Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters Launch SPECK TOUR in Napa Valley

He has an Academy Award and makes a film about once a year, but Billy Bob Thornton never planned to be a movie star. Long before he rose to fame in 1996's "Sling Blade," Thornton had a passion for music, playing in numerous bands and even working as a roadie before starting his own band, The Boxmasters. Playing what they refer to as "psychobilly"- a combination of '60s hillbilly music and British invasion rock- The Boxmasters have established a cult following and will kick off their latest "Speck Tour" on July 6th at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, CA.

Thornton and Grammy Award-winning sound engineer J.D. Andrew, who has worked with a wide range of artists from The Rolling Stones to Kanye West, founded the band in 2007. The Boxmaster's lineup also includes Teddy Andreadis, who has played with everyone from Chuck Berry to Carole King. The band has released eight records, making appearances on late night TV shows and opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Willie Nelson and The Steve Miller Band.

"We still feel like we felt when we were 19," Thornton says. "We think it's important every day to look at this like we're a brand new band. If you keep that attitude you always need to convince people of your abilities, or whatever, then it keeps you hungry and it keeps you artistic."

In 2017 the band teamed up with legendary Engineer/Producer Geoff Emerick for "Speck", their 8th album. Geoff has called it, "One of the most exciting projects I've worked on since the Beatles." Known for taking over the engineer's chair on the Beatle's albums "Revolver," "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" and more, Geoff added a familiar sonic touch to the sound of The Boxmasters, who are unapologetic Beatles and British Invasion fans.

Sonically the "Speck" album and tour touch on all of The Boxmaster's influences, including The Beatles, The Byrds and Big Star, but there are new sonic touches as well. Ukulele, cardboard boxes and the Beatle's famous "tea towels on the drums" trick pop up on songs throughout the album. "Geoff really did an amazing job on the mixing of this album and did it in a way that you recognize sounds you've known all of your life, but that sound new. And I really loved being able to sit back and enjoy the mixes of an album instead of sweating every tiny detail," says J.D. who typically mixes all of The Boxmaster's material.

"Lyrically it deals with every thing from personal relationships to politics and social issues. The theme being that we are all specks in this universe trying to navigate it, during trying times in the world we still have our own loves, desires, problems and dreams as individuals," says Thornton.

The Boxmasters will perform at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, CA on Friday, July 6th at 7pm. Tickets go on sale March 28, 2018 and are $30, $50, $60, and $85. To purchase tickets contact the box office at 707-944-9900 or go to www.LincolnTheater.org.

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