Los Banos band 'Moonshine Bandits' sign record deal for third album

Think cowboy meets biker.

Add turntables and a touch of Central California pride, and you've got a party called the Moonshine Bandits.

Looking back to what started in dive bars and truck stops, Los Baños' Dusty Dahlgren and Brett Brooks of 'Bandits' said they never thought they'd get paid to "do music."

"It took a good eight years before we made decent money," Dahlgren said.

Don't think they don't appreciate the last decade of experience, support and loyal fans in their back pocket.

It's brought them to their most recent accomplishment: a record deal signed with Jake Records, a leading independent record label. Plus a three week stretch of touring; one city a night.

"Our new album 'Divebars and Truckstops' is scheduled to be released July 4," Brooks said. "It'll be available everywhere online, too."

Their album can be downloaded via iTunes, www.Napster.com, and www.Rhapsody.com, just to name a few.

According to a recent press release, their brand new single "Whiskey River" will be released from the 'Bandits'' third studio LP within the next couple months.

Prior to Jake Records, headquartered in Seattle, Wa., the Moonshine Bandits ran their own record label, Dahlgren said.

"What we had outside of that was a distribution deal that put our CDs in stores," he said. "This deal is both. They help us market, also."

Dahlgren said while the group had been offered other deals in the past, Jake Records was the first to fit their style and help build their fan base by marketing the group, something not all labels will do for an artist.

"The Moonshine Bandits have a very unique sound that resonates with a large swath people," Dan Diaz, Jake Records vice president/artist relations, said. "How many other bands do you know have shared stages with the Kottonmouth Kings, Blue October and Uncle Kracker, but also Tech N9NE, Vanilla Ice, Bubba Sparxxx and E-40."

On stage with lead vocalists Dahlgren, also known as 'Tex' and Brooks, 'Bird,' is their six-time award winning disc jockey, DJ Chopstiqs. The "Shiner Girls" add their own flavor, while backup vocalist Derek Areias brings the group into a mixed genre of "outlaw county rock/rap," the press release described.

To kick off their tour, the 'Bandits' will play at the The Other Place at 2003 Yosemite Blvd. in Modesto on April 25.

After their tour, the group will resume their weekend shows throughout the year, Brooks said.

"We'd like to play the (Merced County Spring Fair), but we haven't had the opportunity yet," Dahlgren said. "We've seen tons of places in the United States, met a lot of big artists; it's definitely all been worth it.

"It's been one wild and crazy ride," he said.

Rock on.

This story was originally published April 20, 2009 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Los Banos band 'Moonshine Bandits' sign record deal for third album."