Victor Wainwright And The Train
Though his career began over a decade ago with genuine rock n’ roll honky-tonk, Wainwright has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the roots music world. His insatiable interest in music discovery, sheer love for entertaining and curiosity have led him all around the world, and the resulting perspective is a reflection of his passion for entertaining and creating progressive roots music in an effort to move the art-form forward. Composer, producer, vocalist, and award wining entertainer and piano player; Victor Wainwright is a raucous high-octane, dynamic performer and crowd pleaser with soul to spare.
The name of Victor Wainwright's band - and the sleeve image of their albums - is also the most fitting of metaphors. In music folklore, the train might have associations with the freight-hopping bluesmen of yore, but with this restless boogie-woogie innovator stoking the furnace, Wainwright is a charging locomotive - surging forward, crashing through boundaries of genre, sweeping up fresh sounds and clattering headlong past the doubters.
As the man himself hollers in the ivory-pounding track, The Train: "If you wanna boogie get aboard the train/Get yourself a ticket or get out of the way..." At a sweet-spot in his career, where most established stars would rest on their laurels, Victor Wainwright & The Train instead rips up all that has gone before, pricking up ears in a sterile music industry and stretching the concept of roots in bold directions.
"I believe that for roots music to grow, and reach out to new audiences, we have to push it forward,” Wainwright explains. The result is original music that walks a tightrope between scholarly respect and anarchic irreverence. You'll hear Wainwright twist boogie-woogie tradition on barrelhouse thrillers driven by his visceral piano style. But you'll also hear him fearlessly explore the gamut of genre, from Latin flavors and New Orleans piano to near-psychedelia. It's a musical cocktail served up by Wainwright's inimitable gravel-flecked vocal.
On this white-knuckle ride, only The Train could keep the music on the tracks. "I ended up with a hit-squad of downright amazing musicians that shared my curiosity for all corners of the roots genre. We wanted to capture how we feel performing, right smack-dab on the records we make, and I believe we've done that. Now I just try to keep up."
In truth, Wainwright has always been an artist that sets the pace. Born into a musical family in Savannah, Georgia, the formative influence of his father's vocals and grandfather's rolling boogie-woogie piano compelled him into a life of music. By 2005, he'd announced his talent with solo debut, Piana' From Savannah, while his central role in Southern Hospitality and partnership with Stephen Dees in WildRoots has seen him ignite stages and stereos for over a decade.
Among his numerous accolades: Wainwright has won six total Blues Music Awards, charted #1 on the Top 10 in the U.S. Billboard and was Nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY.
"Looking back on your career is a tough thing to do," he says. "Challenges are many, and frequent, but when you get it together, it can also be extremely rewarding." A man of many talents, Wainwright is a composer, producer, vocalist, piano player and award-winning entertainer. A long-standing leader of the boogie-woogie pack, he could refer you to his BMA and long list of Blues Blast trophies, or a catalog that has repeatedly hijacked the Billboard Top 10. But rather than dine out on past glories, this questing artist would rather you joined him for the ride ahead. "Of course, I still play and write songs that are just about kicking ass and taking names," he laughs. "But if you listen, what I'm really saying is, we got to get on the train and move forward with our love of roots music, together.”
VICTOR WAINWRIGHT - 2022 PRESS RELEASE
2019 GRAMMY NOMINEE & SEVEN TIME BLUES MUSIC AWARD WINNER Victor Wainwright and THE TRAIN are selling out venues throughout North America. Five Time Blues Music Piano Award Winner, BB KING Entertainer of the Year Award and Band of the Year Award Winner, Victor Wainwright is at the top of his Game on the Heels of his 2020 release on Ruf Records, MEMPHIS LOUD, garnering media accolades for his latest studio work - a robust sonic landscape exploring the Joys and Mysteries of Life, Love & Music!
