Groove Rock driven and inspired by Motown, Stax and Soul.

10 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Neo-Soul, BLUES: Jazzy Blues



Details:
âHBF is a seriously talented band with a timeless sound... (OaktonOCCurrence 10/3 2005)â

Imagine a sound informed by the artistry and groove of the Funk Brothers, beneath a voice reminiscent of magical, bluesy Bonnie Raitt and coy, sultry Norah Jones. The result is the soulful rock of Chicagoâs Happy Butterfly Foot.

Formed in 2004 by Aaron Weistrop (guitar), Happy Butterfly Foot was meant to be a Midwestern, instrumental version of The Meters. That plan went out the window after Aaron, Jeff Kelly (drums/producer) and Jim Cerceo (bass) heard Rachel Katzman (vocals) at an open mic. âWhat really stuck with me,â remembers Jeff, âwas the way she nailed so many notes in that pitch-perfect way that makes my ear say to my brain, âDING! Thatâs it!ââ

Once the line-up was established, the band quickly developed an identity.âEach song has that HBF sound due to the four of us,â said Jim. âI can honestly say that if you replace any of us, the band would sound totally different.â Happy Butterfly Foot is booking gigs throughout the Midwest anticipating the July 6, 2007 release of their debut CD, âBeware the Foot, Vol. 1.â Early reviews from garageband.com are glowing. âWow....itâs the complete deal.ââSinger is phenomenal.â â... has got real radio appeal.â

Songwriting is a strong suit for the band. When only 25, Aaron won a coveted Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in Composition. Jeff and Jim scored projects for 20th Century Fox and A&E respectively. Rachel recorded original material for an independent label fresh out of high school.

Strong willed, and talented individuals often fuel ego-driven band disasters, but that hasnât happened with HBF. âWe all really enjoy each otherâs company,â said Jeff Kelly. âWe laugh, make fun of each other, make sâmores. Itâs that kind of thing. I honestly and deeply respect the talent each member of this group has. There is no weak link.â