The Whisky Dollars hail from Charlotte, N.C.
We play what is best described as roots music - a blend of improvisational blues, funk, soul, reggae and rock and roll music.
The band is named after the paper currency we often find wadded in our front pockets the morning after seeing and/or playing live music shows. More often than not, these dollars emerge wrinkled, misshapen and damp with sweat and rock and roll grease.
Our set lists are influenced by Willie Dixon, Bob Marley , Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, B.B. King, The Meters, Steel Pulse, Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead, Wilco, U2, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and the Allman Brothers, to name a few. We may even sprinkle in an original or two.
jon luther – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars (center)
sumter cox – harmonica, vocals (center, right)
mark bruinooge – acoustic, electric, slide guitar (center, left)
lou mondelli – drums, percussion, vocals (far right)
bruce mckagan – bass guitar emeritus (far left)
tim o'brien - keys, vocals (not pictured)
matt mcclellan - bass, et al (not pictured)
greg armistead - percussion, salad bowls, metal things that sound cool (not pictured)
Upcoming Gigs:
* There have been many questions as to the correct usage and spelling of "whisky". Our research team has offered up the following: "Whisky" is borrowed from Gaelic (Irish uisce beatha and Scottish uisge beatha). This compound descends from Old Irish uisce, "water", and bethad, "of life" and meaning literally "water of life". In the past, the spelling 'Whisky' was used for whiskies distilled in Scotland, Wales, Canada, and Japan, while Whiskey was only used for the spirits distilled in Ireland and America. However, a 1968 directive of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms now specifies Whisky as the official U.S. spelling.