Daddy Long Legs at the Raccoon Motel -- September 28.
Saturday, September 28, 7 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
Touring in support of their 2023 album Street Sermons, and hailed by American Songwriter as the New York area's "most driving, intimidating, and rambunctious blues/garage/punk outfit," the genre-blending musicians of Daddy Long Legs headline a September 28 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, their latest recording also praised by No Depression as "one of the most fun records to come out in quite some time."
With the outfit led by the feral vocals and harp work of Brian Hurd (also known as Daddy Long Legs), the group's biography at AllMusic.com states, "Missouri-born singer and harmonica man Hurd moved to New York when his girlfriend decided to relocate to the Big Apple, and he soon made his way into the city's underground music scene. He got to know guitarist and singer Murat Aktürk and drummer Josh Styles, and they bonded over their shared love of punk and vintage blues; soon they were playing out as Daddy Long Legs. Their music, a powerful blend of country-blues wailing, electric blues roar, and rock & roll firepower, attracted the attention of the folks at Norton Records, known for their passion for wild sounds of the past and present.
"Daddy Long Legs made their recorded debut in 2010 on Norton's series of Rolling Stones' tribute singles; their 45 featured the Stones' long-banned tune 'Cocksucker Blues' on the A-side, with 'The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man,' featuring Dictators' founder Andy Shernoff, on the flip. After two more years of frequent gigging, Norton released their debut album, 2012's 12-song Evil Eye on You. The same year they backed up eccentric Chicago R&B shouter T. Valentine on the sessions for his Norton LP The Vampire. Daddy Long Legs hit the road, playing shows with the likes of the Flamin' Groovies, the Sonics, and ? & the Mysterians, while headlining frantic club shows of their own. They teamed with Canadian roots rock powerhouse Bloodshot Bill for a split single on Norton, with Daddy Long Legs covering Bill's 'All the Time' and Bill putting his stamp on DLL's 'Shackin' Up.'
"The band took time out from live work to roll into New York Hed Studios with producer Matt Verta-Ray, where they recorded their second full-length project, 2014's Blood from a Stone. A January 2015 show at the Brooklyn venue St. Vitus was recorded by producer and engineer Jim Diamond for the live LP Rides Tonight: Recorded Live, issued in June of the same year. As word about the group continued to spread, the established roots music label Yep Roc Records offered Daddy Long Legs a new record deal, and they signed with them for 2019's Lowdown Ways. Produced by Jimmy Sutton, the album offered a cleaner production and more streamlined attack, as well as bass and baritone guitar work from Sutton while capturing the group's incisive spirit.
"The COVID-19 pandemic kept the band off the road and scuttled recording plans for the next two years, but by 2022 Daddy Long Legs were back in action and traveled to Old Soul Studios in Catskill, New York to record their second LP for Yep Roc, 2023's Street Sermons. The group incorporated social commentary on the song 'Nightmare' as well as the title cut and welcomed guest artists Wreckless Eric (writer of the new wave classic 'Whole Wide World') and John Sebastian (leader of folk-rock heroes the Lovin' Spoonful)."
Daddy Long Legs performs their headlining engagement in Davenport on September 28, admission to the 7 p.m. concert is $15.88, and tickets are available by visiting TheRaccoonMotel.com.
