Aaron Williams has earned the reputation as one of the finest young bluesman out on the circuit today. This contemporary four piece is primed for the lime-light. From fat New Orleans funk to west coast swing, from Beale St. blues to a Texas shuffle; they flow effortlessly throughout a show. With the drive and conviction rarely seen these days, this band is showing fans one show at a time that they believe in what their doing. This same exact approach of one show at a time attitude is a sight to see; you'll never catch the same show twice and be amazed at least once.
Press
Isthmus Newspaper "Madison's Favorites-2007" New Band Catergory
"You guy's are the tightest, brightest band I've heard in a long time"
Uncle Jack Mckay- KSSS Rock 101- Bismarck, ND
"Kid, you got a real future in this business. Keep it up!"
Coco Montoya- International Blues Recording Artist
"Wow, you guy's rock"
Snapshot- WMEQ 92.1- Eau Claire, WI
"Aaron Williams on guitar, and he's a huge presence here, playing with a fluid finesse that belies his youth. Favoring a lean, clean sound, his solos are slinky and sly, bursting with ferocious jabs and explosive flurries. He also displays a mature intelligence in his comping behind Joe. I hear a lot of Ronnie Earl in his playing already . . . . Aaron has a future!"
John Taylor- Blues on Stage
Bio
Aaron Williams has earned the reputation as one of the finest young bluesman out on the circuit today. This contemporary four piece is primed for the lime-light. From fat New Orleans funk to west coast swing, from Beale St. blues to a Texas shuffle; they flow effortlessly throughout a show. With the drive and conviction rarely seen these day’s, this band is showing fans one show at a time that they believe in what their doing. This same exact approach of “one show at a time” attitude is a sight to see; you’ll never catch the same show twice and be amazed at least once.
Aaron, like so many other determined young player’s had a veteran musician to “cut his teeth” with. None other then his father Cadillac Joe Andersen. At the age of 16, Aaron picked up the guitar and became obsessed with the instrument. At the ripe old age of 18 he was already sneaking into some of the areas top jams and was keeping up with veteran players. He eventually found a home at the Silver Moon where many great players would show up on Thursday nights for this blues jam. With the likes of Looper Lucas, Michael Coleman, Glen Davis playing, he was in the right place to learn the craft of a blues front man. After noticing this skinny little kid showing up and belting out the blues week after week Michael Coleman dubbed him “Youngblood” and would call him up to get on stage whenever the crowd needed a boost. Aaron still credits these years as the stepping stone to the kind of player he is today.
Cadillac Joe, noticing his kid’s prowess for the blues signed him on for his next project, The Cadillac Joe Blues Band. Touring the Midwest extensively with his father and doing over a 100 shows a year, Aaron was able to learn the craft and business of music. “I wouldn’t trade those years for anything in this world, spending all those miles in a truck with the old man….you learn a lot of things, not only about music, but life.” The road took them to some of the Midwest’s top blues cities and clubs, playing large music festivals all over. With the stock rising on the Cadillac Joe Blues Band, the now de-funk blues club, Luther Blues in Madison, took them on as their house band. This gave Aaron a large following and he was able to play with some of the foremost blues players in the world. Shemeika Copeland, Bernard Allison, Coco Montoya, Jimmy Thackery, Carey Bell, Lil’ Ed, Jonnie Bassett, Deborah Coleman, Taj Mahal, Canned Heat and the list goes on. After hearing Aaron play Coco Montoya said, “kid, you got a real future in this business, keep it up!” Yearning for that hard driving sound, Aaron knew his calling was in the blues world and decided to strike out on his own. Mixing blues, funk and some rock is the heart of this four piece. “The blues ain’t about being sad, it’s about making people feel good.”
Holding down the funky grooves is Zac “Z-man” Auner on bass. Zac’s no stranger to the music scene, playing anything from funk to jazz; he dials it in and keeps the crowds moving. Zac will put down some of the most funkified bass solo’s this area’s heard. The beat goes on with Eric “Shack” Shackelford on drums. With too many awards to list, he is a true professional in the sense. His love for funk and blues makes for the perfect harmony of the two when drumming for the Hoodoo. Always with a smile on his face you can’t help but tap your toes to his funky beats. For those special nights, Cadillac Joe joins the Hoodoo giving you his masterful skills on THE beast- the Hammond B3. Also, the man P. Boogie, Pete Ross will add his soulful blues licks on the alto sax
Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo are poised to take its place as one of the finest groups in the Midwest today. Get ready for some funkified blues for you!