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LOWdOGS is a pair of uniquely seasoned road musicians hailing from the hills of
Western North Carolina. LOWdOGS' original style of music is rooted in blues,
bluegrass, jazz, country, funk and rock built around strong songwriting and nuanced
improvisation-driven musicianship. "Americana Jam" or "Cowboy Jazz" are terms that can
be used to describe this combination of the drawling vocals and country-blues tinged
acoustic guitar & harmonica playing of Kris Kehr with the muscular funk-jazz
influenced electric bass playing of Chris Q. The two met and became friends while
touring as members of The Recipe (2001 to 2003) but have been
performing music professionally for a combined total of almost 40 years. Before The
Recipe, Q has toured and recorded extensively with Hypnotic Clambake and Jiggle
while Kehr fronted the State College, Pa. based Stone Poets and toured as a solo act.
Chris Q has performed onstage with THE BUDDY RICH TRIO, PETER ROWAN (Bill
Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys, Old & In The Way), PETE SEARS (Rolling Stones,
Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna), MARK KAREN (The Other Ones), JORMA KAUKONEN &
JACK CASADY (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna), MERLE SAUNDERS, DEREK TRUCKS
(Derek Trucks Band, The Allman Brothers Band), OTEIL BURBRIDGE (Aquarium
Rescue Unit, The Allman Brothers Band), LEFTOVER SALMON, MOE, STRANGEFOLK, STRING
CHEESE INCIDENT and of course BABY GRAMPS. He has opened for
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, RATDOG, JGB, HOT TUNA, DAVID BROMBERG, LITTLE FEAT, THE
NEVILLE BROTHERS, DEL McCOURY BAND, STEVE KIMOCK BAND & STRING CHEESE INCIDENT.
Major Festivals he has performed at include HIGH SIERRA, BERKSHIRE MOUNTAIN MUSIC
FEST, OREGON COUNTRY FAIR, GATHERING OF THE VIBES, WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL, FINGERLAKES
GRASSROOTS & H.O.R.D.E. His modernist approach to traditional musics and his
unique melodic attack have built him his own audience of eclectic listeners through his
varied musical projects over the years.
Onstage Kris Kehr (pronounced 'CARE') has performed with folk legend
TOM PAXTON, bluegrass legend VASSAR CLEMENTS (Bill Monroe &
His Bluegrass Boys, Lester & Earl, Old & In The Way), MIKE GORDON (Phish),
VINCE WELNICK (The Tubes, Grateful Dead), TOM CONSTANTEN
(Grateful Dead) & DAVID GANS. In the studio he has worked with
engineer/producer TOM EDMONDS (Lenny Kravitz, Rolling Stones, NRBQ, Todd
Rundgren, The Roots) and musicians CINDY CASHDOLLAR (Bob Dylan, Asleep At
The Wheel), JIM WEIDER (The Band) and GEORGE LAKS & CRAIG ROSS
(Lenny Kravitz Band). He has opened for JOHN HARTFORD, STEVE FORBERT, BR-549,
DICKIE BETTS & GREAT SOUTHERN, SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, COMMANDER
CODY, NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE, KINGFISH, JOHN GORKA, TONY TRISCHKA, COL. BRUCE
HAMPTON, DEL McCOURY and LEFTOVER SALMON. Both of Kris' solo albums have appeared
on several yearly 'best of' lists on various radio stations around the country and have
received many positive reviews. In 2001 the FORD MOTOR COMPANY included a track
from Kris' first album on a compilation CD given to 60,000 prospective customers. His
heart-felt textured songs have been covered by performers from Rhode Island to Japan.
LOWdOGS' live shows continue to garner audience attention since its inception this
past summer. Their 2004 Fall tour took them to festivals and clubs throughout the New
England, North East and Mid-Atlantic states as they continued to play closer to home
regularly at the famed Town Pump in Black Mountain, NC. The two have just finished work
on their first album "FOOd" which is a live compilation of tracks from this tour
and is available through their website at www.LOWdOGS.com as is a plethora of information,
photos and free downloads.
LOWdOGS – "FOOd" (LIVE - 2005)
CHRIS Q –
Hypnotic Clambake – "Gondola To Heaven" (1993)
Hypnotic Clambake – "Kent The Zen Master" (1995)
Hypnotic Clambake – "Frozen Live" (1998)
Stone Lily – "Coldsore Kettle" (1994)
Stone Lily – "Banana and Peanut butter Sandwiches" (1994)
Jiggle – "Three Sets" (Lauan Records 1998)
Jiggle – "In It Again" (1999)
Jiggle – "Live at the Stone Coast" (2000)
The Recipe – "All You Can Eat" (LIVE - Harmonized Records 2003)
"Chris Q has earned a reputation for incredible musical chops and innovative low end
phrasing ... [he] brings an intense, flashy and ominous vibe." – Relix Magazine
"He brings a wide variety of influences from bluegrass and funk to jazz which can get way
out there." – MrLee.com
"... Q brings a distinctive and original style of bass ..." – Sweetwatersaloon.com
KRIS KEHR –
"Long, Long Year" (Woobie Cat Records 1999)
"Kris Kehr & Stone Poets" ( Woobie Cat Records 2001)
The Recipe – "All You Can Eat" (LIVE - Harmonized Records 2003)
"Kris has got great tone and feel on the acoustic, but the critical thing to me is the
vibe, which to me digs deep into your soul ... I mean, almost anybody can play, and a
bunch of people can play really well, but there are very few, I think, who stand up in
front of people and open themselves up for all to see ... Kris does that ... it gives me
faith ... it restores faith in myself ... it is what the definition of music should be ...
the ancient language that exposes the heart ..." – Scott Murawski
(songwriter-guitarist, Max Creek)
"Mellow Alt-Country with dreamy soundscapes. Kris Kehr dips into the cosmic American music
of yesteryear as well as the newer No Depression sounds to deliver lush and textured songs.
Kehr's voice is warm and embracing as he invites you into a romantic realm that drips from
his mouth like the resonating honey-soaked sounds of his ethereal pedal steel tones."
– Listen.com
"... classy 'roots rock' with tasteful musicianship" – George Graham (radio
personality WVIA-FM)
"Kehr's scruffy voice and songwriting are somewhat reminiscent of Tim Easton, and his
talented guitar and mandolin playing blend well ..." – Village Records
"Great music and beautiful songs - damned good!" – Raymond Swennen (radio
atl bree belgium)
"Real nice rootsy jammin' ... killer! Kris has obviously listened to some good roots
music to have these influences in there, and really nice flowing lyrics ... My highest
recommendation." – Rik James (Americana Backroads-KGLT-FM, Bozeman, MT)
"Kehr tackles the ultimate mysteries with simplicity, humor and no shortage of
disappointment. He creates a mood that's defiant, defeated and no doubt familiar to most.
Whether singing of the guy tricked by love, the philosopher wondering life's cost, or the
lost soul who is simply in over his head in the reality game, Kehr tells his tales simply
but with enough poetry and conviction. His subjects remain fixed on the search, despite
the roadblocks of fear and shattered dreams. Kehr's journey through life's crapshoot is
a bumpy one, but its well worth the time." – Ames Arnold (columnist/critic
Richmond Times-Dispatch)
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