Playing great American music!
Vocals, Guitar, and Harmonica with Accompaniment
ABOUT THE BAND
This music is our passion.
We are lifelong musicians pursuing the musical sounds and feelings that inspire us. Our music reflects a deep love of classic American music. We are bound by the influences of our own lives and the music we play always looks toward the future.
What we do.
We perform as a full four to five piece band, also in various trios, duos, and solo configurations. The guitar is always present and depending on the performance; may be supported by vocals, harmonica, drums, piano/organ and bass.
Our repertoire includes original music and the songs of many of our favourite artists from the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. In general, we play in an American Blues style with great respect for the history and tradition of the music.
The past and the future.
Founded in 2002 by Chris Kramer, the band began as the Georgia Jooks and changed the name to Fatback Deluxe in 2007. We have performed hundreds of shows at music clubs, festivals, restaurants, holiday celebrations, weddings, farmers markets, indoor and outdoor events, and more!
We have music and apparel for sale on this website as well as other online music outlets such as iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, CDbaby, etc. Fatback Deluxe performs regularly so check us out and come see us!
After you check out our website, connect with Fatback Deluxe on Social Media! It'll be fun!
PRESS KIT (EPK)
FATBACK
DELUXE
The full band, hot swinging and jumping, bring the house down, west coast style blues.
Fatback Deluxe performs in different configurations depending on the needs of the event or venue.
Pick the one you like best, or try them all!
THE FATBACK DELUXE FRONT PORCH REVUE
1950's Chicago ensemble style "sit on the front porch and play" blues.
THE FATBACK DELUXE TRIO
A guitar based trio playing original and classic American
music.
TIPSY'S
BACK PORCH
1940's and 1950's duo style "sit out on the back porch and play" blues.
BAND MEMBERS
You never know who you might see on stage but our core group of band members are these guys...
Chris "Tipsy" Kramer
(Vocals and Guitar)
A south Georgia native, Chris discovered blues after finding Buddy Guy's "I Was Walking Through the Woods" Chess singles compilation album on cassette tape in the cut-out bin at Turtle's Records on Ponce when he was 20. He immediately started going to Blind Willie's Blues Club in Atlanta all the time and Fat Matt's Rib Shack soon after it opened.
He counts all the great blues musicians from the 40's, 50's and early 60's as influences. His favourite "modern" guitar heroes are Junior Watson and Hollywood Fats. In general, he has always been drawn to non-commercial, traditional, American roots oriented music. He says, "that stuff is the best". Chris is part of all band performances.
Brian "Sugarbowl" Gordon
(Vocals and Harmonica)
Brian grew up in Virginia and after a stint in Alabama, settled in Atlanta. He discovered his grandfathers harmonica after his passing and headed straight for the blues. Brian’s mentor on the instrument was a Hohner employee and endorsee who led him to the good stuff; harp masters like Little Walter, George “Harmonica” Smith, Big Walter, Snooky Pryor, Junior Wells and present day masters like Kim Wilson, Steve Guyger, Rick Estrin and Rod Piazza.
He loves all things blues including stories about all the great blues musicians. Brian loves that old sound, the raw and dirty sound of musicians playing on Maxwell Street in Chicago. He loves all the grooves, from swing and jump to rhumbas, but says it’s always a great Chicago shuffle that gets the crowd moving.
Upright Bass and Electric Bass
We currently feature a variety of Atlanta's best upright and electric bass players depending on the event/venue and configuration of the band. Some of our favorite bass players who you will find with us most often are Chris Poma and Paul Diffin.
Drums
We currently feature a variety of Atlanta's best drummers depending on the event/venue and configuration of the band. Some of our favorite drummers who you will find with us most often are Yvonne Boyd, Erik Kaszynski, and Lee Goodness.
Piano/Organ/Keyboards
We currently feature a variety of Atlanta's best piano/organ/keyboard players depending on the event/venue and configuration of the band. One of our favorites, who you will find with us most often when we include piano/organ, is Valerie Waters.
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
"Their music releases that down home vibe that makes you feel like you are sitting on a porch drinking lemonade on a hot summer day or dancing the night away at a ‘juke joint.’ Fatback Deluxe has successfully brought that original blues sound back."
