Update (8/30) - Unfortunately we’ve had to cancel our scheduled event with Steve Cropper for Friday, 8/30. We will reschedule with him ASAP and will update our events page then. (Our rescheduled event will not be on New Years Eve, as currently posted, we just didn’t want the event page to disappear after the scheduled event-time had passed.)

Legendary guitarist and musician Steve Cropper is back with a new studio album, Friendlytown, due out on August 23rd via Provogue Records. Make plans to join us on TBD Friday, August 30th to celebrate the release of the album with a special Q&A and album signing with Mr. Cropper in the record store! Preorder your copy of Friendlytown here on limited edition Green Marble colored vinyl and CD and score a wristband to participate in Cropper’s album signing. You can read more about our upcoming event with Cropper on our site here.

Not many people start new bands in their 80s, but legendary guitarist, producer, and songwriter Steve Cropper isn’t slowing down any time soon. The triple-threat musician was recently nominated for his first solo GRAMMY for the debut from his tight and tuneful rock n’ soul quintet, Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour. Cropper has wasted no time in following up this success with the sophomore album, Friendlytown, out august 23rd on Mascot Label Group/Provogue. Always pushing ahead and never repeating himself, Cropper has brought in the talents of Billy F. Gibbons from ZZ Top to play on the record along with Queen guitarist extraordinaire Brian May and country-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Tim Montana.

“If your booty is not shaking in the first two bars of this album you’re already dead in a chair,” laughs Cropper. “I feel so good about this batch of songs. They’re packed with radio hooks, and we have Billy Gibbons, Brian May, and Tim Montana playing on the album—it’s like guitar heaven.”

The story goes Cropper wanted a dedicated lead guitarist for Friendlytown, and Tiven fatefully ran into Gibbons while shopping at Trader Joe’s. The pair had an enthusiastic conversation about the band, and two days later Gibbons was writing with Cropper and Tiven.

“Billy plays those kind of tasteful blues licks that get stuck in your brain and make you go nuts—he plays so well,” Cropper says. The album also features guest spots from Free and Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke, and The Rascals co-lead vocalist and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere who previously worked with Cropper.

Standout tracks on Friendlytown include the muscular, blues rock title track. “Friendlytown” is anchored by one of Cropper’s signature loping riffs, adorned with low-down Texas blues style guitar leads from Gibbons, and features Reale’s throaty growl, singing melodies that split the difference between bluesy mojo and radio-ready catchiness. A trifecta of the baddest rock guitar players convene on “Too Much Stress (feat. Brian May with Billy Gibbons),” a groovy mid-tempo number with gospel-style backing vocals. Here, May sings the duet vocal together with Roger C. Reale and the backing vocals, and May and Gibbons trade back to back solos. The Queen’s axeman’s trademark snarling tone and lyrical licks come off as the perfect foil for Gibbons’ searing blues-based style. Cropper holds it all down with some trademark, slinky rhythm guitar work. “It was heaven playing with those two,” he recalls.

Friendlytown is due out August 23rd, 2024 on CD and limited edition Green Marble vinyl LP. All copies ordered for local, store pickup will include a wristband for Cropper’s August 30th Grimey’s signing (and that also guarantees entrance to our event).

Preorders are limited to four (4) total copies of the new album on vinyl and/or CD for a total of four (4) wristbands—one wristband per album purchased—allowing for up to four people to receive wristbands per order placed. Each individual with a wristband may have up to two (2) albums signed, including 1-2 copies of Friendlytown, plus another album from Cropper’s illustrious career. (We’ll have additional copies of the new album plus select catalog titles avaialble for purchase, but feel free to bring an album from home to go along with your copy of Friendlytown for the signing.) Wristbands are free with purchase for all local, store pickup orders. Wristbands are non-transferable. (Wristbands are not required for those 12 & under if attending with a wristband-holding adult.)

Preorders for local, store pickup may be picked up at Grimey’s.*Please be certain your total does not include a shipping charge before checking out to ensure you have selected local, store pickup.

Preorders placed for mail order will ship out after our event, starting on Saturday, August 31st.

All who preorder​ Friendlytown for local, store pickup in advance of August 23rd will receive an email with preorder pickup and event details, including a chance to submit a question to Cropper for to-be-rescheduled Q&A. Meanwhile please reach out to us if you have any questions about our event or preorder: grimeys.records (at) gmail.com.

**Preorders for store pickup will be held for three months after the event date. Please pick up your Friendlytown preorder no later than November 30th.