The Hardchargers are a blues and Americana band from Northern Ireland. Established in 2009 as a three-piece,[1] the current lineup is "Lonesome" Chris Todd (guitars and lead vocals), with drums and bass guitar provided at any given performance by a selection of musicians including Ali MacKenzie, Jan Uhrin (bass guitar) and Davy Kennedy, Peter Uhrin, Gerard O’Scolaidhe (drums).[2][3] The band has released three singles, an EP, one studio album and one live album.[4][5] The band's original music has been likened to pre-WW2 Mississippi blues, Hill country blues, and artists such as Howlin' Wolf and Frankie Lee Sims.[6]
The Hardchargers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Northern Ireland |
| Genres | Blues |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Members | Chris Todd – pool of musicians: Ali MacKenzie Jan Uhrin Davy Kennedy Peter Uhrin Gerard O’Scolaidhe |
| Past members | Dave Thompson |
| Website | thehardchargers |
History
editThe Hardchargers were formed in 2009 by Chris Todd, Dave Thompson and Richard J. Hodgen.
In 2011 the band made its first release, extended play Bumpin′ and Grindin′.[7] Three singles followed in 2013: "Fine & Filthy / Just Somebody's Friend","Spanner in Your Works / JoJo" and "Little Too Late / No Stone Unturned".[8]
The band's debut album, Scarecrow, was recorded in Belfast in 2017, with support from a crowd-funding campaign and sponsors. During 2017 Todd accompanied eminent harmonica player Billy Boy Miskimmin (previously of The Yardbirds and Nine Below Zero)[9] on tour across the UK.[3] Before the launch of the album in December 2017, Thompson and Hodgen left the band, and the Todd recruited bassist Ali MacKenzie and drummer Davy Kennedy for the launch performance.[10] Since then, the live lineup has been completed by members of a pool of musicians including MacKenzie and Kennedy, Jan and Peter Uhrin and Gerard O’Scolaidhe, occasionally joined by guest soloists that had performed on the album.[2] The album was officially released on Market Square Records in January 2018.[10]
The Scarecrow launch performance in December 2017 was recorded, and resulted in the live album And Now... Live at the Belfast Empire, released in June 2018.[5]
Lineup
edit- Chris Todd – lead vocals, guitars, mandolin (2009–present)
- Ali MacKenzie – bass guitar (2017–present)
- Davy Kennedy – drums (2017–present)
- Jan Uhrin – bass guitar (2017–present)
- Peter Uhrin – drums (2017–present)
- Gerard O’Scolaidhe – drums (2018–present)
Additional musicians
edit- Amanda Agnew – backing vocals (Scarecrow album)
- Sean Doone – banjo (Scarecrow album)
- Scott Flanigan – organ, piano (Scarecrow and And Now... Live at the Belfast Empire albums)
- Linley Hamilton – trumpet (Scarecrow album)
Former members
edit- Dave Thompson – bass guitar, double bass (2009–2017)
Discography
edit| The Hardchargers discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 1 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Singles | 3 |
Studio albums
edit| Year | Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2018 | Scarecrow |
|
— |
Live albums
edit| Year | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2018 | And Now... Live at the Belfast Empire (credited: Lonesome Chris Todd & The Hardchargers) |
|
— |
Extended plays
edit| Year | Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2011 | Bumpin′ and Grindin′ |
|
— |
Singles
edit| Year | Title[8] | Chart Positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRL | UK Indie | |||
| 2013 | "Fine & Filthy c/w Just Somebody's Friend" | — | — | — | |
| 2013 | "Spanner in Your Works c/w JoJo" | — | — | — | |
| 2013 | "Little Too Late c/w No Stone Unturned" | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart. | |||||
References
edit- ^ "The Hardchargers, Scarecrow". realrootscafe.com (in Dutch). 26 April 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b Westhead, Ian (18 January 2018). "The Hardchargers announce gig dates for spring and summer 2018". ATV Today. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b Bonner, Pauline (28 September 2018). "Lonesome Chris Todd on blues music and The Hardchargers' adventures". Gigging NI. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "The Album". thehardchargers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "And Now... Live at the Belfast Empire". Bandcamp. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Darwen, Norman (May 2018). "The Hardchargers / "Scarecrow" (Market Square MSMCD 202)" (PDF). Blues in the South. p. 21. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Bumpin′ and Grindin′ – EP". Spotify. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b "The Hardchargers". discogs. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "THE HARDCHARGERS – BUMPIN' AND GRINDIN' (EP)" (in Dutch). rootstime.be. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "THE HARDCHARGERS – Scarecrow". Market Square Music. Retrieved 11 December 2018.