“Not just Loud, but MEMPHIS LOUD, the latest sermon of boisterous, big-hearted Americana from Victor Wainwright and The Train is an absolute showstopper that shakes, rattles and rolls until it’s completely out of breath” ELMORE Magazine
“...electrifin' boogie-woogie at warp speed, a piano-pounding ministry powerful enough to raise the dead and scald the living with righteous piano fervor.” “Wainwright's roaring like a conductor with a snoofull of cinders, his piano rocking so hard it's about to knock the train off the tracks.” NO DEPRESSION
VICTOR WAINWRIGHT - victorwainwright.com/about
THE BAND - victorwainwright.com/the-band
VIDEOS & PICS - victorwainwright.com/media
AGENCY: PEACH MUSIC GROUP - peachmusicgroup.com
What Some Critics Are Saying About VICTOR WAINWRIGHT And The Train's MEMPHIS LOUD:
"Here’s an hour-long set to help fill the void created by all of those canceled summer music festivals...The Memphis-based Wainwright and his six-piece band are right for the job because they serve up something for everyone with their rootsy, funky, well-cooked jam-band mix of R&B, jazz and Americana. Influences run deep, and piano man Wainwright even honors Little Richard with his shouts of 'Woo!'..'Everybody start a party,' Wainwright sings on the opener 'Mississippi,; and that sums up the mood. But there's plenty of variety to the arrangements. 'Walk the Walk' is fueled by joyful syncopation, the witty 'South End of a North Bound Mule' could be a country hit, and foggy Duke Ellington-style horns on the ballad 'Sing' suggest a product of the theater." (Steven Wine/Associated Press)
"As his body shrinks, his soul intensifies, making Wainwright a candidate for a whole new musical category, a boogie-woogie soulman with a down-home country heart." (Grant Britt/No Depression)
"A year from now folks can hopefully gather in person for the Blues Music Awards and witness Wainwright and The Train laying claim to several of them. After all, this is Wainwright’s best yet." (Jim Hynes/Glide Magazine)
"Memphis Loud confirms the singer-pianist’s reputation as a dynamic performer and songwriter who’s expanding his roots music foundation in captivating directions. Despite his many blues honors, the blues label doesn’t do Wainwright justice. His resourcefulness is all over Memphis Loud, an album that embraces Memphis and Muscle Shoals soul, Southern rock, some New Orleans-based jazz and R&B and a few songs worthy of Tin Pan Alley and Broadway...the album ends with 'Reconcile,' a soul ballad of the kind Dan Penn could have written for Percy Sledge. It’s another example of Wainwright’s deep, wide talent." (John Wirt/OffBeat)
"A stunning stew of blues- and roots-drenched, piano- and B3-based rock ‘n’ roll...the crossroads of Power and Soul, allowing original songs time to ferment in the all-encompassing brew of Americana traditions. Nathaniel Rateliff meets The Black Crowes in Dr. John’s parlor." (Donald Teplyske/Fervor Coulee)
"Not just loud, but Memphis Loud, the latest sermon of boisterous, big-hearted Americana from Victor Wainwright and The Train is an absolute showstopper that shakes, rattles and rolls until it’s completely out of breath... the piano-pounding Wainwright lets it all hang out, preaching about unity and kindness and rekindling a romance that’s long been in a rut, among other subjects...Nobody’s asleep in the pews when Wainwright grabs the pulpit, and with Memphis Loud, he’s driving an iron horse of full-on boogie-woogie and rich Southern soul that’s bound for glory...gregarious personality that’s so infectious. It comes pouring out of Memphis Loud, as The Train’s six other members jam with a luxurious, vibrant, freewheeling sound...Running the gamut from roots rock to blues, jazz, psychedelia and soul/R&B, Memphis Loud is a blowout from beginning to end." (Peter Lindblad/Elmore Magazine)
" ...a concert-set quality stack of songs with arrangements to match. The Grammy-nominated Memphis-based keyboardist/vocalist’s own boogie-plus piano work is buttressed with bold, brawny horn charts and strategic breakdowns that take the presentation of his roots-bound originals and collaborations to another level...A solid, best-of-the-year candidate." (Duane Verh/Roots Music Report)
