Luther Wright
Luther Wright writes, records and performs music based out of a wee town 30 miles west of Kingston, Onatrio in central Canadadia. He started out as an angry young man with his brother Geordie in the vigilante vegetarian, garage band The Mugworts, making two albums and then in 1994 joining Sarah Harmer's pop-rock band, "Weeping Tile" to play lead guitar. During the next 5 years of full-on touring and recording Luther and his bandmate Cam Giroux and tour manager Sean Kelly formed the now-renowned, country/punkgrass road daemons, "Luther Wright & The Wrongs".
Known on one hand for their brilliantly executed, country/bluegrass reworking of Pink Floyd’s classic The Wall, Luther and the band have also recorded and released five all-original albums, Hurtin' For Certain (1997), Rogers Waltz (1999), Guitar Pickin' Martyrs (2003), Instrumentality (2005). Also to boot, they made two cds of original childrens music under the guise of Butterfingers. From its release internationally in 2001, Rebuild the Wall (Universal/Backporch), opened up doors for 'the Wrongs to play over 500 shows of old-country, inspired music across the continent. He has had his music used in the CTV television show, "Robson Arms", and his song "Tumbler Ridge" is part of the soundtrack in Ron Mann's documentary film about Woody Harrleson entitled, "Go Further". And at the request of the Goodman family Luther contributed a version of "The City Of New Orleans", to a recently released cd that pays tribute to folk legend Steve Goodman. Luther performs either with ‘the Wrongs, as duo with mandolinist Dan Whiteley, or collaborating in the "Hootenanny Revue". The show features a plethora of Canadian, alt-country stars including Jenny Whitleley, Carolyn Mark, Oh Susanna, Jim Bryson, Hank & Lily and Shuyler Jansen.
MAN OF YOUR DREAMS
Man of Your Dreams is the latest all-original cd from Luther Wright. Culled from the happenstance of lessons learned on the road and nurtured in isolation outside of Kingston, Ontario, "Man of Your Dreams" proposes something that may not actually exist, as truth ain't for songs sometimes. Here you hear what is easily some of Luther's strongest song writing to date. A casual blending of roots instruments: banjo, harmonica, dobro, guitar, mandolin, with a pop mentality that produces a chronicle that is surprisingly organic and deep. These numbers are the music behind the story of the cover art, a Harlequin Romance style landscape with lover’s thing. Twin Butte, Alberta (track 2) takes you deep into oil country where there's no place left to hide. Things Twice (track 3) examines the pieces of a done deal and finds the gems that will help rebuild the relationship that took one to the brink. The Pushing & the Pace (track 4) is so deep into the question of why, how and who we are that the jury is hung and the judge calls a mistrial and the courthouse is closed until further notice. Wooden Dreams (track 6) features Sarah Harmer on drums and vocals and is the break up song that never get’s used, but is really poppy and good. Recorded and performed by Luther Wright and his extended family of musical compadres he’s met through his 15 years of touring and performing music in Canada & the U.S. The guests include Jenny & Dan Whiteley, Tony Scherr, Chris Brown & Kate Fenner, andWrongs alumni Dan Curtis, Burke Carroll and Cam Giroux
~Quotes~
"...the Neil Young sway of Twin Butte Alberta is pure bliss
while the George Jones inspired The Pushing and the Pace proves Wright is doing
just fine out on his own."
—Johnson Cummins-Montreal Mirror
"Standing in that shadow is a grade-A word weaver and musician,
as on Man of Your Dreams, where Wright focuses on the age-old dude issue of
love gone wrong..."
—Steve Guimond-The Hour, Montreal
"Wright has a free-flowing writing style of his own, taking everyday situations and putting a satirical spin on them..."
- Illinois Entertainer, Chicago
"Wright knows not only how to write'em, but how to arrange them as well"
-Colorado Daily,
"...tunes that split the difference between irreverence and respect for country's traditions...a balancing act pulled off with panache..."
-No Depression
"Luther Wright and the Wrongs are far from being just another band on the road. They are blazing new trails!"
- Two Rivers Times, Asbury Park, N.J.
"Wright's wordplay stands up with the best of the genre and the pickin' and pluckin' of the Wrongs is always right."
-Pittsburgh City Paper
"Although most people whooped whenever they recognized a familiar number from THE WALL, it was Wright's original songs like Broken Fuckin' Heart that drew the loudest cheers."
-NOW, Toronto
"Wright rips his heart out and throws this mass of emotions into his music while the Wrongs crush every stereotype..."
-Vue Weekly, Montreal
"Guitar Pickin' Martyrs is an often gorgeous collection of songs of broken hearts and desperation that retains enough wit to save you from hiding the razor blades."
-Tucson Weekly
"Charismatic front-man Luther Wright played and sang like a satisfied man, confident and wholly entertaining. The twin guitar play between Telecaster wiz Dan Curtis and their new pedal steel star Burke Carroll mesmerized throughout, taking the band and indeed, the genre to new and at times even dizzying heights."
-Exclaim,Toronto
"This inspired Canadian twang band filled a niche few of us knew needed filling: They recast THE WALL as a hillbilly song cycle. Sound ridiculous? They're dead serious, and darn good at it!"
-San Francisco Chronicle
"Luther Wright and the Wrongs pull off the improbable. Where the original floated on some distant, emotionally wrought plain, the Wrongs rump and whump, making you want to grab your girl and two-step. Far from sounding nostalgic, the music feels urgent."
-New York Times
"Guitar Pickin' Martyrs is an extremely earnest country music album, and quite brilliantly executed..." The Toronto Star
Appearances at festivals and conferences:
South by Southwest (Texas)
Winnipeg Folk Festival (Maniboba)
Regina Folk Festival (Saskatchewan)
Brooklyn Presents Concert Series (New York)
North by Northeast (Ontario)
Hillside Festival (Ontario)
Rythym and Roots (Tennessee)
Blue Skies (Ontario)
Edgefest (Nova Scotia)
Harbourfront Concert Series (Ontario)
Canadian Music Week (Ontario)
O.F.F Festival (Quebec)
Eugene Celebration (Oregon)
Tulip Festival (Ontario)
Bonfire Festival (B.C.)
Sudbury Blues Festival (Ontario)
Mass Moca Concert Series (Massachusetts)
Ottawa Blues Festival (Ontario)
Northern Lights Festival (Ontario)
Trout Forest Music Festival (Ontario)
Stan Rogers Festival (Nova Scotia)
National Folk Alliance Conferences (San Diego, Nashville)
Stardust Picnic at Old Fort York (Ontario)
Riverhawk Festival (Florida)
Evolve Festival (Nova Scotia)
Stewart Park Festival (Ontario)