Ward Hayden and The Outliers explained

Ward Hayden and the Outliers
Landscape:yes
Alias:Girls, Guns, and Glory (2005–2018)
Origin:Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Years Active:2005–present
Website:www.wardhaydenandtheoutliers.com
Current Members:
  • Ward Hayden
  • Josh Kiggans
  • Cody Nilsen
  • Greg Hall
Past Members:
  • Colt Thompson
  • Bruce Beagley0
  • John Graham
  • Colin Toomey
  • Brendan Murphy
  • Justin Maxwell
  • Michael Calabrese
  • Chris Hersch
  • Joe Keffler
  • Paul Dilley

Ward Hayden and the Outliers, formerly known as Girls, Guns and Glory (GGG), is an American band from Boston, Massachusetts. They currently release music on their own label, Faster Horses Recordings. Prior to this, at various times, the band had released music independently and was formerly signed to Lonesome Day Records and released albums with Sony RED, MRI and Dry Lightning Records in the US, as well as through Proper in the UK and Rough Trade in Europe. Their music is a mix of old school country, early rock 'n' roll, blues, and country rock. Inspiration is taken from Hank Williams,[1] Johnny Cash, and Johnny Horton classics. Ward Hayden and the Outliers has garnered seven Boston Music Awards (BMA). They were the 2011 winner of the BMA for "Americana Artist of the Year", and were nominated in the "Live Artist of the Year" category. They were also the 2019 winner of the BMA for "Country Artist of the Year". The band is popular throughout Europe and Scandinavia and has toured there for several years. Their 2016 album Love and Protest was a top 5 album in Norway and peaked at #1 on the Norway country album charts.

The band has released eight studio albums, two live albums, one studio EP, one live EP, and numerous singles; their most recent studio album was South Shore, and their most recent live album was A Celebration of Hank Williams Live (both albums were released in 2023). One more studio album is currently in the works for 2024.[2]

History

The band was formed in 2005 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Ward Hayden and bassist Bruce Beagley,[3] joined shortly afterward by lead guitarist Colin Toomey and drummer John Graham. Colt Thompson replaced Toomey in 2007.[4] 2008 led to the band's third studio recording and their first Top 10 album Inverted Valentine, which peaked at #8 on the Americana Music Association (AMA) Chart. It was the highest charting album by an Independent band that year and led to the band being courted by numerous Major and Independent record labels in the US and Europe.

After re-releasing "Inverted Valentine" with label support in 2009, the band embarked on two years of non-stop touring, racking up close to 200 shows a year in 2009 and 2010. During this time the band toured with Yarn, Lake Street Dive, Della Mae, Bill Kirchen, Eilen Jewell, Bobby Bare Jr, Trampled By Turtles, Drag The River, and Slim Cessna's Auto Club.

By 2010, Hayden was the sole original member left in the band, with Boston-based guitarist Chris Hersch and bassist Paul Dilley joining. A second guitarist, Joe Keffler, also toured with the band in 2010.[5] Their third album, 2011's Sweet Nothings featured a collaboration (the song "1000 Times") with local Massachusetts alternative country musician Sarah Borges. Since December 2010, the band has held annual tribute concerts for Hank Williams in late December and early January to mark the anniversary of Williams' death. In 2011, the band opened for Wanda Jackson. By 2012, Josh Kiggans became the band's third drummer replacing Michael Calabrese, also of the Boston-based band Lake Street Dive.

In 2014, Rolling Stone included the band in its list of the top 10 new country artists that fall.[6] The band released the studio album Good Luck that same year. The Americana Music Association ranked Good Luck on their list of the top 100 Americana albums of 2014; Good Luck ranked #54 out of 100.[7] In 2015, Rolling Stone also reviewed the band's then-recently released live tribute album to Hank Williams, A Tribute to Hank Williams - Live, which was their first live album.

In 2016, Hersch left the band and was replaced later that year by Cody Nilsen. Also in 2016, the band decided to release new music independently, beginning with the album Love and Protest. The album featured local Massachusetts sideman Duke Levine as guest lead guitarist because it was recorded between Hersch's departure and Nilsen's arrival.[8] [9] [10] The band also featured a touring lead guitarist during this time. The album was recorded 'live' in the studio using analog equipment.After Nilsen joined the band, they opened for NRBQ.[11] Love and Protest was released on November 4, 2016.

