For over three decades, Whiskey River’s musicians have thrilled audiences all over the West Coast as America's number one tribute to the legendary southern-rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Re-creating the image and the music of the southern rock band that took the world by storm in the "70's. Whiskey River not only plays Lynyrd Skynyrd, they personify the group onstage bringing the audience back in time thirty years as they blaze through classics like Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, The Breeze and their phenomenal note-for-note version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Live" guitar opus Freebird.
One of the most amazing aspects of Whiskey River’s tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd is that their fan base literally runs from seven to seventy years old! Whiskey River has performed countless fairs, festivals, casinos and clubs throughout the region including Spokane Interstate Fair, Chehalis Music in the Parks, Darrington Classic Rock Festival, the White River Amphitheater, Key Arena @ Seattle Center, Bite of Seattle, the Emerald Queen, Tulalip, 7 Cedars, Red Wind and Skagit Casinos, the Jackson Prairie Speedway, the Sturgis Black Hills Rally in Sturgis, SD, and many many more. The band has also shared billing with numerous National Artists including Molly Hatchet, Delbert McClinton, Little Feat, Pat Travers, Foghat, Mountain, Grand Funk Railroad, Black Oak Arkansas, Quiet Riot, Dr. John, Savoy Brown, Seattle's own Randy Hansen, Elvin Bishop, Commander Cody, Paul Rodgers, Head East, Janis Joplin's band Big Brother and the Holding Company, Blue Oyster Cult, The Southern Rock All Stars, Iron Butterfly, Steppin Wolf and many others.
Where ever this band performs the press and other media rave. Radio stations KZOK 102.5 and KISM 92.9 praise and promote Whiskey River frequently.
“I thank you for keeping the original spirit and music of Ronnie VanZant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd alive for all these years” Artimus Pyle: Drummer - Lynyrd Skynyrd
I thought I had a good preview of your show after watching your video, but nothing compares to seeing you live! You guys are HOT! I'll definitely be seeing you again." Vic-the-Dude: Disc-jockey KZOK 102.5 FM
On behalf of everyone at KISM I would like to thank you for the FANTASTIC show you gave us at the 92 Days of Summer Party. We could not have asked for better entertainment - you blew us (and the audience) clean away! Again, thank you very much. You were superb!" Carol Dooley: Program Director KISM 92.9 FM
...they play the entire Lynyrd Skynyrd repertoire in their tribute to the Southern Rock Band.... Although musicianship is the most important part of any real band, image plays an important part as well, and Whiskey creek both dresses and acts the part." Gig Magazine – November, 1998
More rave reviews and articles have been published in Gritz Magazine, The Seattle Times, Seattle P.I., Gig Magazine, Rolling Stone,
South County Journal, Tacoma News Tribune and numerous other publications.
PREVIOUS LYNYRD SKYNYRD TRIBUTE ENGAGEMENTS
The Detour with Molly Hatchet: February 1996 Toppenish Rodeo Grounds with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: June 1997 Ballard Firehouse with Molly Hatchet: July 1997 Parker’s Casino with Paul Rodgers: June 1998 The Mothership with Lydia Pense and Cold Blood: July 1998 Royal Bear with Head East: August 1998 Jimmy Z's with Quiet Riot: January 1999 Key Arena: February 1999 Temple Ballroom with Blue Oyster Cult: June 1999 Darrington Classic Rock Festival with Nazareth, Steppenwolf & more: August 1999 Royal Bear with Big Brother and the Holding Company: September 1999 Temple Ballroom with The Southern Rock All-Stars: September 2000 Little Creek Casino with The Southern Rock All-Stars: September 2000 Ocean Shores Convention Center: July 2001 The Fabulous Firwood with Iron Butterfly: September 2001 ABATE Spring Opener with Edgar Winter and Blue Oyster Cult: June 2002 Darrington Classic Rock Festival with Grand Funk, Foghat, Little Feat & more: August 2002 The Dakota Creek Roadhouse with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: July 2003 Jackson Prairie Speedway: August 2003 Skagit Valley Casino Showroom - 92 Days of Summer - KISM 92.9 FM: August 2003 Washington State Fairs Association Convention: October 2003 Chehalis Music in the Parks: July 2004 Clallum County Fair - Astoria Oregon: August 2004 Spokane Interstate Fair: September 2004 Emerald Queen I-5 Showroom: March 2005 Chehalis Music in the Parks: July 2005 Darrington Classic Rock Festival with Ted Nugent, Night Ranger & more: August 2005 White River Amphitheater: September 