Artist description "Unlike most of its genre colleagues, HADACOL's songwriters know how to boil the usual Americana themes down to an ear-grabbing chorus melody and a stick-in-the-mind aphorism. Better Than This rises above the cluttered landscape of 'insurgent-country' discs." -- Geoffrey Himes, Washington Post

Artist History Hadacol, named after a potent alcohol elixer thatsponsored Hank Williams' radio show in the late1940's, combines strong roots-rock and countryinfluences to explore the racous and rambunctiousside of the roots rock/alternative country scene, aswell as the dark, sometimes lonesome aspects oflife in the rural Midwest. Brothers Fred and Greg Wickham grew up inWarrensburg, Missouri, a small college town andfarming community about 60 miles east of KansasCity. Both were avid roots rock and roll fans growingup, but were also consistently exposed to JohnnyCash, Hank Snow, Merle Haggard, and othercountry greats, thanks to their father's tremendousappreciation for the genre in its purest form. TheWickhams began to seriously pursue performingand songwriting in the early 1990's, creating homerecordings of predominantly country tunes, most ofwhich could be conveniently labeled "alt.country." The band began to take shape several years agowhen, by a stroke of good fortune, Richard Burgessanswered a local newspaper ad for a bass player.Burgess developed a rockabilly and roots musicpassion, which he energetically displays during thebands live performances. Together, the Wickhamsand Burgess went through a series of drummers,band names, honky-tonks and roadhouses,churning out their own brand of high energy rootsrock and roll throughout the midwest. In 1996 the band was solidified by the addition ofScottie McCuiston on drums. McCuiston, aseasoned musician, had played the cover bar circuitfor years, but longed to join a band performingoriginal material. McCuiston proved to be themissing ingrediant. Appearing as "Big Iron" (named after the old MartyRobbins hit), the band's heartfelt songs andblistering live performances began to attractattention and an avid following. Big Iron's early success in 1997 led to their currentstint as a staple at the Hurricane, Kansas City'srock and roll hot spot, where the band played withthe likes of Junior Brown, the Skeletons, ToddSnider and the Bottle Rockets. Meanwhile, the band began recording their debutalbum with the assistance of the legendary LouWhitney (of Morells and Skeletons fame) inSpringfield, Missouri. While nearing completion ofthe record, the band changed its name to the nowfamiliar "Hadacol."

Albums Better Than This

Press Reviews "Unlike most of its genre colleagues, HADACOL'ssongwriters know how to boil the usual Americanathemes down to an ear-grabbing chorus melodyand a stick-in-the-mind aphorism. Better Than Thisrises above the cluttered landscape of'insurgent-country' discs."-- Geoffrey Himes, Washington Post

Location Kansas City, MO - USA

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