In 2018, the band dropped the name Girls, Guns and Glory because of the polarizing issue of gun control in the United States.[12] [13] Hayden later told The Patriot Ledger (in 2021) that the band also (at the time) had more recently had difficulty booking shows; for example, he mentioned that some people assumed they were a heavy metal band. Also in 2018, the band opened for The Oak Ridge Boys,[14] [15] Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives,[16] [17] Los Lobos,[18] and Dwight Yoakam.[19]

In August 2019, the band "officially" released their EP Can't Judge A Book.[20] The status of this release is unclear, as they have referred to it sometimes as an EP (during its initial limited release in September 2018)[21] and other times as a full album.[22] The EP was self-produced by the band and mostly featured covers (of songs by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash,[23] Chuck Berry,[24] Fountains of Wayne,[25] Brinsley Schwarz, and The Derailers), some of which had been re-imagined and re-arranged by the band. The EP also included one original song, "Naturally Crazy".[26] That same year, the band opened for Midland at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, MA.[27] [28] In late 2019, the band toured Europe, playing dates in Sweden, Norway, Spain, France, and Switzerland.[29]

In January 2020, longtime bassist Paul Dilley left the band, with Matt Murphy of the Ellen Jewell Band serving as a substitute (as the band referred to it, "on loan") the next month.[30] Dilley was ultimately replaced by local country musician Greg Hall.[31] [32] As with many musicians, the band's touring schedule was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.[31] [13] During this time, Hayden focused on his family and songwriting, Hall gave music lessons, and Kiggans and Nilsen worked construction jobs (as both had done before joining the band). Most of the songs included on their seventh studio album, Free Country, were written during the various phases of the pandemic, including lockdowns.

In 2021, the band opened for Los Lobos for a second time.[33] They also released their seventh studio album, Free Country, during 2021; it was produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel. In 2022, the band performed special shows in honor the 99th anniversary of Hank Williams' birth; at least one of these shows featured guest musician Katy Boc Nickerson on fiddle.[34] [35] Their European tour in late 2022 included shows in Spain, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.[36]

In early 2023, while Nilsen worked as a guitar tech for the Dropkick Murphys, Ryan Hommel temporarily sat in with the band on lead guitar.[37] Around this time, during a podcast interview, Hayden discussed the band's upcoming studio album, South Shore, with another studio album and another Hank Williams tribute live album scheduled to follow later in 2023 and in 2024.[2] The band formed their own record label, "Faster Horses Recordings," to better distribute their post-2017 catalog. In March 2023, the band released a re-arranged country cover of "Badfish", originally by the band Sublime, as a non-album single.[38] In May 2023, the band's eighth studio album South Shore was released. Two singles, "Write a Song" and "(Breaking Up With) My Hometown", were released from South Shore.[39] [40] In September, A Celebration of Hank Williams Live, the band's second live tribute album to Hank Williams, was released, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Williams' birth. Two singles and an EP were released in advance of the live album's release and in order to promote it.[41] [42] [43]

In early 2024, the band announced that they had recorded a studio album of Bruce Springsteen covers as a tribute to Springsteen; Hayden is a Springsteen fan and has said that Springsteen's songwriting has greatly influenced his own songwriting.[44] Since January 2024, the band has released three singles to promote this album: "Brilliant Disguise",[45] "Dancing in the Dark",[46] and "Glory Days".[47] During this time, the band returned to Europe to tour Spain and Sweden.[48]

Members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:100 bottom:90 top:0 right:50Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = mm/dd/yyyyPeriod = from:10/01/2005 till:01/14/2024TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Rhythm_guitar id:lead value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:dbass value:darkblue legend:Double_bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:album value:black legend:Studio_album id:perc value:claret legend:Percussion id:touring value:yellow legend:Touring_member

Legend = position:bottom columns:3ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2006ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:2006

LineData = layer:back color:album at:01/01/2006 at:01/28/2014 at:11/04/2016

BarData =

bar:Ward text:"Ward Hayden" bar:Bruce text:"Bruce Beagley" bar:John text:"John Graham" bar:Toomey text:"Colin Toomey" bar:Murphy text:"Brendan Murphy" bar:ColtT text:"Colt Thompson" bar:Maxwell text:"Justin Maxwell" bar:Michael text:"Michael Calabrese" bar:ChrisH text:"Chris Hersch" bar:Keffler text:"Joe Keffler" bar:PaulD text:"Paul Dilley" bar:Josh text:"Josh Kiggans" bar:Cody text:"Cody Nilsen" bar:Greg text:Greg Hall

