The Butanes keep it simple: Play loud, play fast and by all means, keep the dancers moving and the waitresses working.

People

Easily the best rompin' stompin' party blues/R&B show in town.

Twin Cities Reader

Best Damn R&B Band in Town.

City Pages

Powerful but tasteful.

New Orleans Time-Picayune

Long a commanding presence on the Minneapolis blues/R&B scene, the Butanes began receiving numerous individual and group awards in the late 80's. The early 90's found the band holding down two house gigs that have since become a cherished part of local lore: the 10 strong Butanes Soul Revue brought Southern Soul to the Cabooze every Wednesday and the trio delivered Chicago Blues to the 400 Bar every Thursday. As the accolades piled up, local appearances became less frequent. The band could often be found playing behind luminaries around the world leading one New Orleans wag to dub them "the best band you've never heard of."

Today you can find The Butanes at the Minneapolis Eagles #34 with special guests Willie Walker & Jim Greenwell every Wednesday, 7:30-10:00 as well as the core quartet of The Butanes every Friday at McMahon's 9:15 - 1:00.

Willie Walker and The Butanes released Memphisapolis, their second collaboration, on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at the Eagles #34 in Minneapolis. Memphisapolis, contains 13 original tracks featuring 4 horns, lady background singers and real Hammond organ and was the #1 Blues release on XM satellite radio's Bluesville channel during the week of October 14, 2006. Memphisapolis is licensed by the P-vine record company for sale in Japan.

 

In 2004 The Butanes went international; releasing their recording with Willie Walker, Right Where I Belong, on the English One On One Label. Hailed world-wide as one of the finest Soul releases of the year, this tour-de-force has had all 14 tracks played on the radio and was also the #1 Blues release on XM satellite radio's Bluesville channel during the week of February 5, 2005. The Butanes and P-vine records have an agreement for distribution of Right Where I Belong in Japan.

 

The Butanes released Day & Night in 2001. Recorded live at their old Minneapolis haunt, the Cabooze bar, Day & Night brought longtime fans and new converts up-to-date with the band's progress. The CD's 15 cuts and over 68 minutes of music reveal what the band was doing around the new millenium: writing new songs, refining old favorites and learning from, as well as performing with, the masters.

 

The Butanes Soul Revue released One Night in 1998 to emphatic press and international radio airplay. People magazine, Living Blues and Blues Access all published positive reviews and the recording hit number one at SURF 107.1 FM in Wilmington, NC. Recorded in 1990, One Night was originally issued by the band as a 90 minute cassette only release in 1991. Atomic Theory records resequenced the recording, deleted a few tracks to fit time limitations of a CD and mistakenly used the alternate take of Gate Walks to Board!

 

Links to some of our favorite sites