“[Visionland] is a roller coaster, alright, but one running off the rails. Banditos hop on for the ride, with a few psychedelics in their back pockets to help ensure a more vibrant trip.” – Rolling Stone “Corey Parsons and Jeffrey Salter start picking at their guitars like they’re dialing up . Richardson responds with a howl, as if she’s crash-landing some Southern-fried Jefferson Airplane. And it’s on.” – Washington Post “If you think Alabama Shakes is too restrained and polished, this is the band for you.” —RedEye Chicago BANDITOS VISIONLAND RELEASE DATE: JUNE 23, 2017 After spending much of the last two years on the road, what could be, a distorted possibility, struck by a frigid gust relentlessly showcasing their critically acclaimed 2015 self- of reality. Like some sort of modern day, Southern-born The titled debut album, the six bandmates of Banditos regrouped in Band, some songs were written over years by a single member late 2016 at Plum Creek Sound Studios in Dripping Springs, TX (the surfy jam “Lonely Boy,” which was written by singer/ and democratically poured out sonic influences and emotionally guitarist Parsons in response to being tour weary), others by charged personal experiences for their new album Visionland. a combination of the players (the punk-garage soul Stooges- meets-Velvet Underground churner “Fine Fine Day” was Produced by Israel Nash and Ted Young, the Birmingham/ penned when Parsons and Pierce drank massive amounts of Nashville-based group’s second full-length has one foot vodka one day in Opelika, Alabama) and the dynamics show firmly planted in reality as the other tip-toes in and out of for it. There’s a phantasm of vintage ‘60s Etta James soul mental complexities, self-perception and altered-state (plus burning-hot background singers) on “Healin’ Slow” and, illusions. The results are revealing, exhilarating and profound. later, the hopping country blues of “DDT.” Topics and styles range this way on Visionland - the heavy and emotional to The album-titled track reveals these defining, cohesive the light and simplistic - but the Banditos always sound like thematic intricacies. “Visionland” is named after the themselves and always drive the nail deep into the groove. defunct $60 million theme park that was built in the late ‘90s near some of the band members’ childhood homes The members of Banditos first met playing in various punk in Bessemer, Alabama. The park was shut down after only and rock ‘n’ roll projects around Birmingham at D.I.Y., all- five years and the schizophrenic glimmer of hope it offered ages venues. In 2010, Parsons and Pierce began busking local residents connects to a greater overlying optimism for around town and were soon asked to perform at their life present at the album’s core, an eerily relevant theme in favorite local bar. Without a full band, they invited friends contemporary complex times. Jeff Salter’s sweeping guitar Randy Wade (drums), Salter (guitar), and Richardson strums swell at the song’s intro, lifting through the murky to join them. Danny Vines (bass) joined the band later. haze into the warm and sunny clarity of a duet between singer Mary Beth Richardson and singer/guitarist Corey Parsons. The group has been praised by NPR (“Three vocalists, a wicked guitarist...a banjo, an upright bass and a hot-footed drummer “Strange Heart” rides to new 13th Floor Elevators psychedelic guarantee that every song they play is stuffed with crazy rhythms heights, with Richardson’s scorching, raw, show-stopping voice and melodic energy.”), Rolling Stone (“Equal parts alt-country echoing Merry Clayton’s chilling performance on The Stones’ twang and garage rock bang...recalling everything from ZZ Top’s “Gimme Shelter.” Later in the album, singer/banjo player Steve greasy boogie to the Alabama Shakes’ coed soul”), and Garden & Pierce channels the ebullient folk of electric Dylan with his Gun (“These six keyed-up twentysomethings mix a hodgepodge free & easy flow on “Fun All Night.” The band also brought in the of sounds. Sometimes it’s barroom country backed by a rogue outside artistic talents of storied keys player Earl Poole Ball, kazoo, and other times it’s a chicken-picking version of slow- upon a chance interaction they had after seeing him play with burning soul behind the Janis Joplin–esque wail of Mary Beth Ramsay Midwood at Sam’s Town Point in Austin, TX. Ball has Richardson”). They have performed across the world supporting performed and collaborated with , , Buck acts like St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Blackberry Smoke, Owens, , , and many other greats. and Old 97’s, and notably at prominent events like Newport Folk Festival, Hangout Fest, and Rachael Ray’s Feedback. There is a shared mindset throughout; a persevering glint of For press needs, contact: Josh Zanger at [email protected] Bloodshot Records 3039 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618 Ph: 773-604-5300 Fax: 773-604-5019 Web: www.bloodshotrecords.com