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Ward from:10/01/2005 till:end color:guitar bar:Ward from:10/01/2005 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Ward from:01/01/2018 till:02/27/2020 color:dbass width:7 bar:Ward from:10/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:drums width:7

bar:ColtT from:09/01/2007 till:02/01/2010 color:lead bar:ColtT from:09/01/2007 till:02/01/2010 color:guitar width:3 bar:Toomey from:01/01/2006 till:09/01/2007 color:lead bar:Murphy from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2008 color:perc bar:Bruce from:10/01/2005 till:03/01/2009 color:bass bar:John from:10/01/2005 till:06/01/2009 color:drums

bar:PaulD from:09/01/2010 till:02/27/2020 color:bass bar:PaulD from:01/01/2018 till:02/27/2020 color:vocals width:3 bar:PaulD from:09/01/2010 till:01/01/2018 color:dbass width:3 bar:PaulD from:01/01/2018 till:02/27/2020 color:dbass width:7

bar:Josh from:02/27/2012 till:end color:drums bar:Keffler from:04/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 color:guitar

bar:ChrisH from:02/01/2010 till:08/01/2016 color:lead bar:ChrisH from:01/01/2015 till:08/01/2016 color:vocals width:3 bar:Michael from:06/01/2009 till:02/27/2012 color:drums bar:Maxwell from:03/01/2009 till:09/01/2010 color:bass bar:Maxwell from:03/01/2009 till:09/01/2010 color:dbass width:3

bar:Cody from:09/29/2016 till:end color:lead bar:Cody from:01/01/2018 till:end color:vocals width:3

bar:Greg from:02/28/2020 till:end color:bass bar:Greg from:02/28/2020 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Greg from:12/26/2022 till:end color:dbass width:7

Discography

Albums and EPs

2000s

2010s

TitleDetailsPeak positions
AMA (US)Roots Music Report (US)NORNOR Country
Sweet Nothings 1831[51] ——
Good Luck
  • Release date: January 28, 2014[52]
  • Label: Lonesome Day Records, Proper (UK)
————
A Tribute to Hank Williams - Live
  • Release date: February 24, 2015[53]
  • Label: Sony RED, MRI, Dry Lightning Records
————
Love and Protest
  • Release date: November 4, 2016[54]
  • Label: Independently released
21 [55] —51
Can't Judge A Book (EP)
  • Release date: September 1, 2018 (limited release at concerts); August 2019 (widespread release)
  • Label: Independently released
————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2020s

