Artist description A Four piece band with two lead guitarist/lead singers/Songwriters. Guitar based rock with trading off guitars and various differnet styles from song to song.

Music Style rock: some heavy guitar rock, some mellow jazz chord rock, some country rock

Musical Influences Wilco, 70's ZZ Top, Soulhat, Beatles, Led Zeppelin

Similar Artists Wilco, Allman Brothers, Soulhat, ZZ Top, Train

Artist History Drifter is an original rock band from Houston Texas. With influences such as The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and ZZ Top, Drifter has been recreating the honest rock of the past, while adding their own distinct spin on their music. In the summer of 2002, Drifter won the Houston Press Music Award for “Best New Act,” and have been playing top Houston area clubs such as: The Continental Club; The Fabulous Satellite Lounge; The Engine Room; The Sidecar Pub; and Rudyards. Aside from playing their own headlining dates, they have opened for Ian Moore, Bob Schneider/The Scabs, Soulhat, Podunk, The Hunger and others. Drifter was formed in March of 2001, and after only a few weeks of rehearsing, they recorded their 14 song debut CD "wherever you will," which served them well essentially as a demo. In more recent months they recorded a new album, what they consider to be a much more serious attempt than “wherever you will.” The new album, “Lottery Bar,” was released on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2003, to a near capacity crowd at The Continental Club in Houston, and has been received very well. It has gained airplay on 94.5 FM The Buzz (Clear Channel) and 90.1 KPFT (Pacifica). Drifter has been compared stylistically to such bands as The Black Crowes and Wilco, however trying to accurately categorize them is difficult. The Houston Press said that Drifter "calls to mind the Southern soul of the late 60's" [John Lomax - 5/2/02]. With two singer/songwriters and two lead guitarists in the band, Drifter is able to create a unique variety of sound, and traces of Jazz, Country and Blues are often present in the music.

Group Members Craig Feazel – Lead Guitar / Lead Vocals Drifter was the brainchild of guitarist and singer, Craig Feazel. All through his college years at SMU and after, Craig created makeshift bands out of the musicians he knew and packed dive bars with huge crowds. These shows became notorious for their energy and the general party atmosphere that surrounded them. Eventually, Craig felt the need to turn this spontaneous band into something that could really produce, thus Drifter was born. With years of guitar under his belt and a knack for catchy tunes, Craig has written some amazing songs that are the driving force of the band. Paul Beebe – Lead Guitar / Lead Vocals Paul Beebe has been playing guitar since the sixth grade and studied music at Tulane University. Making a living as a musician, Paul focuses all of his compositional efforts on Drifter, while The El Orbits and Beetle, his other two active bands play strictly covers. He first hit the Houston music scene in 1992 with No Trespassing's debut release, "The World Upside Down." Though elder musicians around him were blown away by the band's raw sound and talent, the album failed to gain much recognition. This was likely due to the fact that Paul's voice had not yet changed and the band had not yet entered high school. After the rise and fall of No Trespassing, Paul played in an original band in high school and in college called The Roof Badgers. The Roof Badgers released two full-length albums, but split due to differing career goals. Cullen Evans – Bass Guitar / Piano Cullen "Monkey" Evans plays bass and keys in Drifter. He played in several bands in the past, but has focused his efforts on Drifter. While attending Rhodes College in Memphis, Cullen expanded his musical horizons and drew upon the sounds and influences of the diverse Memphis music scene. He focused largely on the piano during this time and developed his musical knowledge and ability. After college he returned to his hometown of Houston, TX where he teamed up with Craig and became the bass player for what would become Drifter. Chris Laurents – Drums Chris Laurents, better known as "The Rhino," has played drums for many years in and around Houston. He had quite a long stint with the moderately successful band Atticus Finch as well as Podunk. Chris is currently the only member of the band to ever have opened for Tesla. The relatively recent addition of Chris to Drifter has done a great deal to push the band forward and to tighten the sound, as well as adding a new perspective on the music itself.

