Under a whiskey Moon

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
BIO

Who the hell are Hell’s 1/2 Acre? Four Southern boys from Louisville with a penchant for writing great country rock, pop, roots ...whatever you wanna call it.

If you live in the Louisville area, you know them from constant local airplay. If you live in the Southeast, you know them from their scorching live shows.

They’ve gigged with and opened for some familiar names: BR-549, DBT, MMJ, Shack Shakers, Bottle Rockets and tons more.

. John Woosley (AKA Little John Louie) plays guitar, but boy does he sing. He’s from the South End of Louisville and has been known to make that point clear in late night tangles with ornery -types and the occasional frat boy. He writes songs. And he knows all the words to "Besame Mucho." Impressive.

Rankin Mapother is from the East End of Louisville. Like oil and water, he and "Louie" can usually be found arguing about most anything. He plays bass and writes songs, too. The guy who started the band, Rankin can also play a pretty mean doghouse bass when they let him.

Screamin’ John Hawkins is all that is guitar - A regional legend, seasoned session guy and one helluva of a presence. When he's not cuttin' heads with Hell's 1/2 Acre, he can usually be found flat-picking his ass off with the bluegrass band Hog Operation.

The drummer, Glen Howerton, Chops wood like nobody's business. Known for his forceful, funky, song-oriented drumming, Glen keeps the band tight and right. And it's no wonder. Glen's Dad played drums for the legendary 60's psych band Soul, Inc. So it kind of runs in the family.

Album Description
Hell’s 1/2 Acre, a four member band from Louisville, Ky., has released a second LP. Under a Whiskey Moon, produced by long-time John Mellencamp producer and band member, Mike Wanchic.

Under a Whiskey Moon is clearly the mark of a band that has come into its own. The band’s influences of bar room alt-country and cowpunk have not been forgotten, but now are mellowed by a rough yet melodic sound, at times more rock, others more pop. Band songwriters bassist Rankin Mapother and front man John Woosley found their new inspiration for the album while digging deep into their roots.

Undertones of the Band and Rod Stewart-era Faces woven together with a rootsy sound create big tracks with incisive edges. From the twangy opening cut, "Silver Dollar," to the moving acoustic "One Lonely Night," and the jangle of "Kindness of Strangers" and catchy thump of "Hold," Under a Whiskey Moon covers a lot of ground with genuine emotion and ample musical chops.

The album’s new direction came after two years of regional touring success and strong internet album sales or their 2003 release "Blacktops & Blackouts.

The new album features contributions from noted artists such as guitarist Andy York (Jason & the Scorchers/Mellencamp), keyboard player Moe Z MD (Wallflowers/Tupac Shakur) and Louisville indie stalwart Peter Searcy (Squirrel Bait/Big Wheel) on cello.

Tracks:

Silver Dollar
Kindness of Strangers
Hold
One lonley night
Sun comes up
Doctor Please
Big Black Car
Somewhere
Lonesome River
Here's to me
Missing you

Album Description

Hell's 1/2 Acre, a four member band from Louisville, Ky., has released a second LP. Under a Whiskey Moon, produced by long-time John Mellencamp producer and band member, Mike Wanchic.

Under a Whiskey Moon is clearly the mark of a band that has come into its own. The band's influences of bar room alt-country and cowpunk have not been forgotten, but now are mellowed by a rough yet melodic sound, at times more rock, others more pop. Band songwriters bassist Rankin Mapother and front man John Woosley found their new inspiration for the album while digging deep into their roots.

The album's new direction came after two years of regional touring success and strong internet album sales or their 2003 release "Blacktops & Blackouts.

Customer Reviews:

If country radio had any cojones, they'd play this CD........2004-07-02

Take four parts Louisville twang, one part big-time producer, mix liberally with serious musical chops, fun songwriting, and serve hot. What you get is Hells 1/2 Acre's new CD, Under A Whiskey Moon. Ranging from the Beatles influenced "Sun Comes Up" to the irony of "Kindness of Strangers" to straight-up existential twang on songs like "Big Black Car," Hells 1/2 Acre shows a breadth and depth in their songwriting that really shines. They clearly have a single in "Silver Dollar" and maybe a few more past that. The production work of Mike Wanchic, who has played with and produced for Mellencamp, is really wonderful. Wanchic could be the fairy godmother who turns Hells 1/2 Acre from a fun, talented regional touring act into a group we get to hear on our car stereos. If for nothing else, this CD is wonderful for the ironic and perky death-row song "Kindness of Strangers" about a bad man who can't see that he's bad, and "One Lonely Night" where the protagonist tries to win his love by comparing her to Eva Braun and a hooker in an alleyway. If country radio had any cojones or sense of humor, they'd play this CD. Get the CD, enjoy it as much as I have, and help stick it to The Man.

Hell's 1/2 Acre "Under a whiskey Moon".......2004-03-28

"Insurgent cowpunks Hell's Half Acre reconvene their clever variety of influences for this evolved follow up to 2003's Blacktops & Blackouts. Taking off from the band's rockabilly roots down gravelly roads, skimming tear-stained bar tops and breaking bottles Under A Whiskey Moon, these tunes have a more rough-hewn, melodic jangle-pop sound overall. Passionate vocalist John Woosley handles everything from smooth, engaging twang-pop to bluesy swagger. The raspy warmth and tongue twister lyrics of "Kindness Of Strangers" conjure an alt country Elvis Costello, while Woosley's breathy honesty color the glittering acoustic groove of "One Lonely Night". The band's nimble, driving twang-pop progressions have at once an urgency and an ease, brought out by Mike Wanchic's production (longtime producer for John Mellencamp)" -- Miles of Music.

A deep and wide approach to American music........2004-03-28

On the follow-up to their 2003 debut Blacktops & Blackouts, Louisville's Hell's Half Acre have undergone a kind of musical transformation. While their first outing was a boisterous, drunkabilly, cowpunk vision of excess, Under a Whiskey Moon offers a deeper, wider approach to American music. The songs by frontman John Woosley and bassist Rankin Mapother here reflect a wider, varied palette. One can hear the Faces, and the early-1970's era Rolling Stones in their countrified roots rock. That's not to say that Hell's Half Acre have given up writing about getting drunk, getting high, or raising hell; they just do it differently. With John Mellencamp's guitarist Mike Wanchic at the production helm - and the album being cut in Bloomington, IN rather than Louisville, KY, the sensibilities are striking, more urgent, wonderfully melodic, less frivolous, but no less raw and rockin' an attack. There are guests in the mix as well, such as Andy York from Jason & the Scorchers and Tupac session keyboard player Moe Z.M.D., and cellist Peter Searcy. In case you are raising your eyebrows about this last cat, he's the most punk of all, having done time with everyone from Squirrel Bait to Big Wheel. Standout tracks include "Doctor Please," "Silver Dollar," "One Lonely Night," "Big Black Car," and "Lonesome River." A very solid sophomore effort. - Thom Jurek/All Music Guide

Music: