Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory to Release New “Excavators” Album
The Rusty Knuckles record label has just announced they will be releasing a new album from Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory called The Excavators on Black Friday, November 27th. It features just Leroy Virgil, and the much-beloved lap steel player Rico Peterson in a stripped down setting playing some songs never heard in the recorded context before, and a few released previously in different forms.
The Excavators was recorded in a house in Hellbound’s hometown of Reno, NV in just a few hours, and the sound is purposely lo-fi. “The Excavators” was a nickname Leroy gave one version of Hellbound Glory when he was touring with Rico and a stripped-down version of the band. In an interview with Saving Country Music in May of 2014, Leroy explain the different sub-names of Hellbound Glory.
“As I’ve changed lineups, I’ve always called the band something different,” said Leroy, who for a while was touring as Leon Virgil Bowers after killing off Hellbound Glory (and then bringing it back). “For a while we were the Excavators, for a while I was calling it the Damaged Good Ol’ Boys, for a while to was the Damn Seagulls, so it’s always kind of changing up for me. I could see a day when it is called Leroy & Hellbound Glory, or whatever. I have no shortage of good band names. I want people to connect with the songs rather than the band name.”
The Excavators captures an era in Hellbound Glory history that was a fan favorite. The album can be pre-ordered through Rusty Knuckles.
Meanwhile Rico has been working on his own side project and writing original songs. You can listen to demos of “Shit These Days” and “Where Ya Been.”
The Excavators Track List:
1. Big Time
2. World Coming To An End
3. Feudin’
4. Working Hard A’int Hardly Workin
5. Another Dead Friend
6. The Repo Man
7. Stateline
8. The Black Mass
9. If The Good Lords A Good One Boy
10. Bonus Track L.O.F.
November 4, 2015 @ 2:34 pm
Cool.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:14 pm
Awesome. I was really beginning to think that some of theses songs were never gonna see the light of day.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
Cool. I am looking forward to this. What is going on with Bob Wayne? and Lucky Tubb?
November 4, 2015 @ 3:30 pm
Bob Wayne put out a covers album of pop songs, and Lucky Tubb has been doing some touring here and there, but no news I’ve heard on the recording or release front. Last time I spoke to him, which was years ago now, he said he was working on a new album.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:49 pm
Thanks. Lucky’s website is so atrocious that I can never tell when or where he is playing until a few days before.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:35 pm
This is great news! I saw HBG (Or the Excavators?) several times during the era when Leroy was singing some of these songs. There were even more really great ones they’ve performed that I don’t think have ever been recorded. I’m glad to see Rico back and playing again.
Leroy can write a damn good song. I’m a huge fan and I feel like he should be much more well known and respected than he is. It seems like once he starts getting traction, he starts a new project or subgroup.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:49 pm
On the subject of new music, Eric Church just released a new album.
I am a Church Choir member so I got early access, but it will be released on iTunes sometime today.
I have only heard a couple songs so far, but compared to his last album, this is really country!
You really oughta give it a look trig
November 4, 2015 @ 5:14 pm
I’m completely on top of the Eric Church release. But I’m not going to post speculative information or offer knee jerk opinions. I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of coverage for the album on SCM in the coming days.
November 4, 2015 @ 6:08 pm
This is exactly my cup of tea.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:13 pm
Pre-ordered. Always happy to give my money to the artists I believe in.
November 5, 2015 @ 1:25 pm
Hell yeah! Glad to see he’s still releasing albums.
November 5, 2015 @ 5:48 pm
I’m still hoping for a vinyl release of old highs. But this cd will hold me over.
November 5, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
Great news
November 5, 2015 @ 8:47 pm
Excited about this.Leroy is a solid song-writer and if Rico was any cooler he’d be an ice cube.
November 21, 2015 @ 11:37 pm
FINALLY! <3
January 14, 2016 @ 6:27 pm
I just got back to this release, the songs Big Time and Another Dead Friend are epic. Leroy is an amazing songwriter.
January 21, 2016 @ 6:22 pm
Love that your releasing more music Leroy!! CTM fan. Angie and Joh say HI!!!!