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Singer/Songwriter Jeff (The Bourbon Cowboy) Givens is a road-seasoned troubadour. As a contemporary musical gypsy, Jeff travels the country, meeting folks from every aspect of life and listens to their stories. He lives this life, documenting it all in his songs. Somehow, writing through the haze of self-destruction like his heroes before him, (Kerouac, Burroughs, Lennon, Hank, Townes and others) he has prevailed and come out the other side, battling his demons by writing about them. Born in Tennessee and raised in Chicago, The Cowboy is a music veteran of over 30 years and has played in many bands, from Chicago to Boston to London. Working with Jay Bennett from Wilco was one of his many highlights. Back in 2001, Jeff went all-in; he left his day gig and everything else to fully embrace this musical journey. Tramping around America, like a prince of skid row, he began writing songs that defined his life. Settling back in Chicago, Jeff reconnected with producer, collaborator and fellow hell-raiser, Jason (Mistah Bocka) Botka, to finish, write and record this honest, badass music. From the easy rooms of Skye Bleu Studios, Jeff's first album, "Bourbon Cowboy" was born.

 In 2014, Jeff gathered some of his closest brothers in music for his sophomore album, "Midnight in Muscle Shoals", which was tracked on the sacred ground of Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. Still joined at the hip, Jason Botka brought in keys, organ, guitar and harmonica and finished production at Skye Bleu Studios. Barret Harvey on drums, TC Dolgin on bass and Kev Wright on southern rock guitar glued it all together. All left the Shoals sessions feeling like they had "been to the mountain". Jeff knew something special had happened next to that Tennessee River, and it needed to continue.

Once back home, Cowboy started gathering the family together who were destined to become The Mugshot Saints in 2015.  Of course, Jeff (The Cowboy aka Big Daddy), is your master of ceremonies. Bravely joining the boys club, his lovely side-kick and conscience, vocalist Jennifer (Momma Jen) Botka, provides a little banter along with their bullseye harmonies. Tearing it up, is the baddest band in all the land: Luke (Loop) Smith on stopwatch-dropping drums, bassist Johnny (The Rev. Johnny G) Gadeikis holds it down smooth and tight. Finally, The Mugshot Saints' musical director, producer and true North, Jason (Mista Bocka) Botka soars these songs on guitar and also serves as keeper-of-the-reigns on The Cowboy's crossroads soul-selling Southern swagger (sometimes a full-time job). Jeff Givens and The Mugshot Saints have become a swampy-rock band with original music crafted around ball-busting hooks and heart-wrenching lyrics; the equivalent of a musical 8-ball, without all the repercussions.

            Jeff and the Saints were proud to be selected as the 2017 Taste of Chicago's Sonicbids Artist and had a blast headlining the Bud Light Stage at the Taste. The Saints have been busy barnstorming some of the best venues in the Chicagoland area for the last couple years: Metro, Schubas, Martyrs', Reggie's, Elbo Room, Q Bar in Darien, Frankie's Blue Room in Naperville, Chicago Street Pub in Joliet.

            The band recently finished their third album, "Bleeding Ink". For this epic, The Saints returned to legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL to capture the vibe, ghosts and swamp palpable in the planks of this music mecca. They came home to Skye Bleu Studios in Villa Park to sweeten up the vocals and add in the sugar tracks (Cowboy does love his sugar - you should see him fix coffee!). Off to the legendary Joyride Studio for mastering and then decked out with inspired photos from Michelle (Mama Galloo) Gadeikis, "Bleeding Ink" is a culmination of the best of all of us; the crown of The Cowboy hat.

In addition to an incredible catalogue of original material ranging from Bourbon to heartbreak, strippers to Christmas, The Saints also cover a deep well of artists: the Stones, Tom Petty, CCR, Stevie Nicks, Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Allman Bros, Bowie, Traveling Wilburys and many more. When you bring in Jeff Givens and the Mugshot Saints, you don't just get a night filled with rocking music, where you love each song more than the last; you get a full-on Show - complete with Holler n' Swallers, banter and the occasional innuendo. The certainty...? Once you see 'em, you won't forget 'em.




Last update: 9/10/17