The Informants
The Informants will forever fondly remember 2008 as the year the band "arrived." Following the November 2007 release of the band's critically acclaimed debut recording, Stiletto Angel, the Informants quickly established themselves as rising stars on the burgeoning Denver music scene. While Westword was busy including Stiletto Angel among its "Best 2007 Denver Releases," naming the Informants "Denver's Best Bar Band," and honoring them at the 2008 Westword Music Showcase Awards with the "Best Blues Band" award; critics and radio programmers around the world were offering the band a taste of mainstream success. Stiletto Angel's distinctive, universally appealing sound caught the ear of House of Blues Radio Hour host Dan Aykroyd, who featured the title track as the "Blues Breaker" song of the week and said of the band, "they will not be Denver's little secret for long." He was right. Since then more than 300 radio stations worldwide have added the CD to rotation, including a rare 1 debut at WPTS-FM Pittsburgh. Toss in a couple dozen rave reviews, a recent television feature on the Altitude Network music program On Stage, and a Muzak licensing deal, and suddenly the Informants are an international sensation. Not bad considering that barely two years before the release of Stiletto Angel, singer Kerry Pastine and bassist Mac McMurray first spoke of forming a band after bumping into each other at a nightclub. Within days of that encounter they enlisted pianist Mark Richardson, drummer Paul Christophersen, guitarist Paul Shellooe and the dual sax attack of Kenny Plum and Jonny Love. Since debuting live in January 2006, their invigorating and impassioned performances have become something of local legend. After naming the Informants "Best Bar Band," Westword had this to say on the subject, "Plenty of musicians take umbrage if their group is called a bar band. Still, the finest acts with this label don't need open taps or drink specials to work their magic; their playing is intoxicating enough." Inspired by the roots music of the legendary juke joints, Richardson would emerge as the band's primary songwriter, composing a set of eclectic upbeat roots numbers showcasing Pastine's powerful vocals and sex-kitten charm. While Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Joss Stone and Sharon Jones re-fashioned the sounds of Philly and Motown, Pastine and the Informants have recast the mold of the Memphis and New Orleans vibes. Mixed by Big Head Todd & the Monster's Jeremy Lawton, Stiletto Angel has proven to be more than just an exercise in retro recycling; as one critic put it, "not only are the Informants able to recreate a great vintage sound, at times they also manage to sprinkle in a little bit of modern music, creating something new and alive." So when will the Informants rest? Not this year -- or next. Having recently shared stages with Koko Taylor, Tab Benoit, Firefall, Lifehouse, KT Tunstall, and the Railbenders--not to mention Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (on blues harp at the DNC), the Informants will wrap up the Stiletto Angel Tour in Denver on Thanksgiving Eve, before heading into the studio for winter hibernation. Richardson recently revealed in an interview that he has nineteen new songs ready for Stiletto Angel's follow-up, and has recently begun writing for the third record. First things first, look for the Informants' second album in spring 2009.