The Band

The Ultimatums

From the rolling hills of West By God come The Ultimatums, an ass shaking R&B fusion ensemble!

Band member photo

From the hollers of West by God Virginia rise The Ultimatums; a nine member dirty soul band.

The Ults were formed in September of 2006 by Michael Stewart as an answer to the stale bar band scene that rolls over the same tired classic rock covers. The goal was to deliver original music to the gun totin’, beer swillin’ masses through high energy stage shows and 60’s laden soul hooks blasted from the four man horn section like salt peter from a shot gun. A few out of the ordinary cover songs even crept into the set list just in case there wasn’t any chicken wire at the venue.

At first the shows were raw, stripped down, juke joint affairs where the band and the audience would dress in their Sunday’s best just to dance, sweat, smoke, and drink themselves into the back row at church and put money into their dry cleaners' pockets. With time and some staff changes the boys have honed their skills to knife’s edge rock, ass shakin’ grooves, and howlin’ at the moon blues laments.

Get yourself a secondhand suit, some foldin’ money, and a dancin’ partner ‘cause The Ultimatums aren’t your Dad’s horn band.

Band member photo
NAMEMichael Stewart
BIRTH YEAR1976
INSTRUMENTVox, Tambo, Vibra-Slap, Harmonica, Bull Horn, Tiredness
DREAM INSTRUMENTGrand Piano, Kettle Drum, String Section
INFLUENCESAnything I don't understand
PANDORA STATIONElevator Love Song (Stars)
FAVORITE ULTS SONGThe Symposium
DREAM CAR1965 Lincoln Continental
MUSIC HISTORYHave memorized TV commercials from earliest memory, Learned to whistle @ 6, Sing shitty 80's-90's pop songs in public (gas stations, reception areas, grocery)
Band member photo
NAMEMatt Coffman
BIRTH YEAR1984
INSTRUMENTDrums
DREAM INSTRUMENTPearl Reference Series Kit, Zildjin Brilliance Cymbals, Jimmy Chamberlain Signature Snare
INFLUENCESDream Theater, Smashing Pumpkins, They Might Be Giants
PANDORA STATIONThey Might Be Giants
FAVORITE ULTS SONGHere I Am
DREAM CARDenzel's car in training day
MUSIC HISTORYDrums @ 16, OSC, Sugar Camp, The Skinnys, Eight Track Trebuchet
Band member photo
NAMERandy Smith
BIRTH YEAR1977
INSTRUMENTBass
DREAM INSTRUMENTMelotron
INFLUENCESRadiohead, Rage, Primus
PANDORA STATIONArcade Fire (Neon Bible)
FAVORITE ULTS SONGThe Symposium
DREAM CARShelby Cobra
MUSIC HISTORYStarted playing guitar @ 14, Fuck Norris and the Bartabs ,Eight Track Trebuchet, Remedial Adults
Band member photo
NAMETodd Rider
BIRTH YEAR1976
INSTRUMENTKeys
DREAM INSTRUMENTA hurdy gurdy in every key (He's not messing around. He means it.)
INFLUENCESDavid Byrne. Bob Palard, Bela Fleck
PANDORA STATIONFlying Lotus
FAVORITE ULTS SONGWe Stopped Talking
DREAM CARDelorean
MUSIC HISTORYPiano @ 8, Hillbilly Gypsies, Eight Track Trebuchet, The Skinnys, Remedial Adults
Band member photo
NAMEJeremy Batten
BIRTH YEAR1985
INSTRUMENTGuitar
DREAM INSTRUMENT1973 Fender Tele Deluxe, 1959 Gibson ES 335, OG Moog Synth
INFLUENCESThe Beatles, 50's 60's jazz, The Jellyfish
PANDORA STATIONJames Blake
FAVORITE ULTS SONGTelephone, In a Minute
DREAM CAR89 Buick Skylark
MUSIC HISTORYBumped into Tony Bennet in 2009
Band member photo
NAMEMichael (Wiz) Wisell
BIRTH YEAR1977
INSTRUMENTBaritone Sax
DREAM INSTRUMENTFinger Snaps
INFLUENCESJodeci
PANDORA STATIONWilson Phillips
FAVORITE ULTS SONGThe Crying Game
DREAM CARYugo (the one with the hood scoop)
MUSIC HISTORYHas been whistling for years
Band member photo
NAMEJohn David (JD) Reed
BIRTH YEAR1979
INSTRUMENTTenor Sax
DREAM INSTRUMENTContra Bass Sax, Theramin
INFLUENCESGalactic, Cake, Liquid Soul
PANDORA STATIONMadeski Martin and Wood
FAVORITE ULTS SONGI'll be Right Back
DREAM CAR1963 Lincoln Continental (sky blue)
MUSIC HISTORYSax @ 10, Spiritual Creaminess, Music Teacher, Skinnys
Band member photo
NAMEAdam King
BIRTH YEAR1984
INSTRUMENTTrumpet
DREAM INSTRUMENTRandy's bass
INFLUENCESArturio Sandoval
PANDORA STATIONWaren Haynes
FAVORITE ULTS SONGShe Don't Call
DREAM CARBugati Veyron
MUSIC HISTORYTrumpet @ 12, Skinflute @ 14
Band member photo
NAMEJohn Shneider
BIRTH YEAR1985
INSTRUMENTTrumpet
DREAM INSTRUMENTOwn it
INFLUENCESHarry James, Wynton Marsalis, Adam Rapa
PANDORA STATIONClassic Rock
FAVORITE ULTS SONGThe Peanut Vendor
DREAM CARMercedes SLR McLaren
MUSIC HISTORYTrumpet @ 11
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News

Videos

Official Videos
The Ultimatums Whitn…

Goalrush February 25, 2012

Gig Vids
Ultimatums 07/15/201…

video by: bjroot1969

The Ultimatums at The Goal Rush 07/15/2011

Ultimatums 07/15/201…

video by: bjroot1969

Ultimatums at The Goal Rush 07/15/2011.

The Ultimatums - She…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Jus…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - I W…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Pre…

video by: matobesman

Performing at Rivesville WV 4th of July Celebration. I dug this song they sang..

The Ultimatums - The…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Veh…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Cre…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Her…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Don…

video by: antoniow97

The Ultimatums - Rin…

video by: antoniow97

Shows

ShowVenueTime
Ults Show at The OrdinaryThe Ordinary in Clarksburg, WVFri, Feb 25, 2011 10:00PM
GigThe Goal RushSat, Nov 20, 2010 10:00PM
GigThe Ordinary in downtown ClarksburgSat, Nov 13, 2010 10:00PM