ABOUT
Born in 1998, The Skeeters; Bert Newton, Rick Eller, Matt Martin, and Chase Armstrong began playing Alabama honky tonks and college bars before some of them were even old enough to be in one. These four hardworking musicians mastered their own sound reminiscent of the 70's Outlaws when nobody else was doing it. The Skeeters toured the Southeast non-stop through the early 2000's honing their skills and living the songs they played and wrote, gaining the attention of musical luminaries such as legendary Producer Johnny Sandlin (Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Derek Trucks, Wet Willie) and Outlaw Country Royalty, Billy Joe Shaver. The Skeeters first two studio albums under the helm of Sandlin, created an electric buzz in the country music industry, but it came at a time when nobody quite knew what to do with them. As Clear Channel snatched up FM stations left and right, implemented cookie cutter playlist across the US on mainstream radio, they snuffed out Indy Music all together, The Skeeters found a welcoming home in Satellite Radio. As the Outlaw Country Channel was formed, DJ's such as Mojo Nixon, and Little Steven (Springsteen's E Street Band), put The Skeeters in heavy rotation.
The band focused their efforts on touring the US as fast as the wheels would turn. Under the direction of Curt Motley and Paradigm Agency, The Skeeters shared the stage with artists such as, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Dale Watson, Shooter Jennings, Merle Haggard, Paul Thorn, Junior Brown, Drive By Truckers, Toby Kieth, Gretchen Wilson, Government Mule, and many more, playing their own brand of Electrifying Outlaw County Rock.
In 2007, tragedy struck the band when guitarist Matt Martin's nine year old daughter died in his arms suddenly and unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. Devastated and stunned, Martin and the band took a hiatus from touring, writing and recording. Unfortunately, Martin was unable to pick up the pieces enough to tour and perform, choosing instead to remain home to take care of and rebuild his shattered family. The following year, the band continued on under the name The Bert David Newton Band for a few years, out of respect and love for Martin and his family, but the magic of The Skeeters was gone.
Martin says, "It's difficult to put into words and it's very emotional to try. There is a thing that happens with this band on stage and off, It's extreme and profound but intangible. In the early days we nearly starved together, nearly died together, took odd jobs to make sure each other could survive and later on to make sure our kids had heat. We grew up together and and our folks grew up together. We discovered music together. I wish I had the language but I don't. It just all boils down to the count off and the first time I stomp my heel down on the first downbeat and hit a chord, we feel the bass and kick, we look in each others eyes and feel the hair stand up. We see the crowd looking at each other as if taking a deep breath. It's in their eyes they feel the same thing. Nobody knows what or why, but we know we are in it together. Sometimes my eyes tear up and I've seen it happen to the fans too. We're not stars or famous, and we could care less about all that. I think it just might be about love and connecting, creating something together that's valuable to the heart maybe ?"
Now after years of healing, with tragedy and turmoil in the rear view, The Skeeters have reunited and risen from the ashes. Baptized in fire, redeemed, and hungry to share the sounds of life, which Outlaw Music embodies. The Magic remains, hotter than ever, in a vast library full of new original songs, The Skeeters plan to make music for a long time to come. An epic victory for the hardworking, the suffering, the common, and the soulful music lover. Truly, a joyful El Dorado for The Skeeters and fans alike.
As of May 2023, To commemorate the rebirth, The Skeeters are working hard on a live album to be released this Spring and are arranging a slew of new original songs for a studio album to be released in Fall of 2023.
