The Ponca City News, May 13th, 2004
New Independent Recording Company Features Performers With Local Roots-
Ponca City is the birthplace to a brand new, independent record label named Willie Cry Records.
Its latest release is called the OK Invasion vol. 1. It features three songs from four different musical acts with roots in Oklahoma: The Down Trunks, Hosty Duo, Randy Crouch and the Gardes.
The Down Trunks, consisting of David Noyce and Ryan Lickteig (Shocktart) from the northern states, and brothers Darren and Chad Matheson from Ponca City, Oklahoma, are a regular on the Kansas City music circuit. They play in Oklahoma and tour the northern states on a consistent basis as well. Their music is self-described as "roots rock with a twist of cowpunk." The songs featured on the OK Invasion are taken from their two, independent releases, "Fifteen Even," and "Rock Unincorporated." For more on them, please visit: www.thedowntrunks.com.
Hosty Duo is a jaw-dropping act based out of Norman, Oklahoma. Mike Hosty and his partner, Mike Byars, are constantly touring the Southwest. His sense of humor meets with real heartfelt blues rock, although he plays many styles, constantly making old styles of music seem new. Hosty is known to play many instruments at once. He frequently plays the drums and bass with his feet, guitar with his hands, the harmonica and kazoo with his mouth and sings all at the same time, often while telling some sort of story. Hosty Duo was recently featured on VH1 as one of the greatest unsigned acts in the country. He has recorded many independent records. For more on them, go to: www.hosty.com
Randy Crouch is an electric guitar and psychedelic fiddle player from the red dirt music scene of Oklahoma. He sings in an old smoky voice, often with his band, Flying Horse, and he has been known to play the fiddle with his toes. The songs featured on the OK Invasion are from his album "What's Goin' On?" He is based out of Tahlequah, Oklahoma but he is constantly touring the states. His music sounds a lot like skiffle meets old time country done in a new way. For more on Randy, visit: http://catman1.com/crouch
The Gardes grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma for the most part. They played under many different names and line ups together around the Southwest and Northeast with names such as the Hitmen, the Happenin' and the Livers. Two of the songs featured on the OK Invasion were formerly released as the Happenin' on their seven song CD called Stay Wholesome, now out of print on the defunct record label, Gronk! Records. These three songs feature Brett Horton, Ricky Lenhart and Lance Grover. Recently, Aaron Siemers has joined the Gardes and teamed up with Horton as a songwriting duo, and Chad Matheson has been doing some drumming with them.
Brett Horton, songwriter for the Gardes and founder of Willie Cry Records, says, "We've been kind of like a basketball team. Everybody plays their part and does a good job, though."
About Willie Cry Records, Horton says, "I've always liked the family feel and style of Motown Records. They got their name from Motor Town, Detroit. I thought Ford Motors, oil. The place where a lot of us are from is Ponca City and its nickname is the Gift of Willie Cry. That's where they first hit the big oil. Willie Cry's a legend. And this record is really good. Willie Cry Records is actually all over the place, though. The songs are recorded in Ponca City, Kansas City, Austin, Texas, Oklahoma City and I think some were recorded in Arizona even."
The OK Invasion vol. 1 is now available on the Gardes' website: www.thegardes.com in their music shop under the music section. It's available print on demand from an international distribution house in San Francisco. All performer/s wrote and own the rights to their own songs. Other releases by Willie Cry include: Legends Of Voddville by the Gardes and Brett Horton's White As Nite & Other Impurfect Gems. The Gardes' O MY GARDE! will be available online soon.