Hi folks, Ike here, with some news for ya.
After 12 years of the Ike, Betse, Nate, and Phil show, we're gonna take a well-deserved
break. I believe the Funk & Wagnalls word for that is "hiatus"...basically
a fancy way to say we don't know what the future holds, but we know we're gonna
be giving The Wilders some time off to check out life from a different focus and
direction for a year, and then see how we feel after that. We do have some
shows in December around home, and have a few special select performances planned
for 2012. Friends, the last 12 years have been the most
amazing experience...we wish we could sit you down and tell you all the tour stories,
let you stand in the middle of this outrageous band while we're playing and feel
the fire, let you see from the stage all the welcoming and rocking faces that make
every night meaningful, and throw you in the van so you could come visit all the
big parts of the world we've been so lucky to see. We are so thankful to all
of you: our fans, our friends, and our families...we could never have done
any of this without your support and love. That is the one thing we know for
sure.
And another thing: we have to give a big hearty thank
you and hug to our long-time agent, Mary Brabec. We could
have never achieved what we have without you. You made opportunities magically
appear for us and always took the extra step in spreading the Wilders love.
Thank you, Mary.
We are really proud of our most recent album, "The
Wilders"… it was released earlier this summer on Free
Dirt Records. John Smith, label owner, is another true believer
and we thank you, John, for putting out this album, and for all you've done for
us too. Phil produced it, and we wrote and played our hearts out and we're
really proud of what we made. Maybe ya wanna check it out, if ya haven't already…
you can see and order it on our site - thewilders.us … the No Depression blog gave it a thumbs-up recently,
and we appreciate that. www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/cd-review-the-wilders-free-dirt-record-trade-root-music-group
So, now what?
Well, let's
enjoy and see what happens (good advice for almost any situation). We're
not doing a "farewell tour" or anything like that..."hiatus",
remember? But if ya want, come on out and see us before we take our break.
We're gonna play a little bit in December with our St. Louis friends, Pokey Lafarge
and the South City Three. Look for us in St. Louis, Lawrence, KS and Columbia,
MO. Then we head down to the Ozarks for a couple of shows, too...Hey, just
check out the tour page...it knows more than we do. thewilders.us/tour/
We do have a few goodies booked
for 2012 and we're excited about those. Keep an eye on the tour page for the
announcements… but in 2012, for the most part, we all get to see again (for
better or worse) what a Wilder-less year looks like. Could be cool...or could
be nasty...or anything in between. We'll just have to see...
Everybody
knows bands don't stay together forever...except the Rolling Stones…and the
wonderful polka band formed out of the dust of the Korean War and northern Minnesota,
"Dutch" Drebbel and his Fiddle-Faddle Fellahs (actually, we made that
up...but it probably exists anyway). But the good thing is: music lasts
forever. Thank you for listening to ours, and for inspiring it as well.
We really couldn't have done it with out you.
Much love to y'all... we
are THE WILDERS from KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI!!!
Thanks for listening.
Your pals, Ike, Betse, Nate, and Phil

P.S.
Keep your eye here for news of various members' 2012 activities and creations...ya
never know what the 2012 could bring...
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"Somehow they managed to get the normally reticent London crowd all to sing along
to spirituals & country classics. We danced, we sang, one of us cried (not me
of course). All are stunningly talented, comfortable on stage & funny..." — Andy,
notes from mt. pleasant"What sets
this new release apart from an already impressive history of recorded work is a
new found sense of resonance on songs that ring just a little deeper than before
while not losing touch with their foundation of high powered roots music." — Terry
Roland, No Depression"I’ve been a fan
of The Wilders for years and have followed their progression and maturity as songwriters
and performers, and this new album is the best thing they’ve done so far."
- Michael Byars, KCUR (Kansas City) — Michael Byars, KCUR (Kansas City)"Comparisons to
fine wine don’t seem to suffice in the case of The Wilders. More suitable,
perhaps, is the likening to a vintage single malt or bourbon. In what wound up as
a two-set assault, the Kansas City-based bluegrass outfit were in fine form as they
played in support of their new, self-titled album." — Peter McGee,
Bluesbunny Independent Music Reviews"These
tracks are to dance to, to sit down with, to get tearful over and to laugh along
with. Amazingly, and in true Wilders form, they all fit together beautifully." — Rose
Skelton, Songlines
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