The R I P T O N E S

This is Chicago's hardest working "roots/alternative country" band. These boys have been ripping up stages far and wide for the past five years. Jeb Bonansinga and his brother " Ranger" Tod head up this thoroughly entertaining fivesome along with Earl (nobody seems to know his last name) on the standup bass, Andon T. Davis on various lead stringed instruments, and Tommy Harmon on the drums. Their live shows are a kinetic affair with Earl hurling his "doghouse" bass around the stage and the rest of the fellers running to stay out of the way. They put on a wild show at the South X Southwest Conference this spring and made lots of contacts to help move their career along.

Their first album,Cool Hand is a strong seller into it's second pressing. Classic rockabilly rave-ups like the instrumental Don't Touch My Hair (well not quite an instrumental, the only lyric is the title!), Carry On which vows to carry the spirit of the hillbilly rockers since the birth of R&R,and Cool Hand (Sometimes nothin' is a real cool hand.....) show off the superb writing and twisted sense of humor of songmeister Jeb Bonansinga.