Monte Warden

Monte Warden Releases New Album Monte Warden Combines His Signature Twang With A Shot Of Classic Jazzy Blues Groove In The Debut Release Of “Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few”

By Jay Randall Listening to the new debut release of Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few, you can’t help but hear remnants of the Chicago Blues Speak Easy Prohibition days in the Cotton Club when the likes of Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and many other big bands would play into the early morning hours of the smoke filled venue. Monte Warden has amassed a combo of seasoned musicians that magically combine the unique vocal styling of Monte’s signature twang with tasty lyrics and musical combinations of instrument mastery that create a unique sound of their own. The Dangerous Few is composed of longtime Austin musicians Mas Palermo on drums, Erik Telford on horns, Brent Wilson (of the Wagoneers) on bass, T. Jarrod Bonta on piano, and Warden. Palermo and Telford share production credit with Tim Palmer (whose credits include U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie) and Brandi Warden (multiplatinum music publisher, Monte’s co-writer, and wife). This is another example of how Monte Wardens songwriting skills keep maturing and developing with time. Like a fine wine it just gets better. Rock and Blues International got to sit down with Monte for a short interview.

Rock And Blues International: Who from Austin.

RABI: Long before your new release with the Dangerous Few we heard you were the ripe old age of 15 when you formed the Wagoneers. When and what label did you get signed to and how many releases did you guys put out.

Monte: I was 15 when my 1 st real band, Whoa Trigger, was formed (we won Best New Band in 83 at the Austin Musiv Awards), I was 19 when The Wags got together. We were the 1 st act to be signed to a major from the very 1 st SXSW in ’87. A&M Records signed us. We were blessed to make two albums for A&M, the 1 st one, Stout and High, is regarded as one of the 1 st Americana albums in history (tho the phrase ‘Americana’ wasn’t around then).

RABI: What were some of your most memorable Tour dates with the Wagoneers?

Monte: The Wags picked almost a thousand dates in 4 years, so we were blessed to pick several great shows. We toured extensively with Willie and Emmylou. One of my favorite memories was that in Oct ’89 we opened both for The Ramones and Bill Monroe in a 3 week span. Not many acts can were your most influential artist growing up?

say that!

Monte Warden: I never would’ve even RABI: After the Wagoneers disbanded picked up a guitar without hearing my folks’ you wrote a little song called “Desperately”. Buddy Holly records…I also loved, Elvis, Can you tell us a little history on that? Cash, Hank, Sinatra as a kid and in Austin, I was as influenced by punk as I was the Outlaw Monte: I wrote Desperately with my movement…which was not that unusual being dear friend, Bruce Robison, in ’96 as I was 60 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

tore up goin’ through a very unexpected divorce….years later, after I married the love of my life, Brandi, (who is my publisher), she got the song to George Strait. Strait cut it and took it to the top of the Country charts and the song earned a Million Airplay Award from BMI….the song just came out TODAY (Aug 21) on Josh Turner’s new album honoring Country Music’s Classic Songs. This honor is so very humbling.

RABI: You were inducted into the Texas Music Hall of fame as a solo artist in 2011 The Wagoneers reunited when the band was inducted as well. Do you guys still play out live? Are any of the members in The Dangerous Few?

Monte: The Wags have performed since our 2011 induction and perform extensively. We have a 3 rd album in the can. The amazing guitarist for the Wags, Brent Wilson, is also the upright bass player for the Few…our drummer, Mas Palermo, is in both bands and co-produced the Few album with Brandi, Erik Telford, and uber engineer, Tim Palmer (Google him!)

RABI: What and who influenced you to the New Monte Warden Sound of The Dangerous Few?

Monte: The great somgwriters of the era known as ‘The Great American Songbook’ –Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, Bacharach/David, Jimmy Van Heusen,…its an era where the ‘songs’ are more the stars than the artist who sang them…I have found writing in this style has been the most rewarding experience, artistically, of my very blessed career.

RABI: We know this Covid Pandemic has taken its toll on the music business and ability to perform. Are you doing anything online and do Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few have any plans to do any online shows or features. Do you guys hope to Tour once the Pandemic passes and venues start to open again?

Monte: We will tour EXTENSIVELY once the ‘all clear’ is given…I have a Friday live-stream called, The Monte Warden Feel Good Hour I do EVERY Fri at 7 ct on my facebook page. www.facebook.com/ montewarden The live stream has been a GodSend for the family. The patronage from the fans has kept our lights on the fridge full thru all this. We are so very blessed.