Dan Whitaker and Honey & Houston Performing At MOTR Pub On 12/2

Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders with Honey & Houston
12/2/21
MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St, Cincinnati, OH
10pm, Free show, 21+
Proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 test performed within previous 72 hours prior to entry.
Hard copies, photo copies or digital photos of the above are acceptable.

Buy /Listen to Dan Whitakers album “One More Story Told” here

Dan Whitaker’s 13th album One More Story Told, out August 13 via Empty Highway, introduces the deep scope of his songwriting range and evolution to newer listeners for the first time. Best known as leader of the honky-tonk band The Shinebenders, from 1985 to 2015 Whitaker also fronted several roots-rock bands in and around Chicago and the Midwest. One More Story Told is an acoustic anthology of reinterpreted songs spanning that time period, brimming with unexpected melodies, unique chord structures, and relatable stories. “I hope people see me for what I am, as a full artist,” Whitaker says. “There are a lot of sides to my music and I hope my audience appreciates the change of scenery.”

One More Story Told sees Whitaker joining forces with producer Todd Rittmann (U.S. Maple, Dead Rider) as he swaps his trademark Telecaster for an acoustic guitar. Sparked by a revisitation of his older material as a way to reconnect with his audience online during the pandemic, the arrangements take inspiration from the folk sounds of Grateful Dead’s American Beauty. The result is a warm, engaging, ‘70s colored journey into a past made new again. Joining Whitaker on the album are long-time collaborators (and Shinebenders) Earl Powers on upright bass and Eric Niffenegger on percussion, with Whitaker adding melodies on pedal steel, harmonica, piano, banjo, and more.

Something that has buoyed Whitaker along over the years as an independent artist is finding community with like-minded musicians. Chicago is home to many artists falling under the Americana umbrella, and in 2017 he co-founded the promotion collective Chicago Honky Tonk to help musicians reach new audiences in the Chicago area, while curating special shows with both hometown and national touring artists. He’s also part of Dale Watson’s Ameripolitan music community that meets yearly in Memphis—The Shinebenders were nominated as 2019’s Honky Tonk Band of the year.

With one new album on the way, Whitaker is planning two more, a country jazz project produced by Alex Hall (Cactus Blossoms, Pokey LaFarge) and a second companion anthology. If you’ve never heard of Whitaker before, now is the perfect time to discover this hidden gem.

https://www.danwhitaker.com/