The Witzard

Rochester, New York native, Greg Townson, recently released his new album, Off & Running! on Hi-Tide Recordings. With a rotating cast of featured musicians, including members of Los Straitjackets, NRBQ, The Hi-Risers, and The J.D. McPherson Band, the new album takes a fresh look at 14 classic songs from the 50's and 60's, all written or co-written by women. On his new album, Townson shares, "Off & Running! is full of fun and unique arrangements of familiar and unfamiliar songs. All the musicians bring the dedication they have for their craft to their spirited performances." Greg Townson either currently or has previously played with Los Straitjackets, The Hi-Risers, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion, The Essentials/The Salamanders, and The Locusts. Additionally, Townson and his bandmates have been featured on recorisngs alongside Nick Lowe, El Vez, The Reverend Horton Heat, Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Blue Stingrays,) Eddie Angel, The Tr...

Nearly 25 years after releasing their mysterious, heavily veiled debut full-length, Surf-N-Burn, The Blue Stingrays' members have finally been revealed. Surf-N-Burn's faux liner notes framed The Blue Stingrays as "a legendary instrumental band founded in the late 1950's whose sole album was lost for decades, due to the band members' desire for anonymity." Claiming they formed in 1959 and were among both the earliest and most influential Surf Rockers; who, after tiring of the exploitation of surf culture, moved to a small South Pacific island. In all reality, The Blue Stingrays have now officially been revealed to consist of guitarist Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, The Dirty Knobs,) bassist Ron Blair (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,) and drummer Randall Marsh (Mudcrutch.) Although, various materials from The Blue Stingrays' original "run" list Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench , III as thei...