-- Kimberly Elliott, Best Of Atlanta Concerts Blog, 2009
#1 on the Music Radar list of "25 new Blues Artists You Need To Hear"
-- Ed Mitchell, Music Radar, 2010
Fatback Deluxe puts a personal stamp on the blues of the Fifties and Sixties. On Rat Now, the Atlanta band gives new life to covers from Fats Domino, BB King, Johnny Guitar Watson, Buddy Guy and Magic Sam...You can't resist Ira's party-he's confident and fun. Chris Kramer plays right-on rhythms and concise, edgy leads with punchy tone...A doomy march, a mutated, lounge-lizard bossa nova, and the careening "Gawjook Boogie" are among five strong Kramer originals.
-- Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue - 2009
When you can listen to a CD, close your eyes and feel like the singer is in the same blues room as you’re in, singing directly to you, now that’s real. His voice is seasoned, rich and strong and I bet he can really cut lose like a Little Richard or James Brown whenever he takes a hankering to do so. And his harp playing is true blues--musically and emotionally moving.
And the muti-talent doesn’t stop there, Chris Kramer provides the perfect match of talent on electric guitar, with his song writing talent, guitar licks and Ira’s voice and harp talent, these two are a great match up.
Had I randomly stumbled on this act one night in a blues club, not knowing who they were, I would think it’s my lucky night. I would stick around until last call and lights on. Thank goodness now we don’t have to hope for random ‘good band’ luck to strike—support this group and take in one of their shows as I plan to do. Minimally, go on-line and buy their CD. It’ll make a great blues addition to your collection.
-- Belinda Foster, Illinois Blues - 2008
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos of the band in action...
If you need photos for advertising/marketing, send us an email and we'll take care of it.
Thanks to Vincent Tseng, Taia White, and an unknown photographer for the terrific photos! We are grateful and appreciate your talent and kindness.
MUSIC
Enjoy a few live performance video recordings from various locations.
For our promotional EPK, click here
MERCHANDISE
Music Releases
Studio Recordings
This exciting first release from Fatback Deluxe includes five original songs and eight songs by some of our favorite artists.
Rat Now features the incomparable vocal talents of Ira "HB" Malkin, one of our favorite people on the planet and member of Fatback Deluxe for 10 years!
Released in 2008, Rat Now was engineered and mixed by Chris Kramer to enable the listener to feel as though they were "right there" in the room.
Track Listing:
01. You Belong to Me 3:10
02. Mercy 3:45
03. Sittin' On the Boatdock 2:47
04. She Belongs to Me 3:06
05. Country Boy (Running Wild)
06. The Sun Shines Down 5:25
07. Jump With You 2:50
08. She Suits Me to a Tee 3:33
09. Rat Now 4:02
10. Looking Back 2:22
11. Darkness Falls 4:50
12. Steel Blade Fan 3:34
13. Gawjook Boogie 2:52
Recording Personnel:
Ira Malkin (Vocals/Harmonica),
Chris Kramer (guitar),
Ben Gettys (Upright Bass),
Pete Maier (Drums)
Purchase through these online retailers
Apparel
Fatback Deluxe T-Shirts
COMING SOON
T-shirts are currently available featuring the Fatback Deluxe Microphone logo (as seen on the home page of our website.
They are $10 at our live shows and $15 by mail.
Send us an email or message (see contact the band below) if you'd like to order by mail.
Check back soon for photos and ordering directly from this website.
CONTACT THE BAND
Interested in booking us?
Email us here:
music festivals
weddings
parties
clubs
holiday celebrations
BBQ festivals
chili cook-offs
indoor events
art festivals
outdoor events
conventions
cook-outs
art shows
farmers markets
state fairs
and more
booking@fatbackdeluxe.com
Send us a message here:
EVENTS
Fatback Deluxe performs in different configurations depending on
the needs of the event or venue.
Pick the one you like best, or try them all!
Click here to view our performance schedule
FATBACK
DELUXE
The full band, hot swinging and jumping, bring the house down, west coast style blues.
THE FATBACK DELUXE FRONT PORCH REVUE
1950's Chicago ensemble style "sit on the front porch and play" blues.
THE FATBACK DELUXE TRIO
A guitar based trio playing original and classic American
music.
TIPSY'S
BACK PORCH
1940's and 1950's duo style "sit out on the back porch and play" blues.
Click here to view our performance schedule
"Doing what we can with what we've got."
Connect with Fatback Deluxe on Social Media! It'll be fun!
© 2014-2018, All images, sounds, video, music, and words on this website are copyright protected and may not be used or reproduced without permission from their owner.
