Chicago's Medicine Hat combines roots-rock, jam-rock and Americana, with a gritty attitude emphasizing substance over style.  Creating a sound sometimes reminiscent of classic era CCR, Rolling Stones or Crazy Horse, while giving a nod and wink to more recent artists such as The Drive By Truckers  and Son Volt, the members of Medicine Hat are slowly carving out their own niche, oblivious to trends or fads that fade away as soon as they appear.  Despite delivering a decidedly ‘American’ sound (and often taking strong social and political stances), the band has none-the-less-sold albums in such far away locales as England, Germany, Spain, and Japan.  To be sure,  ‘The Hat’ are best experienced live, as they continue to earn a reputation for their raucous, energetic performances.  

Since 2005, the band has enjoyed a number of fine accomplishments, which include:

*"Highway Run", from the album Sundown Road, was featured in a nation-wide radio campaign in the summer of 2005.*

*"This Town", from the album Hymns and Curses From The Heartland, won the top Americana vote in the 2005 Nashville Songprize songwriting competition.*

*"Saint In Tattered Clothes", also from Hymns and Curses From the Heartland, was hand-picked for inclusion on Atlanta, Georgia's Shut Eye Records' "The United State of Americana, Vol. III" compilation album.*

*"Downtown Vampires", off the band's third record (State Of The Union), was picked by Chicago's WXRT Radio as one of the top songs of 2006.*

         To contact the band via e-mail, click this link... medicinehatband@hotmail.com

         For some great Medicine Hat merchandise, visit our on-line gift shop:

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Demi Buckley   
Guitars, vocals, mandolin, banjo, lap steel

 

   Hometown: Chicago, IL

 

   Demi is the band's principal songwriter.  He is extremely fond of suspended chords, and once (politely) declined an invitation to join the IRA...

  

Favorite albums:

Exile On Main St. - Rolling Stones

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion -  

   The Black Crowes

Eat a Peach - The Allman Brothers Band

Abbey Road - The Beatles

Being There - Wilco

Sweetheart of the Rodeo - The Byrds

Live At Leeds - The Who

Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones

On The Beach -  Neil Young

Band of Gypsies - Jimi Hendrix/The Band of Gypsies

Europe ’72 - The Grateful Dead

Muswell Hillbillies - The Kinks

John Barleycorn Must Die -  Traffic

Music From Big Pink - The Band

The Beatles (White Album) - The Beatles

 

 
 

John DiNunzio 

  Bass, vocals

 

  Hometown: Carpentersville, IL

 

   John started on guitar at the age of nine, then switched to 4-string at seventeen, due to a shortage of competent bass players.  He is an avid collecter of bass and six-string guitars.  John also plays mandolin, and has even been known to play some brass horns.  Greatly influenced by The Byrds (amongst others), he's rumored to have a restraining order against him issued by Roger
McGuinn ...

 

Favorite albums:

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -
The Beatles

Who's Next - The Who

Untitled - The Byrds

Live at Leeds - The Who

Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde - The Byrds

Revolver - The Beatles

L.A. Woman - The Doors

Sweetheart of the Rodeo - The Byrds

Paranoid - Black Sabbath

Europe '72 - The Grateful Dead

 

 
 

Tara Rich 
Drums, percussion

 

  Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

 

  Hailing from L.A., Tara comes from a musical background--her grandfather was an accomplished bluegrass banjo player.  Playing since age 12, Tara was influenced by classic country and classic rock, including The Stones, Zeppelin, and The Who.  Tara  also serves as somewhat of a spiritual mentor to the rest of the band.

 

 

Favorite albums:

Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs - Marty Robbins

Live From Muskogee - Merle Haggard

Exile On Main St. - Rolling Stones

Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin

Pacific Ocean Blue - Dennis Wilson

Live at Carnegie Hall-1938 - Benny Goodman

Orlando Cachaito Lopez - Orlando Cachaito Lopez

Moonflower - Santana

Devil Music Volume 1 - White Zombie

Band of Gypsies - Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsies

 


 

 

Todd Hackl  
Guitars, mandolin, lap steel, vocals

 

   Hometown: Chicago, IL

 

   Todd is the latest addition to the MH line-up, and brings a wealth of experience to the band.  His playing has added a melodic dimension the band didn't previously have, and has  become an integral part of the outfit in his short time with Medicine Hat.

  

Favorite albums:

Crossing Muddy Waters - John Hiatt

One Hundred Year Hall -  The Grateful Dead

Pontiac - Lyle Lovett

Muddy Waters Live - Muddy Waters

John Prine - John Prine

Hollywood Town Hall - The Jayhawks

I Feel Alright - Steve Earle

Everything by Buddy Holly

Exile On Main St. -  Rolling Stones

Strangers Almanac - Whiskeytown