Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters: Press

THE OXFORD HOT BLUES AND BBQ FESTIVAL (OXFORD, MI)


The Detroit Blues Society is the oldest blues society in Michigan and there's a good reason for that. They throw a hell of a party! Take equal parts concert, festival, IBC challenge and gospel brunch and you've got what it's all about. Oxford, located just north of Detroit is a small town of 3,500 but this weekend the numbers grew as people came from as far away as Pittsburgh to attend the festivities.

On Saturday the event was held at Scripter Park which offered everything from a bevy of rib offerings to a beach for swimming. This day was deemed the kick off for the Detroit Blues Society's IBC Challenge with twelve hours of music, vendors, food and of course, a beer tent. First to kick things off were The Bluescasters, a four piece band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. They made things tough as they packed a lot into the 30 minute set. Following them were The Martindales, who are named after a little old man who used to come and see them play (and occasionally would buy them a beer). With roots back into the early 1990's the band has its groove together. Former harp player for the Sharecroppers of Soul, Detroit native Carl Caballero decided to go off on his own and now fronts the harp driven music of the Carl Caballero Band. Some real stiff competition here. You can't really call Pete "Big Dog" Fetters a newcomer to the music scene, but he might be a newcomer to a lot of people. Having been in the music business for over 20 years and recorded 7 albums, Pete has found his niche in music blending the styles of acoustic, gospel and blues/rock and a wicked slide guitar. I'm glad I wasn't in the band to follow him.
Tim Richards - "The Blues Still Matters"

"The Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters Band wowed the crowd with their brand of roadhouse style blues. The Big Dog offered up excellent slide guitar work and terrific harp playing."
Kate Anschuetz, Director, Blues By The Bay In The Tawases Blues Festival

"Pete played a roadhouse-style blues
that had customers dancing all night."
Jo Ann Korczynska
WHFR radio
BIG CITY BLUES Magazine

Check out the Jan. '06 issue of Spider's Blues News
Just click the link below

CD Review: Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters ("DEEP") Two Sisters Records

Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters is a prolific and impressive player out of Detroit who is as comfortable in solo settings such as this as with a band. As impressive as he is sharing a stage or a disc with like-minded players, it's in th solo arena that he shines. The 11 tunes assembled for this gem are all self-penned, outside of a killer take on "Oh Suzanna", but often sound like they could have come out your granddad's 78 collection. The opening 'Who's That Knockin', on which he plays elastic slide lines and the following 'Cornfield Cadillac' are just ripe for a great soundtrack, like a blues version of O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? He's at once muscular and sensitive with the attack and lyrically clever. On 'When I Turn 85', with a melody that recalls Stephen Stills' "Think I'll Go Back Home," he sings "I'm gonna feel old when I turn 85/my teeth will all be gold and they won't let me drive/I hope I'm still alive when I turn 85."
His slide work is superb throughout, particularly on "Midnight Train," the only song on which he plays his equally stunning harp. "She's the only one I ever cared for/man I ain't the cheatin kind/when it came to other women/I might as well as just been blind/you know you're driving me insane/my baby took the midnight train." "I Won't Tell", a train propelled number on which he sings of keeping what he knows to himself, the slide work is supreb, and on the delectable "Like You Do" ('Oh pretty mama let your daddy come inside/it's cold out here and I got no place to slide') he offers more of the awesome guitar work that has made him one of the standout players on the Detroit scene. This is as good as solo blues gets. Vocals, guitar and not enough harp add up to an A+ effort. More info at www.petebigdog.com

Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters--Rising Star

If you haven't had the opportunity to acquaint yourself with this
fast rising, international recording artist you should take the time.
Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters is just now, after being in the business 20
years and recording 7 albums (that range from gospel, to acoustic
blues, to blues/rock with his band), becoming an overnight success.

He is selling CDs and being played on radio stations in Europe,
South American and Australia, as well as being featured on blues
shows in the U. S. As word of his talent and popular show is
spreading, his audiences and fan base continues to grow.
Music critics are describing Pete as the 'TOTAL
PACKAGE'.....excellent vocals, great songwriting and guitar
playing and a showman who can related to and entertain audiences
out looking for fun and excitement.

And here's the kicker, he's been able to accomplish all of this
without the resources of a major record company. He started his
own label, Two Sisters Records, named after his daughters, and
has secured international internet distribution for his recordings.
"It's a great feeling to know that at any time of the day or night
someone, somewhere on the globe can be listening to one of my
recordings. The number of radio stations playing the CDs has
picked up and that in turn has had a positive impact on sales," says
Fetters. "I've been working hard on the publicity end of the
business, late hours putting together press kits, making phone calls,
etc. But it's work that has to be done to be successful."

Now the hard work is starting to pay off and you'll be able to
catch Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters at a festival, theatre or club near you
soon.