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: No Depression . Girls Guns and Glory: Sweet Nothings, a review and an interview . No Depression . No Depression Magazine . August 5, 2024 . September 2, 2011.
  2. Web site: Studio 84 Podcast - February 2023 Interview with Ward Hayden . SoundCloud.com . 23 February 2023.
  3. Web site: Girls Guns and Glory, November 2008. Countrystandardtime.com.
  4. Web site: Wicked Local | Provincetown Banner. Truro.wickedlocal.com.
  5. http://www.patriotledger.com/x505219314/MUSIC-REVIEW-Revamped-Girls-Guns-Glory-bring-it-on-home
  6. 10 Country Artists You Need to Know Now. Rolling Stone. 10 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Kornfield . Michael . 2014 Americana Top 100 Albums Chart Revealed . AcousticMusicScene.com . August 5, 2024 . December 5, 2014.
  8. Web site: A milestone achieved, the road goes on for Girls Guns and Glory - the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe.
  9. Web site: Girls Guns & Glory take things to a higher level on Love and Protest. Billcopelandmusicnews.com.
  10. Web site: Discography . Dukelevine.com.
  11. Web site: NRBQ and Girls, Guns and Glory lead Narrows' free Block-a-Palooza concert. Heraldnews.com.
  12. http://girlsgunsandglory.com/2018/08/a-fresh-start-and-a-new-band-name-ward-hayden-the-outliers/
  13. Web site: Miller . Jay N. . Rock on with Scituate's Ward Hayden and the Outliers . The Patriot Ledger . June 5, 2024 . August 17, 2021.
  14. Web site: Zeiterion welcomes "Elvira" to New Bedford when the "Oak Ridge Boys" perform, March 24 . New Bedford Guide.
  15. Web site: Check out the Oak Ridge Boys at the Z. Heraldnews.com.
  16. Web site: The Common Man Family in New Hampshire. Thecman.com.
  17. Web site: Girls, Guns & Glory perform on Saturday, January 20th! . Narrowscenter.org. 12 January 2018.
  18. Web site: Girls Guns and Glory opens Wednesday's los Lobos show with creative takes on traditions. Dailyprogress.com. 8 May 2015 .
  19. Web site: Ward Hayden and the Outliers opening for Dwight Yoakam in October. Wardhaydenandtheoutliers.com.
  20. Web site: Ward Hayden & the Outliers Mark Band Name Change (From Girls Guns & Glory) with New Album 'Can't Judge a Book' Out August 24. Thecountrynote.com. 18 July 2019.
  21. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . Ward Hayden and The Outliers' NEW EP "Can't Judge A Book" Out September 1st!! . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . August 15, 2018.
  22. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . Recent News: Ward Hayden and The Outliers - Our New Album "Can't Judge A Book" is Officially Out Now!! . WardHaydenandTheOutliers.com . June 5, 2024 . August 27, 2019.
  23. Web site: Brown . Kristin . Song Premiere: Ward Hayden & The Outliers' "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" . Cowboys & Indians: The Premier Magazine of the West . Cowboys & Indians Magazine . June 5, 2024 . August 13, 2019.
  24. Web site: Song Premiere: Ward Hayden and the Outliers' Electrifying Cover of 'The Promised Land'. Wideopencountry.com. 11 July 2019.
  25. Web site: BGS Staff . LISTEN: Ward Hayden & The Outliers, "Hackensack" . The Bluegrass Situation . June 5, 2024 . August 9, 2019.
  26. Web site: Glide . SONG PREMIERE: Ward Hayden & The Outliers Soar With Breezy Rocker "Naturally Crazy" . Glide Magazine . June 5, 2024 . August 8, 2019.
  27. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . Very excited for this show tonight at the Cape Cod Melody Tent w/ Midland. ... . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . August 25, 2019.
  28. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers . Huge thanks to both @midland and @melodytent for having us open last night. ... . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . August 26, 2019.
  29. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . Recent News: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: Sweden, Norway, Spain, France & Switzerland...Oh My!! . WardHaydenandTheOutliers.com . June 5, 2024 . October 13, 2019.
  30. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . https://www.facebook.com/wardhaydenandtheoutliers/posts/pfbid02EdqAm38c7C8RcQouuJTPk1cDK9qMUi1Y7HNX5Ajz5uv65YFxCtw7yc7hKJ4jyrmyl . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . January 24, 2020.
  31. Web site: Hall . Greg . https://www.facebook.com/greghall.dogsofwarband/posts/pfbid02TvRBq4YNgc2aWh9ZP7faT7DnLJmRDFsrqhpsu4rMKKZDZfej5eHaaersXG9UYSgdl . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . March 18, 2020.
  32. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . Alright [sic] friends, we've got some livestreaming going on! ... ]. Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . March 27, 2020.
  33. Web site: Hands down one of the best... - Ward Hayden & The Outliers. Facebook.com.
  34. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers . A great big thank you to everyone who came out this weekend for this run of shows celebrating the life, legacy, and music of Ol' Hank Williams. ... . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . September 18, 2022.
  35. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers . On the lost highway….and happy about it. ... . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . September 15, 2022.
  36. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers . These five guys were in this van for just north of 7,150 miles. That's like driving from Boston to CA, then back to Boston, then back to CA. That's a whole lotta time in a Mercedes Benz Vito…... . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 5, 2024 . November 2, 2022.
  37. Web site: Ward Hayden and The Outliers . A great big thank you to Ryan Hommel for joining us the last couple weeks,... . Facebook.com . Facebook/Meta . March 12, 2023.
  38. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Badfish" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 7, 2024 . March 24, 2023.
  39. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Write a Song" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 7, 2024 . April 7, 2023.
  40. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "(Breaking up With) My Hometown" (single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 7, 2024 . April 21, 2023.
  41. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (Live)" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . June 23, 2023.
  42. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Long Gone Lonesome Blues (Live)" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . July 21, 2023.
  43. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Why Don't You Love Me? (Live)" (EP) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . August 11, 2023.
  44. Web site: Danzig . Mayer . "Brilliant Disguise" - A Premiere from Ward Hayden & The Outliers . Twangville . June 9, 2024 . January 4, 2024.
  45. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Brilliant Disguise" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . January 5, 2024.
  46. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Dancing in the Dark" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . April 17, 2024.
  47. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers: "Glory Days" (Single) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . June 4, 2024.
  48. Web site: Ward Hayden & The Outliers . Tour recap / appreciation post . Facebook . Facebook/Meta . June 9, 2024 . February 20, 2024.
  49. Web site: Girls, Guns & Glory – Pretty Little Wrecking Ball. Ninebullets.net. 15 May 2007.
  50. Web site: Girls, Guns, & Glory: "Sweet Nothings" (Album) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . August 30, 2011.
  51. Web site: Kornfield . Michael . Roots Music Report Folk and Roots Country Radio Charts, 04-06-12 . AcousticMusicScene.com . August 5, 2024 . April 7, 2012.
  52. Web site: Girls, Guns, & Glory: "Good Luck" (Album) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . January 28, 2014.
  53. Web site: Girls, Guns, and Glory: "A Tribute to Hank Williams Live!" (Album) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . February 24, 2015.
  54. Web site: Girls, Guns, & Glory: "Love and Protest" (Album) . Spotify . Spotify . June 9, 2024 . November 4, 2016.
  55. Web site: AMA Americana Airplay Chart for week of 13/02/2017 . Rhythms: Australia's Roots Music Magazine . Rhythms Magazine . June 9, 2024 . February 14, 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ward Hayden and The Outliers".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.