Guitarist Butch Ripton and banjo player Chuck Oakton met each other in early 2001 when, during the talent portion of the Mr. Universe pageant, both contestants played the same song. The song was Bill Monroe's 'Real Life Blues' and embarressing a moment though it was, an instant friendship was formed. They began playing as a duo until out of spite and jealousy, Ripton's lilfe partner and dobro phenom Michael Wildwind insisted on being included. Then in the summer of 2002 Jeffrey Chesnut, with whom Oakton had worked in the adult film 'Shotgun Charlie,' began sitting in on fiddle. Finally, in May 2003, bass fiddler Bradley Longwood blackmailed his way into the band and Sexfist was born. They have since taken Chicago by storm, amazing audiences with their high-energy, hard-driving picking and angelic harmony singing. Sexfist has won numerous awards and accolades including Third All-Time Highest Score on the Golden Tee game at the Oasis in Rogers Park, a citation in June 2005 by Officer Reginald A. White for disorderly conduct, and a 2007 Franky nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The band is not currently touring in support of its self-titled debut CD as they are not legally allowed to operate motor vehicles. You can however see the Fist live and in person every Tuesday night at the Red Line Tap in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and the second Thursday of every month at Quenchers saloon on the corner of Western and Fullerton, Chicago.
Butch Ripton: Guitar
Bradley Longwood: Bass
Jeffrey Chestnut: Fiddle
Michael Wildwood: Dobro
Chuck Oakton: Banjo
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Currently no known photos exist of Sexfist. While they are known to have faces only a mother could love, management has requested no photos be taken. You do NOT want to know what these guys look like - roll the dice, take your chances.
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"...this is a solid piece of contemperary bluegrass..."
-- Stewart Mason,
All Music Guide
"Do yourself a favor and buy this album, it is sure to be a classic."
-- iTunes,
Average Rating: Five Stars
Check out the InmanStories short on Rogers Park, featuring yours truly.
". . .Sexfist sure plays as if it's on the verge of being the next big thing. . ."
--Centerstage Chicago
"This bluegrass band has the right formula: heavenly harmonies on top of furious fingerpicking, trucking down the highway at 200mph. When you're dealing with a force of nature this big, you either get on the truck or get the hell out of the way."
--Time Out Chicago
"Sexfist takes . . . roots music and makes it their own, giving their audience more
than just a show . . . ."
--Big Monkey Press
"These guys write some good songs, and they rock . . . ."
--Chi Town Daily News
"While keeping inside the lines of tradition, Sexfist creativity still sparkles."
--Appleton Post-Cresent
Sexfist Contact Information
Jon Goldfine
773 793 6261
contact@sexfist.net