Shop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDs
Follow The Big Takeover
Photo Credit: Denise Keim
“There are plenty of instances of alcoholics not managing their money or addiction and even more women who wake up to realize that the only way out is to leave and that they have made a huge mistake partnering with a man with addiction problems.”
Joe Rian, singer-songwriter and AM Drinkers band leader, plays roughed-up alt-country and roots rock with elements of blues and folk. As a songwriter, Rian pulls from five decades of life experience and performs blistering live sets with his old pro band The AM Drinkers. He follows up on the recent singles “I’m Gonna Love You” and “Jim Bristol” with “Daddy’s Head Hurts” to be released on Friday, May 5.
“Daddy’s Head Hurts” was recorded at Grass Alley Studio and engineered by Jamie “The Captain” Gartelos. The track was produced by Joe Rian and Jaime Gartelos and written by Rian, who also took on vocals and guitar. Additional guitar comes courtesy of BC Carter; Jack Conely played drums; Mike Dumont played bass and Ryan Whyman played accordion.
Joe Rian (Ryan) was adopted as an infant and raised in Rock Falls, Illinois. He sings tavern songs, beer-soaked and road-worn.
Rian moved out of the Midwest after flunking out of college and scraped by working multiple minimum wage grinds. His main gig was sweating away at a gold and silver refinery on the west side of Phoenix, AZ. Other jobs included telemarketing, pouring concrete, releasing and then chasing hot air balloons, moving appliances, and a very short stint collecting outstanding debts for characters you might find on a once-popular TV series.
In 1989, he won an American Stratocaster signed by Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan via a radio contest. Then, pure chance found him at the last ever Stevie Ray Vaughan concert.
After moving to Chicago, he worked at Buddy Guy’s Legends and busked the streets of the “Windy City.”
While Joe Rian is not a strict Bluesman, he is a songwriter who likes to stir the sounds of Roots, Country and Folk into a nice pot of musical soup. His songs are best consumed in your local tavern.
Big Takeover is excited to host the premiere of “Daddy’s Head Hurts” by Joe Rian.
website
