With a base of roots music: blues, bluegrass, Russian, gypsy, punk and other styles the Sideshow Tramps has created a sound spanning the globe but best described simply as Rock and Roll. Although the Sideshow Tramps first album outsold many big acts locally, including the White Stripes, it is their live show that has made them what the Houston Press calls “hometown heroes” and “not a band but a phenomenon”. Sideshow Tramps have done what few bands have, they created a local “scene” that the Houston Press dubbed the “front porch vanguard” spawning numerous bands that play music in the same “roots music punk” (Tom Waits, White Stripes, Gogal Bordello, Johnny Cash) vein.
Scott McNeil, Geoffrey Muller, Craig Kinsey, and Shane Lauder are the Sideshow Tramps. After playing many festivals, opening for Joe Ely, Guy Forsythe, Ray Wyley Hubbard and a successful tour with Hays Carll in Ray Prices old tour bus, the band has gathered around them a host of new fans. The buzz has started and the Sideshow Tramps are ready to meet the demand.
Sideshow Tramps are beginning a series of tours to satisfy the cries of an ever growing fan base. Sideshow Tramps are recording their second album to follow their acclaimed last effort “Medicine Show”. This second album contains an even wider variety of styles and energy than the first with songs written by numerous members of the band including songwriter Craig Kinsey whose solo project “The Burdener” was named one of the best Texas albums of 2008 by the Houston Chronicle. No matter the acclaim for expert musicianship and memorable songwriting, it is, again, the live show that keeps people talking.
The band switches instruments on stage in the middle of songs and often plays homemade instruments such as trash can bass and cigar box guitar all of which are made by member Geoffrey Muller. The Houston Chronicle reports: “The goal is emotional release, for the performers and the audience. This is music as therapy. The band packs Helios Monday nights because this music is a soothing balm for crush of daily life. ‘We had a guy come from Ben Taub hospital with an IV hanging out of his arm. He said there was no way he was gonna miss the Sideshow Tramps’ Kinsey says.” (Although the Sideshow Tramps appreciate demonstrations of fan loyalty they do not condone leaving hospital beds to see their shows.)
The band formed after an open mic night performance at Houston’s Helios which turned into a weekly residency. Within a year the shows were attracting crowds of 200 on Monday nights. Soon the members of the group realized that they had something and were almost forced into becoming a band. The background of the group is not the usual rock and roll story. They met at the University of St. Thomas where Geoffrey Muller studied mathematics and drama and Craig Kinsey had just come from four years in a monastery living the silent ascetic life of a monk. After studying old medicine shows and the psychology of crowd control the band learned to turn a rock and roll show into more than the sum of its parts. They have won numerous awards including, best unsigned band, best album, best stage act, and a series of other awards for individual members including best drummer and best multi-instrumentalist.
The band is currently completing their next album and ready to go on the road to support it. Many fans travel long distances to see the band including one man who flew from New York to see their CD release party in 2007. It is to satisfy this demand that the band will go on the road and take the show that the Houston Press calls “legendary” to the eager and expectant fans.
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Thanks for letting Robert propose at your show. It was an awesome end to a spectacular night! Y'alls' was the first show we ever saw together years ago when you had the Monday gig at Helios. How do we get you to play the wedding? ;)
Hi, Great to have you as a friend!! Best wishes, Mike (Brett Huckfield's promo team). PS Please check out Brett's debut release 'Here Again' (available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster etc.) Hope you enjoy the music!!
89.7 KACC is getting ready to add even more Texas rock and roll to the playlist this summer and needs your music ASAP. If you think we don't have your newest CD, get it in the mail - be sure we know where you are from and maybe include a bio - and send it to:
With a base of roots music: blues, bluegrass, Russian, gypsy, punk and other styles the Sideshow Tramps has created a sound spanning the globe but best described simply as Rock and Roll. Although the Sideshow Tramps first album outsold many big acts locally, including the White Stripes, it is their live show that has made them what the Houston Press calls “hometown heroes” and “not a band but a phenomenon”. Sideshow Tramps have done what few bands have, they created a local “scene” that the Houston Press dubbed the “front porch vanguard” spawning numerous bands that play music in the same “roots music punk” (Tom Waits, White Stripes, Gogal Bordello, Johnny Cash) vein. 
