Coming together in December of 2007, The Rattlers was formed by a group of guys that all hailed from the Athens, Ga area. Thanks to the diverse and thriving Athens music scene, the members of The Rattlers have always had access and exposure to a wide variety of music. The band brings a unique sound, influenced by southern rock and blues, that will hit you right in the chest. "It only takes one show to see why they bring such a crowd, and their sets are incredibly entertaining from start to finish!"
The band consists of Matt Joiner (guitars, backup vocals), Tracy Carroll (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Kevin Christian (bass, backup vocals), Woody Hughes (drums), and the newest member of the band, Mikey Lee (keyboards, backup vocals). Kevin and Matt have played together for over 10 years in a number of different bands and the combo frequently collaborated on different projects with other musicians during that time. Tracy Carroll met Matt through work, and after discussing their mutual interests in much of the same music, got together for a jam session. Each liked what he heard, so they brought in a couple of friends (Kevin on drums, and original bass player Jason Lee Parks), and played an impromptu show at a friends Christmas party. It took another two months to get back together and make a more public appearance, opening for Rollin' Home at Little Kings in Athens, Ga., but with this show, the band's persona and reputation began to grow. Jason left the band early on to do his own solo material, and bassist Chad McGlohon, dubbed "The best looking bass player in town", stepped in to handle the big strings for the band. Chad departed from The Rattlers in January, and Kevin moved to bass, making room for Woody to take over the job of banging the skins. In June, 2009, The Rattlers announced that Mikey Lee had officially joined the band as keyboardist, bringing a new dimension the band. As of today, The Rattlers continue building an impressive following for their live shows, and many hundreds of fans from the online world. They are currently working on their debut CD, targeted for release summer, 2010.
"Who do you sound like?" is a question that is frequently asked. The answer is not so easy. Mix some Texas style blues ala Stevie Ray Vaughn and ZZ Top, a dash of southern rock like The Allman Brothers and Drivin n Cryin, throw in some Jimi Hendrix and Joe Bonamassa for flavor, and top it off with a good helping of Skynyrd and Eric Johnson and you're close. Maybe. The truth is, The Rattlers have a sound that is influenced by all of the above mentioned artists, plus many more, but is uniquely their own.
*If you’ve never seen us live, The Rattlers invite you to hang with us at our next show. If you're new to The Rattlers (a Rattlers virgin), welcome, and we'd love to have you on-board as a fan.
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