THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band are a true force of nature. With a relentless touring schedule that has taken them to 38 countries and all but two states, they’ve electrified audiences at some of the world’s most iconic festivals. They’ve topped the charts, graced magazine covers, and earned three Blues Music Award nominations. If you need more proof of their impact, The Indianapolis Star named Peyton one of the 25 greatest Hoosier musicians of all time.
But accolades and miles traveled only tell part of the story. What truly sets the Big Damn Band apart is heart. Whether it’s Peyton’s masterful fingerpicking, Washboard Breezy’s unshakable groove, or Jacob “The Snakob” Powell’s rock-solid rhythms, this trio play every show like it’s a front-porch revival. It’s blues with grit, soul, and a deep reverence for tradition, but with a fire that feels anything but nostalgic.
That spirit is alive and well on Honeysuckle, their latest album, produced and recorded by Peyton and mixed by Grammy winner Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White). The record leans into the raw, acoustic blues that first inspired Peyton to make pilgrimages to Mississippi, studying under legends like T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. It’s an album steeped in tradition but not bound by it, blending classic influences with fresh energy.
Adding to the album’s depth is a lineup of heavyweight guests: The powerhouse gospel harmonies of The McCrary Sisters on Manger, Blues Hall of Famer Billy Branch lending his harmonica prowess to Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Nell (Prison Cell Blues), 10-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland tearing through Freeborn Man, and The Dead South’s Colton Crawford picking banjo on The Good Die Young.
“This record is a bit of a return to my roots,” the good Reverend explains. “It’s the most acoustic record we’ve made in years — vintage microphones, vintage guitars, vintage recording gear, and a lot of me and my National guitar. There’s a smattering of Big Damn Band energy thrown in to spice things up, and a short list of legends I’ve always dreamed of collaborating with.”
With Honeysuckle, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band reaffirm why they’re considered one of the most vital acts in modern blues. They don’t just play the music — they live it, breathe it, and take it straight to the people.”
