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visit Omar's social media pages |
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visit Omar's social media pages |
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NEW MUSIC IS OUT
Cover Design by Bobby Field
Graphic Art by Jon Cooley
This album art used an original
caricature Jimmy Barnett
and Tommy Conner creatively fashioned for the band. It
became the cover for the Howlers 45 recorded at
Malaco Records in Jackson, MS.
AS OF JUNE 14th IT'S OFFICIALLY RELEASED!
stay tuned for updates
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REVIEWS ARE IN! WHAT'S BUGGIN' YOU? A 100% HIT! |
Review of Omar and The Howlers What's Buggin' You? by Steve Jones "Its been six years since we heard from Omar Kent Dykes. A muscular disorder in both arms has prevented him from playing guitar, but in May 2023, he ventured into the studio and laid down ten original tracks and one Bo Diddley cover. Dykes has been a guitar lover since age ten and formed his own band with he on lead guitar in 1963, three years later. His Mississippi roots in the blues has been his passion and, having grown up in the same town, Bo Diddley is one of his musical icons. " This is the first paragraph from the review of Omar's latest work by Blue Blast Magazine's Steve Jones. Click on the link below to bring up the electronic version of Blues Blast Magazine and scroll down to Featured Blues Review – 4 of 6 . |
Review of Omar and The Howlers What's Buggin' You? by Dan Forte Omar Dykes is back! In 2017, the Austin blues-rocker was stricken with a mysterious flesh-eating rash that rendered his massive arms puny. It was doubtful he'd ever play guitar again, let alone punish a Strat. At last, he has returned in fine form. Superb backing comes from drummer Mike Buck (LeRoi Brothers, Fabulous Thunderbirds), bassist Jason Crisp, and guitarist Eve Monsees (a member of the Bluebonnets who also leads her own group). Ten great originals are joined appropriately by "Crackin' Up," from Bo Diddley - Like Omar, a native of McComb, Mississippi. "Gator Man" sounds like a Creedence song if John Fogerty had been reared in the Delta, and Monsees' baritone growl on "Bad Money" matches Dykes' natural gruff. "Thousand Pound Gorilla" mines a one-chord riff in the manner of Muddy, Wolf, and Hooker. "Clarksdale, Mississippi" name-checks bluesmen Son House, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and others, as Crisp handles electric guitar, with Monsees on acoustic slide and Dykes blowing harp. More than just another entry in the Howlers' two dozen-plus catalog, this is a most-welcome return for one of Austin's true treasures. - Dan Forte |
Review of Omar and The Howlers What's Buggin' You? by Rod Evans "After the release of Hard Times in the Land of Plenty, the title track from Omar & the Howlers' 1987 Columbia debut album and a Top 20 hit in the United States, it seemed headlining superstardom was a given for the hard-charging, powerhouse three-piece and its irrepressible, larger-than-life frontman, Kent "Omar" Dykes … " This is the beginning of a great review by Rod Evans of Living Blues magazine. Click on the link below to read the entire piece. Rod's article is on page 44. The link will bring up the entire magazine and you can indicate what page to go to. You want page 44 . And when you have finished reading Rod's piece, look at the rest of the magazine: it is a GREAT read! Every month! |
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On their first week on the chart, Omar and The Howlers and their album "What's Buggin' You?" climbs to #15 on the Billboard Charts! |
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"When early this year Bluebird Reviews was made aware that American Blues Giant guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Dykes had decided to release a mammoth 4 volumes of live performances recorded in the '90s in digital format with his trusted band The Howlers, it felt already very special … " READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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"This mighty Mississippian hit Austin in the mid-1970s with his band the Howlers and immediately blew out enough pretenders that he rose to the near-top of the honky tonks and blues bars. He had a bop & boogie rhythm section, a tenor man who could blow his face off, and another half-dozen Magnolia Staters. Then there was Omar "Kent" Dykes … " READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE Scroll down do the article
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"One day in 1987, as I was browsing through the racks at a local record store, my eyes fell upon a new album, Hard Times in the Land of Plenty, by a band called Omar & the Howlers. I loved the group's name, which seemed to fill what I was looking for -- well, am often looking for under these circumstances: a recording that appears at once traditional … " READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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"What's Buggin' You" trending heavily on Amazon Music both in sales and in reviews |
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GET READY! THE HOWLERS ARE BACK AND FRESH! “WHAT’S BUGGIN’ YOU?” OMAR AND THE HOWLERS |
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We have been recording in the studio and have a new CD coming out in August.
It is Omar's first new release since 2017. Ten original songs and one cover “Crackin' Up” by Bo Diddley.
The artists on “What’s Buggin’ You?”: Omar Dykes: vocals / guitar / harmonica Eve Monsees: guitars / background vocals Jason Crisp: bass / 2nd guitar / background vocals Mike Buck: drums / percussion Nico Leophonte: percussion Recorded by Nico Leophonte at Alnico Studio in Austin, Texas “What’s Buggin’ You?” is set to release on Friday August 18 for physical and digital purchases and will be available on CD at Antone’s Record Shop, Amazon, and major digital streaming sites. Great news for the Howler Nation: pre-orders for “What’s Buggin’ You?” signed by Omar are being taken at Antone’s Record Shop! To all the Howler Nation … THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! As a side note, the album centers on artwork from a preschool located here in Austin. The school, Habibi’s Hutch, has been open since 1980 and will be featured throughout the CD package design. A visit to their website is well worth it! click here for website |
MUSIC ALERT – ALL VOLUME RELEASE DATES!