2005 Darrington Classic Rock Festival with Styx, Foreigner, The Tubes & more: August 2006 Red Wind Casino with Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle: September 2006 Little Creek Casino Showroom for REO Speed Wagon: February 2007 Stanwood Camano Fair: August 2007 Tulalip Casino – Tulalip Washington 7 Cedars Casino – Sequim, Washington Muckleshoot Casino – Auburn, Washington Stanwood Camano Fair - August 2008 2008 Strutzfest – Darrington, Washington KKZX – 2008 Blackdog Festival – Bayview, Idaho 2008 Run 21 Oregon A.B.A.T.E. – Birkenfeld, Oregon 2008 Clearwater Casino Summer Concert Series– Suquamish, Washington 2009 Sound Harley Davidson Rock-the-Sound Concert Series- Marysville, Washington 2009 Nooksack Classic Rock Festival - Demming, Washington 2009 Sun-N-Surf Quinalt Casino Concert - Ocean Shores, Washington Strutzfest 2009 - Darrington, Washington 2009 Stanwood Camano Fair - Stanwood, Washington 2009 Taste of Edmonds - Edmonds, Washington 2009 Washington State H.O.G. Rally - Stanwood, Washington 2009 Muckleshoot Casino Corporation Summer Picnic - White River Ampitheater: Auburn,Washington 2009 Clearwater Casino Summer Concert Series- Suquamish, Washington 2010 Puyallup Meekers Days - Puyallup, Washington 2010 Rumble in the Desert - Moses Lake, Washington 2010 Freedom Fair @ The Tacoma Waterfront - Tacoma Washington 2010 Clearwater Casino Summer Concert Series- Suquamish, Washington 2010 Strutzfest - Darrington, Washington 2010 Everett Sausage Festival – Everett, Washington 4th of July 2011 Celebration Park- Federal Way, Washington 2011 Pork In The Pines City BBQ- Cle Ellum, Washington 2011 Music in The Parks- Puyallup, Washington 2011 Stanwood/Camano Fair- Federal Way, Washington 2011 Strutzfest - Darrington, Washington 2011 Taste of Edmonds - Edmonds, Washington 2011 Rockin’ The Rivers – Three Forks, Montana 2011 Classic Car Show – McCord/Ft Lewis Army/Air Force Base 2011 Everett Sausage Festival – Everett, Washington 2012 Mill Bay Casino Tribute Festival - Mason, WA
2012 7 Cedars Casino - Sequim, WA 2012 Muckleshoot Casino Monthly Tribute - Auburn, WA 2012 Tastin’ N’ Racin Hydroplane Races - Lake Sammamish, WA 2012 Stanwood Camano Fair Stanwood, WA 2012 Artrageous Festival - Auburn, WA 2012 Taste of Edmonds - Edmonds, WA 2012 Rockin’ The Rivers Festival - Three Forks MT. 2012 Everett Sausage Festival - Everett, WA 2012 Clearwater Casino - Suquamish, WA 2012 Tulalip Casino Tribute Band Series- Tulalip, WA 2013 Auburn Theater Concert Series – Auburn, WA 2013 7 Cedars Casino - Sequim, WA 2013 Muckleshoot Casino Monthly Tribute - Auburn, WA 2013 West Seattle Music Festival – Seattle, WA 2013 Little Creek Casino Showroom with .38 Special 2013 Clearwater Casino Outdoor Concert Series 100.7 FM Suquamish, WA 2013 Rockin’ The Rivers Festival - Three Forks MT. 2013 Oktoberfest, Little Creek Casino Showroom, – Shelton, WA 2013 Oyster Run Motorcycle Rally, Swinomish Casino – Anacortes, WA 2013 Ghou’l ‘Ol Days - Billings, MT 2013 Tulalip Casino Tribute Band Series - Tulalip, WA
Whiskey River’s: “Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd”
Workin' for MCA I Know a Little I Ain't the One You Got That Right Saturday Night Special What's Your Name Don't Ask Me No Questions Tuesdays Gone Whiskey Rock A Roller Needle & Spoon Gimme Back My Bullets That Smell Simple Man Down South Jukin' Swamp Music "T" for Texas On the Hunt Gimme Three Steps Double Trouble Call Me the Breeze Sweet Home Alabama Free Bird
Whiskey River’s: “Ultimate Classic Rock”
Flirtin With Disaster – Molly Hatchet Heartless - Heart Hard To Handle – The Black Crowes Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love – Van Halen Slow Ride - Foghat Rock & Roll Band - Boston You Shook Me – AC/DC Free Ride – Edgar Winter Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo – Rick Derringer Life In the Fast Lane – The Eagles Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh Sweet Child ‘O Mine – Guns & Roses Walk This Way - Aerosmith Roller – April Wine La Grange - ZZ Top Hold On Loosely - .38 Special Rock & Roll Band – Boston Sin City – AC/DC Boom Boom Out Go The Lights – Pat Travers Alright Now – Free The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy Already Gone – The Eagles Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey Beautiful Girls – Van Halen
Gig Magazine NOVEMBER 1998 CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Darren Wichers: Whiskey Creek
It happens all the time, in the middle of your set, some wise guys yell those immortal words: "Play Freebird !" For Whiskey Creek that request is entirely appropriate, since they play the entire Lynyrd Skynyrd repertoire in their tribute to the Southern Rock Band.
Lead singer Darren Wichers, drummer -Terry Allen and the other members of the Seattle-based Whiskey Creek started out with a simple desire to play the songs that they love. "I’ve always been a Skynyrd fan" Wichers explains, "To me they played the only American Rock "n" Roll, it just had that power" As a part time musical gig they have been playing Skynyrd to audiences for 16 years.
It began in 1982 when Allen’s wife who worked at a record warehouse, noticed a guitar playing coworker constantly buying Skynyrd cassettes at the employee discount. After mentioning that her husband was also a Skynyrd fan, Allen soon got a call form the guitarist and his musician friend: "They played Gimme Three Steps over the phone note-for-note, so I thought, OK, lets get together. For the first year it was just us three until we found a bass player. We had a rehearsal room, we picked 20 Skynyrd songs and with just three of us we learned them note-for-note. When the bass player came in it was a lot easier because we already had everything together. We learned everything pretty much note-for-note of the 1976 live album [One More From the Road]. The two guitarists had been playing these songs back when they were teenagers, and I played quite a few of them in previous bands. It came together quite well".
Every tribute band draws a particular crowd. Whiskey Creek soon discovered theirs. "Our first gig was at a biker joint called the Ale House" Allen recalls, "A friend had suggested to the owner that they have live music at the tavern and they arranged a gig with even asking me! I remember pulling up there and there were probably two hundred Harleys’ parked out front and we walked in the through the door and it was an ocean of leather. The nerves really hit us then; we played three songs nonstop’ "Working for MCA", I Ain’t the One" and "Searchin". We didn’t even give them a chance to react until the third song. After that there was dead silence, and we went, Uh-oh, we’re gonna get killed!" They then exploded into applause and screams. The band became a favorite of the ABATE of Washington, a motorcycle club with a large entertainment budget, and has since played many of their social functions throughout the state.
Although musicianship is the most important part of any real band, image plays an important part as well and Whiskey Creek both dresses and acts the part. "We have a giant Confederate flag backdrop" Allen says, "and as far as looking the part, yes, we share the style of dress and the attitude. Their lead singer Darren Wichers IS Ronnie Van Zant all over again, with an identical RVZ voice, hat and the long blond hair, his stage mannerisms, how he carries the mic around with him, the black T-shirts …."
After playing the Seattle club circuit from 1984 to 1992, the band began opening up for national touring acts, sharing the stage with Elvin Bishop, Commander Cody, Randy Hansen, Savoy Brown and Molly Hatchet. "The second time we opened for Molly Hatchet they had one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s female backup singers with them, Leslie Hawkins and we asked if she would sing with us" Allen recalls, "She had sung on the original tracks, it was something"
All of the musicians in Whiskey Creek are self-described "working class" musicians. The band assembles for six-hour rehearsals once a week to hone arrangements and learn new tunes. Their equipment is what you’d expect from a guitar-driven southern rock band.
Despite the fickle nature of the club booking policies throughout the years, Whiskey Creek has survived by tapping into a loyal and ever growing group of Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. As Allen explains it: The Disco scene had taken over a lot of clubs. We told one club owner that we pay for the $5.00 door charge to show him there was a market for a tribute band, and we drew $750.00 at the door" As for long range planes, Allen is philosophical: "I told myself that doing this for twenty years might be enough, but I’ll probably keep playing until I can’t play anymore. My son Zak, who is 10 played drums on a couple of songs with the band the other day, and someone made a comment that: When the old man kicks off he’ll come in fill that seat." You Got That Right!
BEV DALINA TARA Monitor VOX 1 VOX 2 VOX 3 Donny Mix 6 Bass Guitar Guitar Guitar Amp Amp 2 Amp 3 Amp 1 Overhead (1 or 2) (1) DI (1 Mic) (1 Mic) (1 Mic) (3) MONITORS Snare MIX 1 Hi Hat 3 Toms 8’ X 8’ X 18” RISER Kick 8’ X 8’ X 18’’ RISER Keyboard (1 DI) Tommy ERIC Bill Joe John Vox 6
VOX 3
Darren LEAD VOX 5
Monitor 2 Monitors Monitor Monitor Mix 3 Mix 4 Mix 5 Mix 2
CHANNEL INPUT LIST Whiskey River Monitor # 1: Back Vox, Lead Vox, Keyboard (Back-Up Vox) STAGE PLOT (6) Lead, Keys, SL, SR Gtrs, (2) B-up Vox) Monitor # 2: Keyboards, Ld Vox, Bk-up Vox, Keys Vox, (5-7) Drums (Kick/Snare/HH/2Toms/1-2 OH) Bill Majkut – Technical Director (Keyboardist) All else lower in mix Monitor # 3: SR Gtr Vox Mic Only (2) Keyboards (DI) (SR Gtr) (3) Guitars Email: Monitor # 4: Lead Vox (HOT!) Back-Up Vox (1) Bass (DI or direct off amp) [email protected] (Lead Vox) Minimum Total Inputs = (16) Monitor # 5: Lead, Bk-up, SL, Vox: Kick Snare, SR Gtr. Minimum Stage Size: Cell: 425-327-1415 (SL Fill) Keyboards 24’ Wide X 16’ Deep X 3’ High www.whiskeyriver.bz Monitor # 6: Ld Vox –HOT!, SR Gtr, Bass, Kick, Snare, (Drummer) All else lower in mix WHISKEY RIVER BACKLINE EQUIPMENT RIDER
Lead Vocal: (1) Shure SLX24 Beta 58 Wireless Vocal Microphone
Female Back-Vocals: (3) Shure SLX24 Beta 58 Vocal Microphone
Male Back-Vocals: (2) Shure SLX24 Beta 58 Vocal Microphone
Guitar 1: (1) Marshall TSL100 100 watt Amplifier (with foot switch) (2) Marshall 1960A Slanted 412 Cabinet
Guitar 2: (1) Marshall TSL100 100 watt Amplifier (with foot switch) (1) Marshall 1960A Slanted 412 Cabinet
Guitar 3: (1) Marshall TSL100 100 watt Amplifier (with foot switch) (1) Marshall 1960A Slanted 412 Cabinet
Bass: (1) Made in England Ashdown ABM500 EVO Bass Amplifier with (2) Eden XLT 410 Bass Speaker Cabinets OR: (1) Ampeg SVT-CL Classic Bass Head Amplifier (NO SOLID STATE SUBSTITUTE!) With (2) Eden XLT 410 Bass Speaker Cabinets. OR: (2) Ampeg SVT Classic Series 410 HLF Bass Cabinets. OR: (1) Ampeg SVT 810E Bass Speaker Cabinet.
Keyboards: (1) Yamaha 88 weighted keyboard (with pedal) (1) Hammond XB2 or B3 with 122 or (144) Leslie Speaker (Must have foot pedal or switch to change Leslie from slow to fast speeds) (1) Motionsound KBRM with a footswitch Or (1) Mackie SRM450 Powered speaker Monitor or Peavey KB300 (1) Piano Bench type stool. (No drum stools) Keys must be stacked and set up to play in sitting position.
Drums: Yamaha Recorder Series or DW Drum Set - (MUST BE 6 PLY MAPLE!!!) 22” x 18” Kick Drum 13” Rack Tom 16” Floor Tom 6 1/2” Maple Snare (3) Cymbal Boom Stands (Yamaha Hardware) (2) 18” Zildian Crash Cymbals (1) 20” Zildian Ride Cymbal (2) Zildian Hi-hat Cymbals (1) Yamaha Hi-hat with rotating legs (1) Double DW or Pearl Kick Pedal (2) 8’ X 8’ X 18” Carpeted Drum Risers (1) for drums (1) for two female backup singers.
(10) Guitar Stands
ALL REQUIRED CABLES, FOOT PEDALS AND CONNECTORS!!! Contact: Bill Majkut for all Backline questions: 425-327-1415 Email: [email protected]
Bookings: Bill Majkut (425) 327-1415 Email: [email protected] Website: www.whiskeyriver.bz
CDs & DVDs available upon request!