Dirty Bourbon River Show, Pitchblak Brass Band

The Dirty Bourbon River Show deftly melds sounds that range from hard-edged blues to Lisztian piano driven ballads to New Orleans brass into a result that is truly a blast of new energy into the musical landscape. Dirty Bourbon grabs hold of audiences, fascinated by their eccentricity and dexterity coupled with their ability to harken back to by-gone eras in music.Since forming in early 2009, the Dirty Bourbon River Show has released 6 studio albums and played over 500 live shows, fast earning them a stellar reputation for their tight, multi-faceted sound and high-energy performances. They can be found bringing their blend of “New Orleans Gypsy Brass Circus Rock” all over the USA, performing at festivals and respected venues year-round.
The Dirty Bourbon River Show is comprised of Noah Adams (vocals, piano, guitar, accordion, trumpet), Charles “Big Charlie” Skinner (vocals, trombone, wind toys), Matt Thomas (vocals, tenor, bari and Mississippi saxophone, clarinet), Jimmy Williams (bass, sousaphone) and Dane “Bootsy” Schindler (drums).

Their albums and live shows (both heavily intertwined) pair exuberant, syncopated lyrics with complex, harmony-rich songwriting and orchestration. They switch instruments mid-show (sometimes even mid-song), they all sing (except the drummer, of course), and they all have a penchant for theatrics (fireballs, group chants and stomps, whiskey pours – whatever the imagination calls for).

The Dirty Bourbon River Show is currently preparing for the release of their 7th studio album – Volume Four – and their national television debut at the 2013 Radio Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington this June.

“Jesus Christ. The best band in the world” – Chris Bopst, Original Founding Bassist for GWAR

“Genetically theatrical… appetite-whetting… a snow-globe carnival segueing seamlessly from kazoo- and clarinet-blown circus shenanigans to smooth-croon lounge, and finely fingered folk ballads to banjo hoedowns, jazzy sax solos and staccato piano jams” – Noah Bonaparte-Pais, Gambit Weekly

“Riotous… racuous… swashbuckling sea chanteys, paranoid polkas, and carnival jazz, often in the same song… now that’s my kind of party!” – Aaron Lafont, Groovescapes


PitchBlak Brass Band is a Brooklyn based, ten-piece brass band whose style and sound represent hip-hop from the 1980's to present day. A diverse group of young musicians, composers & artists who truly represents the new and vibrant undercurrents of the city.

PitchBlak has performed at Brooklyn Bowl, 92YTribeca, the late Southpaw, SOB's, The Shrine, Toronto's NXNE Music Festival, The 1st Annual Bob Stewart Tuba Competition (which we WON!) and most recently completed its first tour of the Northeast. In November 2012, PitchBlak was invited to record at the coveted Converse Rubber Tracks recording studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where many established and up and coming artists have been invited to record and perform.

Band members are active in community outreach programs and in classrooms throughout the city, teaching and mentoring other young musicians. PitchBlak’s members come to the band with an incredible diversity of musical background and training, infusing their hip-hop-driven music with funk, rock, jazz, and classical. The result is a style as fresh as their dreads, shades, and dashikis—rich brass harmonies, lyrical hooks, tongue-twisting raps, and rhythms that make your blood race.