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DIRECT TO YOU |
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A NOTE FROM OMAR - January 2023 - “I love playing live shows because of the real-time electric atmosphere while interacting with an audience. It is ‘what you see is what you get.’ When I couldn’t play anymore, it was hard to accept because that is all I knew. It was exciting and inspirational for me to recently find four volumes of live material in a storage box. I knew immediately I had to share the music with my fans. These live performances brought back such amazing memories for me! I hope they will do the same for you. I also love recording in the studio. It is a completely different experience but just as rewarding. I am working on new songs to record and hoping I can rally up to crank out at least one more collection of songs. "Be sure to keep an eye on the website to check on the current progress of my new CD release!"
CLASSIC LIVE PERFORMANCES 1990’s VOLUMES 1-4: All volumes will be available for digital download beginning in January 2023, on your favorite music download source.
RELEASE OF OUT-OF-PRINT CDS: New CD releases of out-of-print material from 1990-2000 (for you older folks to complete your collection) are coming soon! Our manufacturer is currently working on Big Leg Beat and Blues Bag. All other “hard to get” CDs will be released a few at a time and will be available on Amazon and at Antone’s Record Shop.
“Please periodically check this website for current progress regarding my new CD release as well as other items of Howler interest, especially the release of newly found recordings . My dear friends, as always, I thank you for continuing to support my music!”
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AUSTIN CITY LIMITS 2007 Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann |
LUCKENBACH TEXAS 2009
Ray Wylie Hubbard and Omar perform |
New Book by Omar and Issa Dykes
MISSISSIPPI HOO DOO MAN
GREAT NEWS! RELEASE OF MISSISSIPPI HOO DOO MAN
by Omar and Issa
Order on Amazon.com and get it delivered within a week!
[CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON]
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SIGNED BOOKS AVAILABLE AT ANTONE’S! Antones Records
in Austin will sell autographed copies real soon! |
Omar awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from across The Pond!
BLUEBIRD
REVIEWS (UK) HONORS OMAR
2021
SPECIAL CAREER AWARD
Bluebird Reviews is a website out
of the United Kingdom that reviews music from all genres.
Bbr HONORS OMAR DYKES “Our website has decided to
award with the 2021 special Career Award, one of the giants of Texas Blues and
Blues/Rock of the last half a century. A true living legend, an institution for
American Music and one of the most influential and prominent American artists,
the one and only Omar Kent Dykes. Many congratulations to Mr. Dykes for the
Award and, most importantly, for being an outstanding torchbearer to the
tradition and development of American Blues and Blues/Rock in the last 50-plus
years.”
We so appreciate that Bbr has been a huge supporter
of Omar over these many years, and we are humbly grateful for your award
proclamation. Below are reviews and interviews with Omar that Bluebird Reviews
have published:
The Omar Dykes Interview – The Return of the Wolf
Interview by Giovanni Pilato
LINK
Omar and The Howlers – Essential Collection
Review by Bluebird
LINK
Omar and The Howlers – The Kitchen Sink
Review by Giovanni Pilato
LINK
Bluebird Reviews
Their website
LINK
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An interesting discovery about Omar's hometown of McComb,
Mississippi. Historic Summit Street,avenue of business and entertainment, has
been traveled by many famous blues players from the area and beyond. The
Marker commemorating Summit Street's place in Mississippi Blues History
includes the name Omar Dykes. |
"A career in the music business can be impossible and
rewarding. Read this entertaining account of the hilarious life and times of
the poor and almost famous bluesman, Omar Dykes. The zany shenanigans of the
iconic frontman of Omar and the Howlers will knock your socks off!" |
OMAR KENT DYKES
GUITAR & VOCALS & HARMONICA
HOWLER LEGIONS
BASS Bruce Jones • Barry Bihm • Ronnie James • Paul Junior • Jason Crisp • Randy Glines
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"If the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan were literally double trouble, Omar and the Howlers' deep Delta blues were the triple threat out of Austin. Dark, relentless beats more threatening than SRV's electric style. Omar ... king of the jungle blues." Margaret Moser Austin Chronicle 9/2/11 |
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Omar and Friends - Songwriters Across Texas
L to R: Nick Connolly, Omar Dykes, Rosie Flores, Redd Volkaert, Dale Watson, Amanda Cevallos, Wes Starr, Billy Horton, Bill Jones, Kathy Murray
Press shot from 1/15/13 taping of Songwriters across Texas!
View Legacy's Obituary for Efrain
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Omar and Son Jake Too Much Is Not Enough CD RELEASE PARTY SAXON PUB OCT 20, 2012 |
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Howlers business card in Austin - late 70s |
Early Howlers (left to right) Omar Dykes aka Phil I Pino Hugh Garraway aka Bosco Evans Danny Dozier aka Pee Wee Varnell Crow Field aka Torpedo Ramone Jimmy Barnett aka Billy Ralph Winghead Tommy Conner aka Uncle Tee Tot |
1976 Howlers in Hattiesburg, MS - before their moving to Austin |
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I want to thank ... all the talented Howlers, past and present ... all the songwriters, studio musicians ... DJs and Management ... and especially all my loyal fans all over the world ... Thank You to all my friends, - OmarVIDEOS |
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