"Through 13 original songs, Wainwright showcases his deep understanding of American roots music…dazzling sonic landscape...Track by track, Victor Wainwright and The Train will captivate you with soaring vocals, stunning arrangements and top-notch musicianship." (Mark Thompson/Blues Music Magazine)
"like all great songs, the songs that make up Memphis Loud are timeless and timely at once...As a GRAMMY-nominated kingpin of American roots music, 7 Time Blues Music Award winner – including Band of the Year & B.B. King Entertainer and as the 2020 Blues Music Award winner for Instrumentalist Piano, Victor Wainwright’s keyboards drive every track of Memphis Loud. The songs are purposeful and well orchestrated. Every note has a part to play and the empty spaces are poignant. Victor Wainwright is a creator of original music that is ageless...equally at home in Americana, Jam, Soul, Funk, Blues, Jazz and even Psyche- delia genres. The common thread is that Victor Wainwright weaves these genres into something modern, fun, unique, emotional and powerful." (Viola Krouse/Making A Scene)
"Memphis Loud is truly right on time. The follow up to 2018’s Victor Wainwright & The Train, the new release is even more powerful, more focused, just more." (JD Nash/American Blues Scene)
"The overall sound is not exactly a Memphis sound, but an intriguing hybrid...the incredibly tight band does navigate the twists and turns of Wainwright's originals with vigor and verve, ...this music wears a blues chassis, but surprises you with the heft and polish of the state-of-the-art engine that revs inside." (Alex Greene/Memphis Flyer)
"Victor Wainwright and his amped up, rowdy band, the Train, are a force to be reckoned with on this 12-song set that’s full of raucous joy, fun storytelling, and even a few moments of sweet tenderness." (Tom Henry/Toledo Blade)
"A multiple award-winning keyboardist and vocalist, Wainwright occasionally conjures ghosts of The Band, especially on the funky syncopated 'Walk the Walk.' 'Sing' draws from Dixieland jazz while 'Disappear' is almost Allman Brothers in its majestic transmutation of blues into rock." (Dave Luhrssen/Shepherd Express)
"Known for twisting music into bold new shapes, Victor Wainwright and The Train are back once again to delightfully stun music fans everywhere. Memphis Loud is piano powered roots, blues ‘n’ boogie so full of heart and soul you just might weep...There’s a New Orleans sense of awe, wonder and joi de vivre in Memphis Loud that goes right down to its bones... So many southern musical traditions come together on Memphis Loud, it feels like something John Fogerty would love to have in his own musical collection. The attention to detail and craft on each track is bracing and the album was tracked live, leaving the vocal ad-libs and chemistry intact for us to enjoy too as we get immersed in a live musical experience. Throwing Memphis Loud in your CD player or on your turntable quickly turns into more than just listening to another record; it’s very nearly a religious experience." (John Kereiff/The Rock Doctor)
"don’t miss this one - it’s full of sass, energy and plenty of creative musical interludes. It’s a studio album that sounds like a live performance." (Jim Clark/Lee County Courier)
"a superb recording with plenty of musical magic" (Ron Weinstock/In A Blue Mood)
"casts a spell" (JP's Music Blog)
"Call it jump-blues, boogie-woogie, honky-tonk or plain old rock ‘n roll, the music which Grammy nominee, Savannah-born pianist Victor Wainwright records and so clearly adores, practically crackles with electricity. It’s a force summoned from the deep roots of the earth and channelled through the spirit and into his fingers, powered by American history and informed by decades of roots music...With Memphis Loud, Victor Wainwright certainly brings down the roof, yet he also brings us delicacy and nuance." (Chris Wheatley/Rock and Blues Muse)
"It’s in my wheelhouse of sounding vintage and warm, but with modern recording and mixing techniques to keep it sounding fresh...The first song 'Mississippi' swells in with Wainwright’s boogie-woogie piano playing and erupts into a full-on blues party. Check the box for opening track getting the energy going...blues/soul/Americana/Creole/folk/country...a very solid album." (Jon Siembieda/Tahoe OnStage)
