Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees
“Known for his work with local bands Bigfoot Chester and Jack O’Fire, Daniels’ first album with the five-piece Trustees mines a similar punk-blues-country vein. Daniels’ lively harmonica playing is front and center, along with his rough-edged vocals. Most of the material here is original, but a notable cover is Townes Van Zandt’s harrowing “Marie.”
-Peter Blackstock, Austin American Statesman
Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees, led by longtime punk rock harmonica player, vocalist, and nose Humanatone flutist, recently released their debut album, Have a Coffee Break With... on Chaputa Records and Ghost Highway Recordings in Austin. The album showcases a unique swinging band playing Texas-style punk and blues-country tunes. Think jailhouse swing and some lively, innovative punk country rock. “Have a Coffee Break… is a fun album with various sounds and moods- I hope people dig the rock, swing, and honky tonk sounds. We have a sense of humor and aren’t afraid to share it!” Daniels is best known for his work with Jack O’Fire, and Bigfoot Chester and has recorded with James Williamson, Lydia Lunch, Alejandro Escovedo, Guadalupe Plata, and Henri Herbert, among many others. Daniels most recently added harmonica to a song for Barry Adamson - former member of the Bad Seeds.
Have a Coffee Break With… was recorded at the Million Dollar Studio with Kurtis D. Machler engineering, recorded at the Church House with Ryan Anderson engineering, and at Ameripolitan Studio with Cris Burns engineering. The album was mixed by Cris Burns, Ryan Anderson, and Kurtis Machler and mastered by Cris Burns. Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees: Evan Whitehead (acoustic and electric guitars and backing vocals), Kevin Curtin (acoustic and electric mandolin and backing vocals), Scott Stewart (stand-up bass, electric bass, and backing vocals), Jarred Brown (drums (sessions at Million Dollar Sound and the Church House), Matt Hammer (drums (session at Ameripolitan Studio) and Walter Daniels (vocals, harmonica, and nose flute.) Additional players on the CD: Danny B. Harvey (Electric guitar on “Please Give Me Something”), Henri Herbert (Piano on “Coffee Break”), J. D. Pinkus - (Banjo on “Marie”), Chris Gates (Background Vocals on “Which Way to Go”) and Ralph White (Fiddle on “Last Round-Up.”) “There is so much talent in Austin, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
"The Trustees are talented, and I am fortunate to have their ideas informing what we do. They also play with some significant Austin musicians - Gary Lindsay- is a tremendous singer and performer; Scott, Kevin, and Evan play with him in various incarnations- the Pleasure Tide and Black Eyed Vermillion. I have played with some of the top honky tonk players in Austin, and it is inspiring playing with someone like Floyd Domino, a fantastic piano player and humble guy. Danny B. Harvey is a great rockabilly guitar player, and Henri Herbert, a boogie-woogie dynamo, are two folks I have played with; both are truly inspiring. Those two have played all over the country and are down-to-earth and jet-powered!" The Austin Chronicle's music editor Kevin Curtin coined the band's unique name and style and came up with the idea. "Kevin is a talented, hilarious guy, and he proposed the name of our band - the Del Valle Trustees and the look - with the orange jumpsuits and me wearing a white suit. I thought it was great, and we ran with it. We will have more songs about prison coming soon!"
Walter became interested in playing harmonica after he saw Johnny Woods, an American blues singer and harmonica player “in the north Mississippi hill country blues style,” playing in a video about the blues on PBS, and he knew he wanted to make sounds like that. Walter has brought the harmonica into different genres that he performs, including heavy metal, improv, country, blues, and punk rock. His influences include musicians Howlin Wolf, Lefty Frizzell, Little Walter Jacobs, Ted Roddy, and Henri Herbert. Writers include Michael Lewis, Cornell Woolrich, and EC Comics. His biggest non-music or literary influences are his parents and wife.
Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees recently performed at Antone’s Record Shop in Austin, and they enjoyed performing in Spain at the Pueblos Blancos Festival to enthusiastic and energetic crowds in 2022.
Links:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/WalterDanielsandtheDelValleTrustees
Chaputa Records:
https://chaputarecords.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-coffee-break-with-lp
Ghost Highway Recordings:
https://ghosthighwayrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-coffe-break-with
