Kathy & the Kilowatts have been described as “Doug Sahm meets the Fabulous Thunderbirds” and Murray herself was likened by one critic to “the lovechild of Jimmy Reed and Wanda Jackson!” The band, with lead singer and songwriter Kathy Murray at the helm, has been making real-deal Texas roots & blues for nearly four decades. Their new recording, “Let’s Do This Thing!”, is comprised of 15 Kathy Murray originals, and reflects Murray’s lifelong fermentation in the classic regional styles of Texas music. Sparked by the guitar gusto of Bill “Monster “Jones (Kathy’ husband), the Kilowatts’ sound is both firmly rooted in the blues and delivered with a modern-day urgency.

Though the album boasts all original material, the grooves on “Let’s Do This Thing!” are deep, diverse and wide. ‘Read ‘Em & Weep’ and ‘One Lie Leads to Another’ reflect Murray’s deep love of Texas blues in the styles of Freddie King and Lightnin’ Hopkins. ‘Beautiful Moments’ and ‘These Lonely Hours’ conjure the flavor of the Texas border sounds that drift over from Louisiana and Mexico. The butt-rocking 90’s era of the Fabulous Thunderbirds receives a salute with ‘Let’s Do This Thing!’, ‘Talking Out My Head’ and ‘Love Came Knocking’ and the introspective ‘I Want To’ was inspired by the heartland blues of Lucinda Williams. One can hear Stevie Ray Vaughan’s and the late Doyle Bramhall Sr.’s influence on ‘Call Me Mrs. Blues,’ which won Murray an Australian Chain Award for Song of the Year.

“Let’s Do This Thing!” finds Kathy Murray at the pinnacle of her talents as a singer and songwriter. If one loves classic guitar driven Texas blues, then this album will delight!

Let's Do This Thing

Exception To The Rule

Austin’s blues scene in the 1980-90’s was a very vibrant time. Stevie Ray Vaughan was creating a legacy on the world scene and brother Jimmie Vaughan was not far behind with his own major label recordings and MTV videos. Antone’s nightclub was in full bloom, reviving the careers of many blues legends with Clifford’s own blues-a-palooza anniversary star-studded shows. Well before the existence of any SRV statues, blues cruises, blues internet blogs, the multitudes of blues festivals and blues band contests, this era was the seeding for Austin’s future motto: “Live Music Capital of the World”. 
Groovin’ with Big D is a result of that time period, with the award winning Kathy Murray at the helm on lead vocals and flexing her songwriting muscle. Featuring Bill Jones on guitar, Hans Alehag on bass, Dan Torosian on sax, Floyd Domino on piano, and Doyle Bramhall, Sr. laying it down from the drum throne, this CD showcases the best of those live studio sessions.  This music is silky smooth, makes you want to dance, and also goes great with cold beer and smoky Texas BBQ.
Choosing a top blues drummer with a deep understanding of how to create a seductive groove for the project was paramount, and enlisting their long-time friend and SRV hit maker, Doyle Bramhall Sr. was just the ticket. The Texas shuffle is a unique and rare style of drumming, and when authentically performed, creates the perfect base for a successful blues songwriter like Kathy Murray.  Hence, that is why this CD is titled Groovin’ with Big D!
When a major label deal for the project fell through in the 1990s, these tracks were shelved in the vault. Upon recent listening, the determination was made to release Groovin’ with Big D on Murray’s own label, Lectro Fine Records.  This CD is a slice of Texas blues history, a taste of a time when there was something special in the air and real magic was emanating from the Austin blues scene.
Groovin’ with Big D is dedicated to the late great Doyle Bramhall Sr., one of the true genuine Texas bluesman.

1991 Ben Blan Audio w/ Doyle Bramhall

Out of Love

Off The Clock

Never Trouble Trouble

Mr Negavibes

Last But Not Least

Help the Bear

Good Rockin Daddy

Firefly

Damage You Can Do

Relatively Blue

Bird In The Hand

These Lonely Hours

I Want To

Kathy & the Kilowatts, with lead singer and songwriter Kathy Murray at the helm, has been making real-deal Texas roots music for nearly four decades. Their new recording, “Let’s Do This Thing!”, is comprised of 15 Kathy Murray originals, and reflects Murray’s lifelong fermentation in the classic regional styles of Texas music. Sparked by the guitar gusto of Bill “Monster” Jones, the Kilowatts’ sound is both firmly rooted in the blues and delivered with a modern-day urgency.

This is far from Murray’s first time at the rodeo. She has helped keep a spotlight on the Texas capital’s music scene and cut her teeth during the golden era of Austin’s blues and R&B scene in the 1980s and early 90s. Kathy Murray believes, not without justification, that even after a lifetime onstage and on record, the best days for Kathy & the Kilowatts are still to come.

Kathy Murray _ Kilowatt Music

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