It has long been said that first impressions are everything, but this is especially true in the world of entertainment. A filmmaker’s first film, a painter’s first piece, or a musician’s first album can make or break them. On the one hand, if it’s great, it will endear audiences to them for the foreseeable future, earning them a great deal of goodwill and allegiance from fans across the world. On the other hand, if it isn’t great, it can be very hard to earn a sense of trust back from audiences who feel scorned and already decidedly against a given entertainer. That’s why, when it came time to lay down their debut full-length album, Piper & The Hard Times ensured that it was the exact kind of first impression they wanted to make.
The result is Revelation, an album that sees Piper & The Hard Times’ collective band members (Steve Eagon, Dave Colella, Al “Piper” Green, Amy Frederick, and Parker Hawkins) all coming together to deliver a deeply personal, emotionally-fueled work that showcases over two decades of musical growth from each member. In taking the time to get it right, Revelation is, indeed, an artistic high-point of the band’s career and a genuinely revelatory listening experience.
The Multi-Decade History of Piper & The Hard Times
The founding members of Piper & The Hard Times have been together for over 20 years, making roots-rock music with a strong blues foundation. While quickly garnering a reputation as a premiere live band in their area, the band was initially largely content with regional weekend shows. Thousands of shows later, having honed their craft and stage presence in remarkable ways, the band decided to test their mettle. Piper & The Hard Times entered and won the Nashville regional Blues Challenge in the summer of 2023, and won the 2024 International Blues Challenge in January 2024.
The band is centered around Al “Piper” Green’s huge gospel-influenced voice and charisma, as well as a stellar band able to improvise and build a soundscape that creates musical experiences that harken to heroes of the past. This, combined with their knack for crafting unforgettable hooks and melodies, has made for the unique synthesis that is the beating heart of Piper & The Hard Times.
The process of recording Revelation was both a labor of love, combining seasoned musicianship with fresh creativity, and the culmination of a twenty-plus-year journey for the band. When Revelation was released on August 16, 2024, it shot to the top of the Billboard Blues Charts, claiming the #1 spot, vindicating Piper & The Hard Times’ decade-spanning journey and launching their career to a whole new level of success.
Revelation Becoming a Revelatory Success
Speaking about their recent tour and the success of Revelation, the band says, “When we see people of all ages reacting and being moved by our music, we see ourselves entertaining beyond a blues audience. The blues is the foundation for almost every type of music, so we see ourselves broadening our appeal by playing all types of festivals. This is our time and there’s no limit to Piper & The Hard Times’ appeal.”
In taking the time to hone their own identity as a locally revered live band first, Piper & The Hard Times have forged a legacy of hard work and success. With the release of Revelation, the band has graduated to Billboard chart toppers and only looks to push things even further from here. As they say, “Perseverance is key to anything, especially in the music business. Treat people with dignity and respect because you can’t do it alone.” And indeed, in crafting the perfect first impression for audiences, Piper & The Hard Times will never have to do it alone again.
