Artist History Hurry Down Sunshine formed in 1993, with Brother's Ashby wanting an outlet for their musical interests. Brian was 13, and Doug was 22 at the time. Most of their listening habits revolved around rock and roll, and deep blues. Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Replacements, The Stooges, MC5, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Velvet Underground, Big Star, Blind Boy Fuller, Howlin' Wolf...The list could go on and on....Doug had been playing since he was 16 in bands, and had recently graduated from a local Rockabilly outfit called the Runaway Boys, and was seeking to start his own band. HDS came about, because of their recent relocation to the Lehigh Valley, and the original band consisted of High School mates of Brian's...They were dragged kicking and screaming into learning the blues. They didn't know any "Musicians" in the area, and because of Brian's young age, were forced to play coffeehouses rather than the bars Doug was used to. So the bulk of their early work was more quiet and acoustic. Doug has long been a Blues Historian kind of chap, and many early shows and sets were the results of him trying to spread the Blues Gospel. The band was and is always committed to giving the original artists a good rap and presentation. It has always been important to make the public aware of who originally did a song that HDS does...But now their sound and way they present the material is thoroughly original...The name, HDS, comes from an old Leroy Carr song, but they were originally gonna call themselves the Blue Flame Five, 'cause of a prominent Bethlehem Steel smokestack....But HDS it was, and the name stuck. They played coffeehouses for three years, garnering critical acclaim in the area, and a lot of comments about Brian, "Man, where'd he learn to play like that...."Finally they released their first CD "Waiting for a Train", and it got greatcritical Kudos, but it wasn't, and still isn't a true representation of the bands' live sound. Revolving rythm sections later, the band has evolved into one of the hottest area live bands. Steve Capwell teamed up on harmonica, and he is the only harp player to attack his instrument with the same ferocity that Brian rapes his guitar with, and a great buddy, and stage prescence to boot. Steve has been playing harp for longer than anyone we know, and it clearly shows in his soulful licks...Dave Ferrara joined up for the session in Memphis, after having played with Doug for a couple of years and being the regular drummer for excellent area punk bands like the Original Sins, and Soulsters like Jay and the Techniques. Bill Melcher signed on for the trip because he is an adventurous soul, and had played with the Crack Babies for more years than he cares to mention. Always a blues lover, he was up to the challenge of picking the songs up on the spot, and was terribly comfy with the drummer (They've been chummy for some time...) So the band just evolved from a nice polite, historical blues band, into areal hard rocking unit. Before, the venues weren't right, the band wasn't tight, the vibe wasn't tough enough, but now, things are where they need to be. HDS can play hard, deep, blues, always keeping their perspective of where they came from, but the future looks bright ahead, with even more adventurous sounds coming from the band, and their forays into Dan McKinney's Studio. HDS never makes a set list, so shows will always be an adventure. There is something new from HDS everytime they play, but you can count onone thing. HDS ROCKS!

Group Members Doug Ashby, pictured above, writes most of the band's original tunes, sings and plays rhythm guitar. Little brother Brian (by "little" I mean 18 or so) plays scorching lead guitar. Steven Capwell plays harp, Dan McKinney plays piano and organ (occasionally), Bill Melcher plays bass, and Dave Ferrara's on the drums.

Location Bethlehem, Pa. - USA

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