Folsom fans can see famed actor Billy Bob Thornton in his musical role as Harris Center for the Arts presents The Boxmasters, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1.
In addition to being one of the nation’s most acclaimed actors, Billy Bob (Bud) Thornton is also recognized for his musical talents. He has recorded four solo albums: “Private Radio,” “Edge Of The World,” “Hobo” and “Beautiful Door.” He has also appeared on numerous recordings by other artists, including Warren Zevon’s Grammy winning album “The Wind,” the legendary Earl Scruggs’ “Earl Scruggs And Friends” and “Anchored In Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash.” He recently co-wrote the song “The Middle Of Nowhere” with Tony Joe White on his album “Rain Crow.”
In 2007 Thornton and J.D. Andrew formed The Boxmasters, to satisfy their craving for ’60s beats. The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on the musicians’ love of a wide array of influences.
Andrew, is a Grammy award-winning recording engineer whose credits include The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, The Pussycat Dolls, Will Kimbrough, Tommy Womack, Guy Clark and more.
As a touring band, The Boxmasters have cultivated a rabid cult fanbase across the United States and Canada. Opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Kid Rock, The Boxmasters have proven to win over large audiences. As a headliner, frequent stops in Kansas City at Knuckleheads, Springfield, Ill., at Boondocks, and Merrimack Hall in Huntsville, Ala., have shown dedicated yet still growing audiences. Two appearances at Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, N.Y., were highlight performances for the band, as well as the Ramble at The Ryman that Levon hosted in 2008.
The Boxmasters performed on “The Grand Ole Opry” in 2015, another in a growing résumé of must-play venues. During the shutdown of 2020, the recording studios in Los Angeles were closed for several months. For avid creators Thornton and Andrew, this was a time to start planning and writing for the day that the studios would open again and what sort of new songs would emerge. Over the course of the next year, The Boxmasters would record three new albums.
In recalling the creation of the title track on the album “Help … I’m Alive,” Thornton said, “It’s been difficult for people to live in this world for the past few years. Normally you hear someone cry out ‘Help, I’m drowning’ or ‘Help, I’m dying.’ The song is a tongue-in-cheek way of saying, ‘Wow it sucks being here right now.’ Well, OK, it’s really not so tongue-in-cheek. I came up with the chorus and melody just walking around the house during lockdown. It just came out in that moment, just as it is on the record. I picked up a guitar and Facetimed J.D.”
Harris Center for the Arts is located at 10 College Parkway on the Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit HarrisCenter.net.
