NEW ALBUM HONKY TONKIN’ BEAUTY SUPREME
OUT JUNE 11 VIA BLUE ARROW RECORDS
“Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts have been building a solid reputation
as a live band performing at times with Dale Watson and Kenny Vaughan.
One can easily see how these legendary musicians view the potential
in the band.” – Lonesome Highway
LISTEN: Spotify
Cleveland-based honky tonkers Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts have announced their new album Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme and shared their first single “Drinkin’ Lots of Wine.”
“Warm, red wine and honky tonk music go hand in hand. ‘Drinkin’ Lots of Wine’ is a fun country tune although it’s about fighting with the bottle and letting the teardrops flow,” Grinder says of the single. “This is a jukebox number for those who like the nectar of the vine. Also a fun song to two step dance to, and sip a little (or lots of) wine during.”
The band has hit these post pandemic times running with a new album of old school Bakersfield country, chock full of hard driving trucker tunes, country waltzes and groovin’ hillbilly jams. The 10 tracks on their upcoming record, out June 11, more than exemplify their Playboy Scout oath of “On my honor I will do my duty to Two Step Dancers and Honky Tonkers everywhere.”
Running the gamut from the western swing of “The Best Punishment” to the twelve string California cool of “Back Here On This Throne” and on to the barroom anthem of “Drinkin’ Lots of Wine” the sound on “Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme” is reminiscent of old school Bakersfield records and was recorded with old RCA and Neumann microphones to capture that magic.
Recorded with Grammy and Emmy nominated producer David Mayfield at his Sweetside Recording Company studio in Canton, OH, The Playboy Scouts (Tebbs Karney on pedal steel, Anthony Papaleo on guitar, David Mayfield on bass and Bee Roberts on drums) back guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Cory Grinder on “Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme” with a vibrant live feel that resonates throughout the record. Songs like the title cut – an ode to gorgeous, talented women, or “Trouble Again” a high flying rag about picking a fight, sparkle with a live feel not found on many recordings.
The band, who play original hillbilly tunes inspired by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, formed in Cleveland in 2016 and released their debut album Cahoots And Other Favorites in the Fall of 2018. Since then, the band has taken to the road and toured through Nashville, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Chicago, Texas, North Carolina, Detroit, and more. They are affectionately known for their blue bus and encouraging others to join their troop. The band has an exciting live show that is also quite adaptable to the setting. They fit very well playing dancehalls for two steppers, but aren’t afraid to turn it up at a rowdy bar gig. Simply put, the band aims to please. Performance highlights include featuring Kenny Vaughan from Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives on guitar for a Nashville show, as well as Dale Watson inviting them to perform as his backing band for a set at legendary Texas venues The Broken Spoke and Continental Club.
At the end of 2019, Tebbs and Grinder of The Playboy Scouts released their instrumental Christmas album, Silver & Gold, Fiddle & Steel. A collection of classic Christmas songs with a country spin performed on fiddle and pedal steel. Always seeking fun new challenges, the band has also started doing tribute shows to the band Ween, performing “Twelve Golden Country Greats” and also doing heavier, rock material from Ween’s catalog that fans have really loved. In 2020 despite multiple national tours being cancelled for the band, a five song EP Good Boy was put out in May as a teaser for the release of this year’s Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme.
Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts have signed to Cleveland record label, Blue Arrow Records and will be touring the southwest and midwest in support of their upcoming record.
Additional singles from Honky Tonkin’ Beauty Supreme will be released in the weeks to come.