WesandVictoria.com
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BIOS - DISCOGRAPHY - AWARDS - REVIEWS

Want to know a little more about Wes and Victoria?

This page has their bio- plus short bio info on the players that appear on the Ballad of Billy Saigon CD

Click on the Player to hear all five projects. Or go to our new RADIO page. Click here.


Wes and Victoria Bio

Wes and Victoria began their musical sojourn in San Antonio, Texas. Their first music business mentor was Augie Meyers, keyboardist and songwriter for the legendary band The Sir Douglas Quintet. Their initial lessons were conducted over piping hot bowls of caldo and Augie's homemade grilled cheese sandwiches where Augie explained the basics of gigging and shared stories of his exploits in the music business, including teaching John Lennon about the accordion and Vox organ and recording with Bob Dylan.

Putting Augie's guidance to work the duo started gigging in the San Antonio and South Texas area in a variety of their own bands, including a folk act named Little Smoke and a rock/punk act called Puffin. During this time Wes started writing original material and the duo dropped the majority of the cover material they once performed. Looking to expand the audience for their original work, they relocated up the road to Austin, Texas.

While in Austin, Wes and Victoria performed with a number of regional and national acts. They appeared on stage with Lucinda Williams, BW Stevenson, Townes Van Zandt, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Donavon, Eric Anderson, Steve Fromholtz , Jesse Dayton and numerous others. Wes and Victoria also opened a recording studio near the University of Texas called the Track Shack, where they produced local and regional acts. During this time the duo recorded and released an acoustic LP entitled "Not For Prophet" which garnered airplay in various US folk markets and as far away as France.

When the studio lease expired Wes and Victoria headed west to Los Angeles. The City of Angels proved to be the next step in their musical evolution as Victoria started getting session work, recording with Robert Altman, the famed movie director, Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, a CBS movie of the week TV score where she appeared on the soundtrack with Johnny Cash and she had the privilege of recording on Roy Rodgers last recording, adding her soulful harmonica tracks to all these projects.

In the meantime Wes continued to expand his composition and songwriting skills, scoring numerous small budget television and film projects and writing songs with Oscar winning composer Paul Williams. He scored the Los Angeles Area Emmy awards for 3 consecutive years as well as the ACE awards honoring Martin Scorsese. Wes and Victoria also performed acoustic sets throughout the LA area, appearing at the venerable venues of the Troubadour and Whiskey A Go Go along with gigs at various coffee houses and listening rooms across the city.

A series of illnesses derailed the couple, and they moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue new business opportunities. Wes continued to write; composing many of the songs that would appear one day appear on the "Ballad of Billy Saigon" CD, including the title track. Shortly after moving to Colorado Victoria was hit head on in a near fatal high speed car accident, which ultimately led to open joint jaw surgery and put a 3 year hold on her harmonica playing.

During this time Wes completed the songs for the Billy Saigon CD and began recording over a series of trip to Los Angeles. As Victoria slowly regained her ability to play, she recorded her tracks and the duo began to perform acoustic shows in the Denver area.

Once again, tragedy struck with a debilitating illness sidelining Victoria and requiring multiple hospitalizations. After three more years of recuperation Wes and Victoria once again took the stage and began performing acoustic shows.

The duo released "The Ballad Of Billy Saigon CD in 2009. The CD received wide airplay and strong positive reviews resulting in a small European tour and an Artist of the Year ward in the Netherlands. The title track was picked up by Hamburg based Bear Family Records and was put in the compilation project "Next Stop Is Vietnam" alongside tracks by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Wes's writing and Victoria's harmonica playing were especially noted in the reviews.

Also in 2009 came "White Man Red Road", a Native American infused project recorded as a soundtrack for an ebook of the same name. The CD received accolades from internationally syndicated radio show The Colorado Wave as Record of the Year, and also got positive reviews. The ebook, available on Amazon and iBooks, chronicles Wes's journey from apprentice to Sundancer and was released in 2011.

After yet another few years of health challenges for Victoria, the duo has returned with the 2012 release of the "EVOLUTION REVOLUTION"EP. The EP features three versions of the title track. There is an acoustic coffeehouse version, a layered "Phil Spector Wall of Sound 60's" version, and a dub step electronic remix track by Scarecrow Adams. The spiritually infused lyrics touch on the timeliness of the world in change yet relate to the personal journey as well. Wes and Victoria enlisted the help of NYC session guitarist eddie Weiss and LA Session Veteran Justin Z Walden for the project as well. The release is available on iTunes, Emusic and other major e-retailers.

2012 saw the reelase on iTunes and other e-retailers is the single "Katrina Calling". The 2012 released tune is a reflective song about a 911 operator who is on call when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and is inspired by time Wes spent in New Orleans post Katrina. Wes and Victoria have also released a new free acoustic recording of the song "Prayer For The Living" to honor the losses of those from not only the September 11, 2001 tragedy, for which it was written, but also the recent Aurora, Colorado Cinema shootings.

