PIPER & THE HARD TIMES Proves to be GOOD COMPANY August 29, 2025

Artiest/Band: Piper & The Hard Times  Album: Good Company Single: Good Gompany Release 29th August 2025 Label: Hard Times Record Format: CD/LP/DL/Vinyl Genre: Blues/Soul  Upcoming Dates | www.piperandthehardtimes.com Hard Times Records is proud to announce the release of  PIPER & THE HARD TIMES' GOOD COMPANY, the follow-up to their award-winning debut album Revelation, on AUGUST 29, 2025......►►►

"There is so much power in Green’s take-no-prisoners vocals and the band’s rave-ups, some would be advised to take this potent medicine in small doses. Those who savor this intoxicating mix of blues, soul, and rock will down it like a shot of their favorite whiskey.” (Jim Hynes/Rock And Blues Muse)

 

"a tight-ass band...Piper's silky, soulful throat propels the band through a wild ride that blends southern music from The Allmans to Stax into a butt-shaking blues orgasm that would make ol' Muddy blush…a terrific mash-up of gritty guitar and smooth singing.”  (Jeff Napier/NUVO)

 

Piper & The Hard Times is not your ordinary band. Since winning the 2024 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in January 2024, the Nashville-based blues-rock band has been shot out of a cannon. Their August 2024 debut album Revelation spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart and finished the year on numerous “best of” lists. Revelation then went on to win the "2025 IBC Best Independent Produced album” and the 2025 BMA Award for “Best Emerging Artist Album” in May 2025 at the 46^th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis. “…one of America's premier new blues groups.” (Ron Wynn/Nashville Scene)

Eager to keep the momentum going, Piper & The Hard Times started playing new material in the fall and winter of 2024 and 2025. They proceeded to record their sophomore album, Good Company, in late March and April 2025. The bulk of the recording was completed at the legendary Oceanway Studio A in Nashville, TN. They again partnered with Revelation producer Tres Sasser and engineer Joe Costa. 

The core band of guitarist Steve “The Conductor” Eagon, Al “Piper” Green, and drummer Dave “Sexy Boy” Colella had a vision to create an album of original songs with a strong blues foundation while adding their other varied musical influences. What you get is James Brown style funk on “Not Your Fault”, straight up rock and roll with “Good Company”, a fuzzed-out ZZ Top style number in “Cowboy Gucci,” and the Sly Stone inspired groove of “Tear it Down.” The soulful mid-tempo song “Those Days” has elicited strong emotional responses from people with its lyrics about simpler times, and is arguably the band’s finest performance on the album. The 8-minute song was recorded in one take with Eddie Meyer overdubbing on saxophone. The blues is firmly represented on Good Company yet pulled and stretched in different directions. 

Flying high from finishing Good Company and seeing their booking calendar fill up, Piper & The Hard Times' tremendous 15-month run was dealt a serious gut-punch on June 4, 2025 when frontman Al “Piper” Green was diagnosed with cancer. More of a family than just a band, Piper & the Hard Times, as well as the entire blues music community, have pulled together to rally behind Piper and his new challenges. The outpouring of love and support from fans and the community has been overwhelming. Piper & The Hard Times has limited their touring schedule for now to allow Piper to focus on his healing. 

"I've got friends who keep me humble/They know when to pour me a double/I keep them close all around me/It's called good company” (from the title track - Piper & The Hard Times Good Company)

 

 

About Piper & the Hard Times:

The core of the band Piper & the Hard Times, Al “Piper” Green (vocalist/songwriter), Steve Eagon (guitarist/songwriter/bandleader), and Dave Colella (drummer/songwriter) have been playing and writing together for over 20 years while establishing themselves as a premier live act on the roots music scene. The band is rounded out by Amy "The Professor" Frederick on keyboards and Parker "Funkstick Porkchop" Hawkins on bass. 

 

As the band’s frontman, Al "Piper" Green's lead vocals and charisma combine the flamboyance and earthiness of blues with the power and authority of gospel which represent the two biggest influences in his life. He takes the band and audience on a wild journey every show and does his best to turn the room upside down come showtime. Growing up in a musically inclined family in Bolivar, Tennessee, he sang in a gospel choir while also hearing the best of soul, pop and rock on the radio. Green contributes to the band's original songs with lyrics based on personal stories and experience which he sings with authority.

 

Guitarist Steve Eagon grew up in Northern Ohio and has been playing guitar since his teen years. Unlike Green, Eagon did not grow up in a musical family but was drawn to the guitar because of its “coolness factor.” A multitude of artists have served as influences from Muddy Waters' blend of electrified Delta blues to B.B. King's more urban stylings and the dynamic, powerful approaches of Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. As the band's principal composer, his writing style meshes multiple elements into an engaging and captivating personal group sound. That collective firepower is also indicative of the closeness shared by Eagon, Piper, and drummer Dave Colella. 

 

New Jersey native Dave Colella shares arranging duties on the original songs and brings a percussive edge and energy to the group's performances. A drummer since age seven, Colella's prior associations include studies with the great jazz drummer Joe Morello, best known for his years with Dave Brubeck. Colella says that it taught him "how" to play as opposed to "what." His playing also reflects a widespread knowledge and love of multiple idioms, as well as a thorough knowledge of vintage and contemporary blues. With Colella driving the band’s engine, a foundation is created for each band member to add their own flair.

Piper & the Hard Times have been delighting audiences across the South for many years. When you hear them, you're getting a lot more than just inspired covers or retooled bar band material. Instead, you're hearing poignant, inspired "from the soul" music from these talented guys who love playing, and they bring that energy and vitality to the bandstand each and every night.  

"After playing almost 150 shows and touring the United States since our IBC win, we grew close not just as bandmates, but more so as friends. The sheer joy we have playing together is captured on this album and truly represents who we are musically. To say we're proud of "Good Company" is an understatement.” (Steve Eagon)

 

"We may not see each other for some time/our love and friendship last a lifetime” (“Those Days”)    

www.piperandthehardtimes.com

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  CONTACT: Karen Leipziger | Productions karenleipziger@comcast.net

📃 Revieuw of this Album Piper & The Hard Times - Good Company.