Artist description Yellowhammer is a mostly acoustic, mostly guitar band with multi-talented artists Mike Lewis, Russell McGilvray and Scott Smeltzer. Lewis and McGilvray write, and all three sing and play a variety of instruments. Yellowhammer has become a local legend in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas. Pioneers of a grassroots resurgence of original music, Mike, Russell and Scott continue to develop new material while honing their standards to a classic edge. Sometimes mellow and sometimes manic, Yellowhammer is perhaps a little hard-edged to be folk and too acoustic to be hard rock. So another band that defies classification.

Music Style Acoustic Rock

Musical Influences Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Rush, Tom Petty, Allman Bros., Bob Dylan

Similar Artists America, Allman Brothers, Crosby,Stills,Nash&Young

Artist History Begun by Mike Lewis in 1995, Yellowhammer began as a neighborhood garage band. While performing at a coffee shop - "Millennium", Mike hooked up with Scott Smeltzer who brought extraordinary guitar work to the evolving sound of Mike's songs. Russell McGilvray joined the band soon after and added musical versatility and more songwriting, which has become their trademark. In 1997, Yellowhammer released "Nailed" their first recording. Appearing as featured Artists throughout the Rio Grande Valley, this indie band was featured on KFRQ "Homegrown" and have performed for the Valley Musicians Group showcase, North Of the Border festival, the South Padre Island Bikefest and many clubs in the Rio Grande Area. Scott has moved back from Bahrain in July of 2000! The trio is back together. Their third release "Roll the Wheel" is currently debuting on mp3.com.

Group Members Mike Lewis - Vocals & Guitars Russell McGilvray - Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Baritone, Mandolin, Bass, Harmonica, Bouzouki, Keyboards Scott Smeltzer-vocals,Bass, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, wind instruments

Instruments Mike- Ovation 12 string, Samick 6 string, BC Rich bass : Russell - Ovation, Martin and Fender six strings, Kramer bass, Gibson Les Paul Artisan, Danelectro baritone, Sigma Mando, Romanian Bouzouki : Scott -Ovation and Gibson guitars, various wind instruments, Ovation mandolin, Tuba

Albums Nailed; Nailed, Too; Bird of Ill Omen; Roll the Wheel

Location McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas - USA

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