Instruments 2 vocals, 2 guitars, bass, drums, piano, and steel guitar

Albums Lottery Bar, Wherever You Will

Press Reviews Drifter Lottery Bar (Self-released) BY BOB RUGGIERO With warmer weather and longer days on hand, there comes a concomitant change-up in the ol' car CD player. Singles like War's "Why Can't We Be Friends," Sly Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and even the Cars' "Magic" sound just right blaring from an auto with the sun shining down from above and a cold six-pack in the backseat (unopened, of course). Lottery Bar captures the sounds of spring Add to that list this fine local pop-rock release, which is jam-packed with great melodies and offers a fresh sound from one of the city's most promising young groups. Singer- guitarists Craig Feazel and Paul Beebe, bassist-keyboardist Cullen "Monkey" Evans and drummer Chris Laurents have crafted a low-key treasure that pulls off the neat trick of maintaining a snappy integrity while sounding commercial enough for radio play. Things get off to a lolling good start with "8th Street," in which the narrator accurately encapsulates both the hope and dread of the "getting to know you" phase of a relationship when all things seem fresh. The buoyant "Waterfall (Pawn Shop)" carries forth this mini-theme as a couple -- perhaps the same one from "8th Street" -- window-shops for a ring. Feazel wrote both numbers and delivers them energetically but with a light touch, whereas on "City" his funky blues-rock guitar riff is more heavy-handed. (Do we detect a nod to Thin Lizzy/KISS in the twin guitar chorus?) "Annie," his album- closing sweet ballad of reaffirmation, swirls in acoustic guitars, cymbals and keyboards without succumbing to saccharine sentiments. Most of Beebe's songs have a similar depth and texture. "Reddish Skies," the most radio-friendly tune, owns the record's catchiest melody. "One More Day" and "All in All" likewise register long after the disc stops spinning, but the ambitious, jazz-tinged "Illusions" and the funkalicious "Going Away" don't measure up to the rest of the material. Each was a decent idea, but neither is adequately developed. Overall, Lottery Bar delivers on its promise of a prize. It's a fresh and exciting collection of songs played by musicians who know that their instruments should serve the songs rather than overwhelm them. houstonpress.com | originally published: March 20, 2003 Drifter By SARA CRESS Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Local band Drifter proudly stamps the label "Houston rock" on its music. But what is "Houston rock"? Using Drifter as an example, it would be a combination of breezy blues and lively pop, with influences ranging from ZZ Top and King's X to every band that can be heard in a city as diverse as Houston. The band formed in 2001 and boasts two distinct frontmen/songwriters, Paul Beebe and Craig Feazel. The technically proficient Beebe has a clear, well-trained voice and an ear for catchy melodies. Feazel's sleepier vocals and moody guitar jams give the band its edge. The smart collaboration keeps listeners on their toes. "It's a blessing that we have two different personalities leading the band," says bassist Cullen Evans. "Craig is laid back and reserved and it shows in his playing . . . Paul is straightforward. He introduces the band, he's very levelheaded, everything is thought out." Beebe, Feazel and Evans have known each other since childhood. Their shared interest in music brought them back together after each finished college and returned to Houston. Drummer Chris Laurents, formerly of Atticus Finch, joined over the summer, replacing Derryck Noser. The band released its first album, Wherever You Will, shortly after forming. Though a fine collection of songs, Feazel describes it as a "full-length demo," and says it lacks cohesiveness and direction. "We just needed to put out something to give to venues, which makes it easier to get gigs," Beebe says. Their second album, to be released by the end of 2002, promises to showcase a more mature band, one that has spent the past year working on songs and playing clubs frequently. The band's maturity is evident on tracks like 8th Street and Reddish Skies, which showcase Drifter's ability to write radio-ready songs with infectious hooks and sincere lyrics. City displays a harder side to the band, employing a sexy, southern rock feel. Drifter's live shows feature a confidence unseen in many Houston rock bands. Feazel's self-deprecating swagger contrasts with Beebe, who stands a few feet away, bouncing and laughing. They're serious about their musicianship but equally serious about entertaining a crowd. "We all have the same sense of humor. We laugh at the same ridiculous things. It's a very comfortable scenario. There's no pretension ... It just makes it easy," Laurents says. Drifter draws a young, post-collegiate crowd, mainly people unwinding after a day of energetic career building. But the band's mish-mash of rock, blues, pop and jazz would appeal to Led Zeppelin lovers and John Mayer fans alike. "We like to see bands that are playing party music with smiles on their faces. They're having a good time," Feazel says. "That's what we feel we have to bring to the table. We want to show people a good time."

Location Houston, TX - USA

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