Walking Papers don’t pander to cheap sensationalist titles like “supergroup”. Rock enthusiasts and Seattleites familiar with Jeff Angell’s burning blues guitar & vocals in The Missionary Position have found a revival of excitement in the frontman’s latest endeavor, buoyed powerfully by the thundering drums of Barrett Martin from Screaming Trees and legendary bassist Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Loaded and more. Benjamin Anderson rounds out the lineup with a flourish of keys that gives the production a more classic feel, adding nuanced color to the ample musical firepower.
The band’s smoldering live show serves as ample evidence of the seasoned rockers’ abilities, with their debut album concretely confirming their potential for longevity through smoky, gorgeous blues that balance hard rock with groove-driven sound. We experienced it firsthand last week in Los Angeles, when the band took part in Petty Fest, an all-star musical tribute hosted by Jameson and benefitting the Sweet Relief fund. Read our full Petty Fest recap, featuring performances by Juliette Lewis, Albert Hammond Jr, Brendan Benson, Dhani Harrison and more.
Before a gorgeous take on Petty’s classic “Swingin,” we caught up with Jefferson, Barrett and Benjamin just outside the El Rey theater to discuss what the band’s up to now. Watch below as our host Paige Montgomery catches up with the boys and pays tribute to one of America’s living legends, Tom Petty.
Walking Papers’ self-titled debut album was recorded by Catherine Ferrante at Avast Studios in Seattle, and mixed by Jack Endino at Soundhouse in Seattle. The record features Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready on two tracks, whose work with Martin goes back to their collaboration on the cherished Mad Season record. Album mastering was done by Chris Hanzsek at Hanzsek Audio. Pick it up from Barrett Martin’s Sunyata Records here, on iTunes here, or on Amazon here.
