About Us
Big Train and the Loco Motives isn’t a finite list of musicians. Whoever shows up gets up on stage.
The only requirements are:
1. Appreciation for the blues,
2. Ability to fly by the seat of your pants, and
3. Enjoy the magic that happens onstage.
The Main Cast of Characters
The guy that created the term “Red Dirt Blues”. Its a crazy amalgamation of Muddy Waters, J.J. Cale, John Lee Hooker, D.C. Minner, Son House, Leon Russell, and all that blues feeling south of the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas.
Crying, wailing, screaming, weeping, growling…all on the harmonica. The Top Dog is a harp phenom, coaxing the most amazing tone from that little piece of wood and metal magic.
The “King of Found Sound” is the bedrock that this whole hot Red Dirt Blues is built on. If anyone can bring rhythm out of some discarded bottle or hubcap, “Pine Box” can!
The “Thumper” is the newest member of Big Train and the Loco Motives. He earned his blues name because of his bass playing. He lays down a low-end so solid it will change your heartbeat.
Musical Brothers in Arms and Assorted Ne’er-Do-Wells
Awesome singer, songwriter, guitar player, bass player, whiskey drinker, and all around great guy.
Another incredible singer, songwriter, guitar player, and friend. Blues name came not from a knife fight in a Tulsa bar, but from drinking too much Jack Daniels, although I’m not sure that you can drink too much Jack Daniels.
Little know fact – He loves to eat Cheetos”
You won’t find a finer bass player. Anywhere. Solid on the low end. He can pound it straight. He can walk it. He can counter punch. He can squeeze the neck on the 21st fret. He is the total bass package.
Multi-instrument genius. Guitar, mandolin, and a lot of other things with strings. Plus a lot of fun to have jump up on stage.
A solid, solid bass player. Lays down a foundation so solid you can build a three story mercantile on it.
Always good to have hot chicks jump up on stage. And there are none hotter than this pair of Whiskey Gingers!
Yup, love having random hot chicks jumping up on stage and singing or just having fun in general.
Its not unusual for random people to jump up on stage and just start singing. We welcome it!
Our Story
Big Train and the Loco Motives are an eclectic group of musicians that come from a variety of genres and backgrounds that have one thing in common: When they are on stage together, they have an absolute blast.
Big Train and the Loco Motives plays what they coined “Red Dirt Blues”. It’s blues from the Canadian River delta country, or at least as close to a delta as the Canadian River will get. They cover everything from traditional Delta Blues to Texas Boogie-Woogie, from acoustic covers of Classic Rock, to rock covers of Traditional Folk. While it may be hard to nail them down other than they totally enjoy making music, it’s guaranteed that everyone who shows up in the audience will also enjoy the show.
The Big Train and the Loco Motives line-up is also as varied as the music. Usual suspects include Bill “Top Dog” Cummins on harmonica, Mason “Thumper” Cullen on bass, and Mike “Pine Box” Lander on percussion. The members of both The Whiskey Gingers and Heartbreak Rodeo are also frequently on stage as well.
“When all the original blues guys are gone, you start to realize that someone has to tend to the tradition. I recognize that I have some responsibility to keep the music alive, and it’s a pretty honorable position to be in.”