The duo has now released the intimate acoustic project "Broken Angels". The version of the title track is featured in the Sony Pictures release "Abel's Field" starring Kevin Sorbo. The new release went live 3/1/13 on iTunes and various other online sellers and is a warm, inviting acoustic set that conjures up a living room atmosphere and features 10 exceptional songs complimented by Victoria's amazing harmonica playing.

Wes and Victoria present music of perseverance and redemption, hard won from the lives of the performers who have created it. Wes and Victoria have remained committed to their music, to each other, and to never giving up hope even in the darkest of times. Their music and their lives reflect a strength that can only be gained through lives fully lived and challenges met head on.

 


DISCOGRAPHY

Broken Angels- released 3/1/2013- version of Title Song in Sony Film "Abel's Field"
Soundtrack to Abel's Field with song Broken Angels- released 1/22/13
Prayer For The Living- free single - released 7/24/2012
KATRINA CALLING single- released 4/22/2012

EVOLUTION REVOLUTION EP- released 1/1/2012
Next Stop Is Vietnam- Bear Family Records- Hamburg Germany- 2010 The Ballad of Billy Saigon. Compilation includes Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen among others.
The Ballad of Billy Saigon (original plus remastered version) 2008/2009
(Babamuse- available here and via download)
White Man Red Road - 2009
(Babamuse- available here and via download)
The Love CD- Colorado Food Bank Benefit (the song "Reunion) 2004
contact Carmen Allgood
Bear - Family Records out of Hamburg
Innocence Ave (CD-No Longer Available) 1996
NeoBeatnick (Cassette only-No Longer Available) 1992
Not For Prophet (vinyl- No Longer Available) 1985

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AWARDS

2009 Artist of the Year - Starliners Network- Netherlands
award

Colorado Wave 2009 Record Of The Year- White Man Red Road
Arbor

2009 Wes Hamil Blue Muse Publishing Songwriter of The Year Finalist

Colorado Wave -GOLDEN WAVE- awarded 2009




REVIEW QUOTES (Just a few!!)


A quote from Academy Award winning songwriter Paul Williams about the music:

“Powerful stuff ...   haunting, tortured, unique ... uplifting in a 'friend pulling you up and over a concrete wall' kind of way ..   (not sure that came out right ..  but it's about the masculinity, that frames the feminine e of your performance) ..
   Reunion is I think the best song ...  the best performance ..   It's like a birthing and a struggle to be born ..    both at the same time.
   Vic's harmonica and harmonies are portraits ..    movies ....    Somebody's gonna grab 'Billy' or one of the other songs or maybe the whole album and put it on the big screen. It deserves a long life.

RootsTime Magazine in Belgium says:
" The lyrics have a healing quality and Victoria's harp playing adds a "soundtrack" feeling to the songs"
"Reunion" (my favorite) en "Beauty Way" both gems, are nice examples of these two elements combined to form those wonderful songs"
"Another thing is the perfect sound quality of this record,
which almost literally took blood sweat and tears and a lot of time in the making. This turned it even more into a small masterpiece which grows on you every time you play it...over and over again...

And Chris K- aka Goat from MileHighMusic and The Colorado Sound on KFRC 88.9 FM writes:
There's something raw and natural about "folk" music. It cannot be made up; either it's present or it isn't. There's a reason why so many great players are on this record. All I can say is, "Welcome to Colorado Wes and Victoria, and thank you for sharing your music with us." This album is as real as it gets ...

Radio INDY writes:
“The Ballad Of Billy Saigon” by Wes and Victoria is folk rock/Americana at its best and deserves a good listen from any fan of that genre. Originally hailing from Texas, the duo’s work has that southern feel and is a great mix of folk, rock, country and good ol’ cowboy music. Wes has a very unique singing voice that is particularly raw, letting you feel every note and word he is singing. The harmonica talent of Victoria is well highlighted on songs like “Trail of Tears,” and it sounds great. There is also a very welcoming Rolling Stones-influenced number called “Love Got a Mind of Its Own,” a song that could easily be compared to anything the Stones did in their best years. For listeners that enjoy folk rock and Bob Dylan, Wes and Victoria’s “The Ballad Of Billy Saigon” is definitely worth listening to.

About White Man Red Road NYC Artist and Actor Edward Weiss comments:
"This record is as revolutionary in its own way as Led Zepplin III, and probably will be just as misunderstood initially...."

MAXIMUM INK writes about White Man Red Road:

White Man Red Road
by Andrew Frey
Review published: May 2010
Rating: 10
Envisioned as a soundtrack for a movie with the same title, Hamil musically introduces us to the award winning culminations of his spirit quests and journeys through Native American ceremonies which ultimately afforded him the opportunity to being a sun dancer. Tribal chants are woven into the guitar driven songs producing a delectably catchy, memorable and enlightening experience.