| Independent rock band Fools & Horses will entertain U.S. military stationed in Japan, Singapore and Guam with their distinctive musical style, March 29 - April 19. Fools & Horses was named the 2008 Best Band in Baltimore by the readers of the Baltimore City Paper and has gained a strong following in Washington, D.C. and New York City as well. The group was recently selected by Starbucks as one of the nation's top up-and-coming bands, and their single, "The Therapy" featured on the 2007 Starbucks compilation CD titled "Off the Clock." Their third album, "I am the Ghost," was released in 2008 to critical acclaim.
Fools & Horses got its start in 2002 when its founding members were just out of high school. They continued to perform while in college and got their first big break when they entered a radio contest to open for Bon Jovi at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. They won the contest and found themselves performing in front of 16,000 Bon Jovi fans.
Lead singer and guitarist Matt Hutchison says the group is thrilled to get the opportunity to perform for U.S. troops stationed overseas. "We are really honored to be able to say, 'here’s a slice of home' to those who are stationed thousands of miles away," he said. We really want to entertain and serve those who are serving us. They put their lives on hold and on the line."
Joining Hutchison to round out the band are Kent Warren, bass and vocals; Steve Herrera, guitar and vocals; and Tim Hutchison, drums and vocals. The band takes its name from an old British proverb, "Only fools and horses work." Hutchison jokes that the proverb became something of a mantra for the band when it was just starting out. "Why get a 9-to-5 job when only fools and horses do that? We aspired to do what we love, and that's create and perform our music."
For Matt and Tim Hutchison, getting to perform for the troops has a special personal meaning. Their grandfather served in the U.S. Army in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and their father served in the U.S. Marine Corps. "Because of our family connection to the military, we understand the sacrifices that our troops make while serving our country."
In describing the Fools & Horses sound, Marine Corps Captain Jamie Fleischhacker, Armed Forces Entertainment circuit manager for the Pacific said "On Tap Magazine nailed it when they wrote, 'Fools & Horses rock like The Who and croon like Coldplay.' They've take the best of classic rock and modern rock and distilled it into a musical style that is all their own. I know that our troops will really get a kick out of these talented young musicians."
###
Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
To learn more about Fools & Horses, visit www.foolsandhorses.net.
|
