,000 units which yielded a #2 position on the Billboard Country Music chart and a spot at #18 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.
This is the 6th ablum from the third generation straight-talkin’ rebel and it features the single “Long Hauls and Close Calls” which can be previewed below.
Following his most stunning album to date (2006’s double-disc Straight to Hell) Hank Williams III delivers another raucous tribute to the outlaw tradition, Damn Right, Rebel Proud. Minus excellent experiments like those found on the second disc of Straight to Hell, Damn Right, Rebel Proud is otherwise loaded with concise tunes that astonishingly feel familiar well beyond their years, like timeless classics on a favorite jukebox. Read more…
Following the highly ambitious and acclaimed Straight to Hell, Hank III will release Damn Right and Rebel Proud on October 21. The first single will be “Long Hauls and Close Calls,” for which a video has also been produced.
The tracklisting is as follows:
The Grand Ole Opry Ain’t So Grand Wild & Free Me and My Friends 6 Pack of Beer I Wish I Knew If You Can’t Help Your Own Candidate for Suicide H8 Line Long Hauls and Close Calls Stoned and Alone P.F.F. 3 Shades of Black Workin Man Read more…
Hank Williams III gave San Diego’s Fiesta del Sol more than promoters bargained for after “spewing profanities,” “encouraging slam dancing,” and playing punk songs. Concert-goers were expecting Hank III to stick to the more conservative country music that made his grandfather famous. Considering the unexpected turn of the show, it was cut short only fifteen minutes as organizers feared a riot were it stopped any sooner. Although no specific action has yet been taken against Hank III, festival organizers plan to keep tighter control over future performances and artist selection. Read more…
Hank III and Pantera’s Phil Anselmo have teamed up to form Arson Anthem with Eyehategod vocalist Mike Williams. In a recent interview with Live-Metal.net, Hank III said that the band has been in the studio and have already recorded eight songs for an upcoming album. Read more…
A spirited voice of dissent, when made audible at just the right time, can be a powerful agent of change. Hank III (grandson of the legendary Hank Williams, son of Hank Williams Jr.) might be just such a voice. Straight to Hell, Hank’s third “official” full-length release is a scalding-hot reconstruction of modern country music. Songs such as “Smoke & Wine” and the title track “Straight to Hell” sizzle with a flurry of frantic banjos, full-tilt pickin’-and-grinnin’ guitars and just the right amount of pedal steel. Read more…
Straight to Hell, the next release from Hank III, will be hitting shelves on February 28. The double-disc release is the follow-up to 2002’s Lovesick, Broke & Driftin. Hank III will next be performing at this year’s South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Read more…
