Villains

Blues / Rock / Garage

Denton, TX

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About

Villains began in January of 2006 at an open mic night in Denton, Texas, when Bassist Brandon Willett and Vocalist/Guitarist Sean Ellis took the stage at Andy's bar and grill armed only with three songs, written earlier that week. In March of the same year the band formed with the addition of Drummer Adam Sherritt. Soon after, the band began playing shows in Denton and nearby Dallas/Ft.Worth. The trio, though all being influenced by different music, took their cue from the blues of Robert Johnson, the classic rock sound of artists like Led Zepplin, and The Rolling Stones, as well as the noisy and relentlessly bleak rock & roll of the Iggy and the Stooges. The three blended their love of Rock and Roll with their individual styles and influences.

Drummer Adam Sheritt, having a background in Blues, Jazz, and Alternative brought to the group a style of drumming that is at all times technical, raw, and improvisational. Bassist Brandon Willett, with influences ranging from Nina Simone and Tom Waits to The White Stripes and Primus, blends his rock sensibilities with his Jazz training to produce a sound that defines it's place not only within the confines of the rhythm section but as a lead instrument as well. With Rock and Roll being the common thread in the bands influence Vocalist/Guitarist Sean Ellis is a perfect fit. Ellis taking his inspiration from not only some of the most influential bands of the century, but also some of the most pioneering and breakthrough groups of every generation of Rock, ranging from more classic bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Clash and AC-DC, to more contemporary acts such as Explosions in the sky , The White Stripes, and Wolfmother. His concern is and always has been a love of the long lost heart of Rock and Roll. Both his Vocals and Guitar style invokes the era of bar chords and the angst of a period of Rock that seems all but forgotten today.

After a year of playing together the band had met with moderate success and was starting to build a fan base. They had recorded and released a five song e.p., and had honed a sound that incorporated the culmination of their disparate musical experience, however something was missing. In March of 2007 the band found what that was, with the addition of Rocky Ottley as Lead Guitar. Ottley brought to the band the experience of a seasoned performer having played with other local bands such as Backside Pick, Sol Kitchen, and Dr. Mobutu. With a solid background in Jazz, Ottley threw himself into the realm of Rock and Roll bringing the depth and technical skill of his guitar playing to Villains' already unique sound. With a solid four-piece lineup and a sound that harkens back to the golden age of Rock and Roll and Blues while still being rooted in today's contemporary music scene, the band will release their first full-length album in Fall of 2007.