Biography

Acclaimed bluegrass band, The Po' Ramblin' Boys, known for their energetic performances and authentic sound, have teamed up with Sound Biscuit Records to release their new single, "I Can't Stand Me." The song, a remarkable mash-up of two timeless classics, Merle Haggard's "I Can't Stand Me" and Lefty Frizzell's "Always Late With Your Kisses," showcases the band's unique musicality and pays homage to two legendary country music icons.

The merging of "I Can't Stand Me" and "Always Late With Your Kisses" creates a seamless fusion that skillfully blend the gritty honesty of Haggard's introspective anthem with the heartfelt yearning expressed in Frizzell's beloved ballad. The resulting composition is a fresh interpretation that retains the essence of both songs, breathing new life into these country music classics in traditional Bluegrass.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Josh Rinkel shares his excitement about the release, “Merle Haggard has always been one of our biggest influences. From his writing, to his music and his showmanship, he was a class act. “I Can’t Stand Me” is our tribute to the Hag, with a little taste of how he showed tribute to one of his heroes, Lefty.”

Lead Vocal & Guitar: Josh Rinkel
Mandolin & Bariton Vocal: C.J. Lewandowski
Banjo & Tenor Vocal: Jereme Brown
Fiddle: Laura Orshaw
Bass: Jasper Lorentzen
Produced by Dave Maggard
Engineering & Graphic design by Shane Reman
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Sound Biscuit Productions

Producer Dave Maggard shares, “It’s a treat to work with PRB on ideas that turn into great songs. That’s been an ongoing mission of the band from their beginning. They have a talent at bringing new life to song classics that have been quietly left behind. “I Can’t Stand Me” is the perfect example.”

“I Can’t Stand Me” is available to radio worldwide. DJs, broadcasters and radio programmers can download the single at airplaydirect.com/poramblinboys, or send a request to shane@soundbiscuit.com

The new single will be available to the public on all major download and streaming services Friday, May 26, 2023

-Booking-
Chris Rusk
Prater Day
chris@praterday.com
865.310.1112

Winners of the IBMA New Artist of the Year (formerly Emerging Artist of the Year) - 2018

Album "Toils, Tears and troubles" was nominated for a Grammy Award for best bluegrass album - 2020

At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and straightforward honesty are paramount. There's something about the music of The Po' Ramblin' Boys that cuts right through the noise of the world and speaks plainly to the soul. Formed in the Smoky Mountains, The Po' Ramblin' Boys are at once exactly what you would expect and not at all what you would expect from a tattooed East Tennessee Bluegrass outfit. No strangers to hard work, the boys are as much at home riding in their 1965 GM Tour bus as they are crawling underneath to fix it when it needs maintenance. But they take pride in being ambassadors of their genre, and the group has brought their music from rural bluegrass festival stages to the rock clubs of Europe, with stunning results. "I think to a certain extent everyone is just craving music that they can feel, and any music that feels real will reach any audience" says CJ Lewandowski, the groups founder, "We want to put bluegrass right where it's least expected".


Lewandowski was working at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Sevierville, TN when the band first formed. The distillery employed musicians to play for visitors seven days a week, and Lewandowski, who primarily plays Mandolin and sings, was occasionally hired to fill in when the entertainment didn't show. Eventually, the distillery approached him about forming a band for a full time slot, so he reached out to long time music friends Jereme Brown, who plays banjo for the group, and Josh Rinkel, who plays guitar. "Jereme was doing a lot of welding work at that time, and Josh was running a sign company", says Lewandowski, "I think we were all ready to do something new, something with our music but we didn't know when or how". Bassist Jasper Lorentzen happened to be working in the tasting room at the distillery, and he turned out to be the perfect final addition to the band. The four friends played multiple times a week for a year and half, honing their band sound, meanwhile word was spreading about their music. "The first gig we played out of town was a festival in Alberta, Canada, and a week later we went on a two week tour of Europe, it was crazy", says Lewandowski.


Material for the group's debut album "Back To The Mountains", was a combination of original songs and old numbers that honor the group's mentors and bluegrass heroes. "We love to dig up old songs that haven't been heard in years and bring them back into the spotlight", explains Lewandowski. It's no surprise, then, that their latest single "Next Train South", is a song cut by one of Lewandowski's teachers from his native Missouri. "This song hasn't been recorded since 1974, when it was recorded by Dub Crouch, Norman Ford and the Bluegrass Rounders." he says. "Dub was a guy that I learned from back in the day. He was a close friend, and I was with him the day before he died. He was a popular guy for his region, but his music was not as well known on the national circuit. That's why we love to sing these songs, because when we take these songs and bring them to a larger audience, our heroes and their music will not be forgotten".


The Po' Ramblin' Boys passion for bluegrass is as clear as it is contagious. With a heavy touring schedule across the United States and Europe and recently signed record deal with the esteemed Rounder Records, the Boys are well on their way to becoming the quintessential bluegrass band of their generation. Despite all of their recent success, they maintain a humble perspective. "Bluegrass has left such a mark on us that we feel like we owe something back to the music", says Lewandowski. "We want to do somethingfor the music to show our appreciation... There's no telling what could have happened to us, what we would have become if we hadn't found this music. It's gotten us through a lot, the good and the bad. When I think about all of the damn medications that I didn't have to take because I had music to turn to. We didn't have to go to the doctor and pay for something to make us feel better, because we had this music, so we really want to honor it by bringing it out of the shadows and onto new stages and wider audiences. Because we know that if we can bring Bluegrass to new folks, those folks will come with us and support the bluegrass community