Bio/Info: "They have earned the right to call themselves Five Ton Chicken. They are light as feathers yet heavy like lead." Jah Ray, Austin, Texas Five Ton Chicken was founded in early 2004, when Singer/Songwriter Billy Geoghegan relocated to Austin, Texas. Growing up in Pomona, California (East L.A. County), Geoghegan at age fifteen became part of a vibrant musical community that included David Lindley, who produced some of his early recordings, and Ben Harper, with whom he performed. This environment shaped his first experiences as an artist and helped to develop his sense of originality. Since teaming up with Austin musicians, Geoghegan has put together a set of music that represents many of the styles and artists he has worked with over the last two decades. This sound incorporates elements from Modern Reggae, Ska, Hip-Hop, and Early Punk influences – thus creating an opportunity to go beyond a purist image of what music should be. This type of musical fusion may be most evident to audiences when they experience Five Ton Chicken’s driving reggae version, complete with full horn section, of punk band Agent Orange’s "Everything Turns Grey." In addition to Geoghegan on lead vocals and keyboards, Five Ton Chicken consists of Ed McNames (formerly of The Gingabread Men) on trumpet; Mark Wilson (who has performed with Burning Spear and many other notable bands) on saxophone and flute; Simon Hernandez on bass guitar; DJ RJ on drums; Dan O’Brien on guitar; DJ Fizz on turntables; Kris Brown on lead guitar; and Vincent Macias on backing vocals. Over the past year, Five Ton Chicken has increased its accessibility by playing with popular Texas artists such as Grupo Fantasma and Maneja Beto, performing at several large outdoor festivals, and recording their debut EP, "Lo-Fi," and seven-inch single of "Everything Turns Grey," which are currently receiving airplay in Europe, Africa, and across the U.S. Right now, FTC is hard at work on a full-length CD of new material, scheduled for release next spring, which will be followed by a tour of the western states and beyond.




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