"These songs, whose essence is rooted in blues, jazz, rock ‘n’roll, and boogie-woogie, all push those genres forward, with a refreshing modern take. The music here stomps and sizzles, but it also breathes in a most restorative way...Highly recommended." (Greg Victor/Parcbench)
"The dude's career has been on fire in the last few years, with the recent album by Victor Wainwright And The Train, Memphis Loud (Ruf Records) continuing a run of solid and intriguing recordings. Wainwright packs a wallop of energy into his music, with plenty of backing musicians adding to the big sound coming through the speakers. It's music that will have you tapping your feet and shaking your legs throughout the dozen Wainwright originals on Memphis Loud...solid New Orleans piano...emotional and inspirational vocals...The career of Victor Wainwright And The Train has been moving faster than a runaway locomotive, so be sure to hop on when you can." (Bill Mitchell/BluesBytes)
"Grammy nominated Victor Wainwright and his six-piece band The Train stretch out and push the limits on their new album Memphis Loud...far-reaching and dynamic collection of 12 original songs,,,the new tracks push the boundaries and mesh genres together in a sonic stew of funk, Americana, Jazz, Blues and power soul, driven by Wainwright’s muscular piano, soaring vocals, and heartfelt contemplative lyrics. He sings about joy and pain, heartache and redemption and even his good old hound dog, leaving few stones unturned, with the band playing as a whirling dervish of frenzied energy behind him…Wainwright and The Train clearly demonstrate why they are seven-time Blues Music Award winners on this compelling new album." (Rick J. Bowen/Washington Blues Society Bluesletter)
"Steaming, smoking and loaded with all the good vibes you want a party platter to bring to the party, he's hit it way out of the park one more time. Killer stuff." (Chris Spector/Midwest Record)
"larger-than-life vocal delivery channel a bluesy masterclass built upon an array of impressive keyboard histrionics that, in places, recall Dr John...The twelve tracks are a heady mix of Memphis soul with larger-than-life backing vocals, an exciting horn section, all delivering a rollercoaster listening experience. It’s a boogie express that never stops." (Paul McGee/Lonesome Highway)
"Victor Wainwright is a...powerful force...delicious album featuring all original material, written or co-written by Victor Wainwright...'Memphis Loud,' the album’s title track, comes barreling along, and best you get the hell out of the way...And holy moly, I love Victor Wainwright’s work on piano here, pushing everything forward. track is tremendous fun, certainly one of the album’s best. It is followed by 'Sing,' which opens with some absolutely delightful work on piano. Immediately you feel like perhaps you’ve taken a step back in time, listening to this jazzy and timeless gem. If forced to choose my favorite track on the album, this would be it. No question". (Michael's Music Log)
Accomplishments and Awards:
2020 BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE FOR THE PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2019 GRAMMY NOMINEE (CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM)
2018 #1 MOST PLAYED CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
2018 #2 MOST PLAYED BLUES ALBUM OVERALL OF THE YEAR
2018 #1 ON THE TOP 10 BILLBOARD | BLUES
2018 BLUES MUSIC AWARD WINNER FOR THE PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2017 BLUES MUSIC AWARD WINNER FOR THE PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2016 BLUES MUSIC AWARD WINNER FOR BB KING ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, & BAND OF THE YEAR
2016 BLUES BLAST AWARD WINNER FOR CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
2015 TOP 10 BILLBOARD | BLUES #5
2014 WINNER | BLUES MUSIC AWARD “PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR”
2013 WINNER | BLUES MUSIC AWARD “PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR”