Mark Hoekstra, Chuck Mingis, Mike Huettig, Bill Goins
Influences
Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Collective Soul, Sound Garden, Alan Parsons Project, Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, Allman Brothers, The Doors, Van Halen, Thin lizzy, Pat Travers band, Robin Trower, Blizzard of Ozz, Jeff Beck, Rush, Peter Green, Aerosmith, The James Gang, Cheap Trick, Steely Dan, Muddy Waters, The Band, ZZ Top, Reo Speedwagon, Srv, David Bowie, The Beatles, Bad Company, Cream, Black Sabbath, Queen, Adrian Belew, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac
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PURCHASE FREEDOM AND WHISKEY CDs OR 1/2 PRICED MP3s AT THE CDBABY LINKS BELOW FOR A LIMITED TIME
FREEDOM AND WHISKEY MP3 DOWNLOADS
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SUPER REAL Reviewed by ALLIGATOR JACKSON
From the opening moments of “Super Real”, it is evident that Freedom and Whiskey has come to rock. The title track features the whiskey soaked growl of new vocalist Mark Hoeskstra and the psychedelic guitar stylings of ex- Days of the New guitarist Chuck Mingis. This is serious business: but what fun it is! “Super Real” kicks in with a sense of urgency. A southern fried 70’s styled anthem, “Super Real” goes straight for the balls in the tradition of classics like “Mississippi Queen” and “Kick Out The Jams.”
They keep on ripping into “For No Good Reason.” Hoeskstra at times sounds a little like the great Danny Joe Brown on this track. Hoeskstra is a smoking’ harmonica player as well and he is on fire in “For No Good Reason”. The third cd from the Kentucky southern rockers features the traditional southern sound they forged on their first two offerings but the new cd also offers a trip back into the majestic blues-tinged seventies.
“Comin’ Down Heavy” is the next rocker on the album but also perfectly describes the changes Freedom and Whiskey has gone through. The harmonica is sharp again and the band warns “Better get ready/ change is comin’/ comin’ down heavy like a hurricane comin’ straight for you.”
“Whiskey State Of Mind” finds the band leaning more toward Allman Brothers styled blues southern rock and the song comes across as an instant southern classic. Definitely a must hear for blues rock fans as Hoeskstra’s vocals are dead on for this style.
Songs like “Running Blind” ,“Slow Suicide”, and “Too Far Gone” offer a slower bluesier side of traditional southern rock that was dominant in the first two Freedom and Whiskey cds. This style gives the cd more range and depth. “August” has shades of Procal Harem’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” melodically and is a powerful, emotional tune that mentions the tragedies we’ve endured as a nation such as 911 and Hurricane Katrina.
“Super Real” by Freedom and Whiskey is a classic southern rock release in this gator’s opinion. “Sellavision Blues” closes out the cd with Led Zep styled slow blues rocker. The band plays tribute to the influences of Led Zep, Cream, Allman Brothers, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even borrow a little from more modern blues rockers like Blues Traveler and Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies: but do not mistake this: They bring their own style and flavor into this cd. Freedom and Whiskey has always blended traditional influences with modern rock and originality and this cd uses that formula to near perfection. A stunning collection of southern fried blues rock!
FREEDOM AND WHISKEY is a guitar rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The members of the band are: Bill Goins, Mike Huettig, Mark Hoekstra and Chuck Mingis. The musical style is a combination of Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Modern Rock and Blues. Definitely the kind of music you want to CRANK UP! Special thanks to everyone who has added their creative skills on the bands projects.
Mark - Lead Vocals / Harmonica
Bill - Bass Guitar / Lead Vocals / Backing Vocals
Mike - Drums / Backing Vocals
Chuck - Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals
The newest Freedom and Whiskey member is Chuck, now playing lead guitar for the band, was a former guitarist for "Days of The New", "EdenStreet" and "Spanky Lee", all from Louisville Kentucky.
The creation of Freedom and Whiskey occurred around August of 2001. Bill was writing and learning the art of digital recording and production work in his home studio in southern Indiana. Mike was recording and touring with another popular band from Louisville, Kentucky called Days of the New. Several years earlier Bill and Mike had been playing together in another Louisville based band with long time friend Griffin Torrance on bass guitar. After a few years of not playing, Mike and Bill got back together and decided it was time to record an album. Tina Goins (Bill’s wife) gave Freedom and Whiskey their name and co-wrote "The Stranger" and "Kettlebottom Blues". Mark Hoekstra, Chicago blues man, played harmonica. Griffin played bass on some of the tracks and co-wrote the song "You and I". Todd Smith (formerly with the band "EdenStreet") played keys and also co-produced the album. Todd had worked with Mike and the band “Days of the New” in the production of some of their previous material. The band booked a Studio in Nashville, Tennessee to record their self-titled first album. Since then the song "Freedom" from this album was featured in a documentary film called "The Making of Deadbeat Dads".
The album "FREEDOM AND WHISKEY" includes other musicians like Rob Edwards, who added the percussion tracks and Debbra Belt and Joyce Greens soulful style of backing vocals.
THE NEXT PHASE
The band spent the next couple of years promoting their first album and started writing and recording some new songs for their second album. In mid 2006 after gaining some popularity in both the United States and Europe, Freedom and Whiskey released their 2nd album titled "THE ROAD". On this album, Bill and Mike spent more time in the studio and combined the sound and style of classic, southern and modern rock to give their music a harder edge. Many of the song lyrics on this album express the hardships of trying to make it in the music business and the seemingly never ending up hill climb of life.
Mike sings lead vocals on several tracks of this album and Mark sings lead on the song "End of My Rope" to make his vocal debut.
Music from “The Road” has been featured on Internet radio and digital download sites all over the web and the title track, “The Road”, received an award from The Viking Radio in Placerville, California for: best Southern Rock song of 2007.
Freedom and Whiskey, would like to thank everyone for your on going help and support. We hope you continue to enjoy our music.
THEN AND NOW!
In 2007 Freedom and Whiskey was rehearsing to start touring. The band went through a member change and pulled Mark out of the “bull pen” to step in as the new voice and front man for the band. Mark is an amazing veteran musician who has played harmonica and sang with several blues and rock bands over the years including: Steve Arvey, The Little Dippers, West Side Heat and Walter Horten. Up until this point Bill and Mike had been doing most of the writing, singing and guitar work, but the chemistry worked better for the band to perform with Mark up front. He has what we like to call the “IT” factor, and he likes It! Mike changed his focus to full time drummer and Bill went to the bass after the addition of Chuck as lead guitarist. Chuck is an excellent guitarist. The band started writing and recording new material together to have a good representation of the new line up. The music evolved even more and the band has just completed their third album titled “Super Real”. The style of this album is Kick Ass, In Your Face, 100% Pure American Rock. Many of the reviews to date say that it’s the best yet. The band’s 3rd album was released November of 2007.
In 2007 Freedom and Whiskey also released their first video for the song “Whiskey State of Mind” off the third album. The band would like to thank Alan Manias and the crew that made this possible at Videobred in Louisville, Kentucky. Check it out while you’re here!
Special thanks to Tina Goins for the 2007 Freedom and Whiskey band promotional photos and miscellaneous images.
Freedom and Whiskey is on the prowl. Please contact us if you are interested in booking the band.
ROCK ON!
Freedom and Whiskey
Welcome to Small Jackets family!! Your sound is amazing!!!! Next week we put some new song in our profile, take time to listen and give us your opinion! All the best!
Sep 3 2008 7:49 AM
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Thanks for the request! Great to have you on our friends list. I have wrote over 450 songs and have a few on my site, 2 Patriotic songs for our Troops and Vets. and few other songs, my newest song is called ("GETTEN DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE") it's all about 4-wheeling, mudding, having fun at the river with family & friends. They're on a rough studio demo i put together. But soon i'm getting ready to put my 1st real CD out, be assured it will be AWESOME!! Come check my songs and site out and please leave a comment, tell me what you think. Have a great week..
....SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND VETS.... .......GOD BLESS THEM ALL.......
THANKS !I USED TO RUN TO YOUR AREA - WARSAW -To BUY OLD CARS & BIKES WHEN I WAS A KID WITH MY UNCLE !I STILL HAVE SOME FAMILY THERE..COOL PLACE & COOL MUSIC YOU ALL ARE MAK_N ! KEEP ROCK_N !R.D. CLAy
