Exciting times for New Zealand blues rock act BB & The Bullets. Their debut album, High Tide, has been scooped up by iconic French record label Dixie Frog Records and is due for international release through the label on September 12. The album was recorded in Whanganui, NZ at producer and band leader Brian Baker’s Nixon Street recording studio.

The album consists of seven original tunes and five classic blues covers. “We included the blues covers as we wanted to firmly establish ourselves as a contemporary blues act, where we could comfortably fit into a festival or concert alongside modern blues acts like Joe Bonamassa and Eric Gales,” says Baker. Band members Brad McMillan (drums), Stu Duncan (bass) and Brian Baker (guitar and vocals) couldn’t be happier “Working with Dixie Frog and seeing our record released in Europe, UK, The States and New Zealand is a dream come true for our little Whanganui band,” continues Baker. “We hope everybody comes along for the ride!”

The title track, released May 30, tells the story of a person trying to control the uncontrollable, a farmer whose land is threatened by a river. The recording features the keyboard skills of Brian’s compadre from a previous incarnation – the indelible Eddie Rayner, (Split Enz and Crowded House). Eddie and Brian worked together on film scores and as a Warner Bros act called The Makers. Eddie’s organ contribution to the song lifts the track and helps fill out the sound to portray the highly charged emotions the song conveys. The video for the song was filmed in Whanganui and at Patea Bay, and features the rusted hulk of the wreck of the S.S Waitangi, a steamer that was beached there in 1923.

BIOGRAPHY

After returning home from Australia, Brian Baker wasted no time making his mark on the New Zealand music scene with highly acclaimed and critically acclaimed singles and music videos. His solo show, in particular, has seen him perform at concerts and festivals across the country.

He joined forces with two New Zealand musicians, Stu Duncan and Brad McMillan, both seasoned artists. The band, called BB & The Bullets, focuses on blues, covering songs by Albert King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and other classics of the genre. They also perform some of Brian’s excellent compositions and have recorded a few original tracks. These tracks comprise their debut album, High Tide. The guitar playing that made Brian’s solo performances so distinctive is well showcased here, supported by a dynamic live rhythm section. Their concerts have been warmly received wherever they’ve performed, notably receiving standing ovations at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, where they delivered six remarkable performances in three days!