Carolina Roots Rock Pioneer Picks Up Where Rank Outsiders Left Off

Bill Noonan was leader and chief songwriter of the Rank Outsiders, Charlotte-based roots-rock pioneers who were a popular fixture of the regional Americana music scene for more than a decade (1991–2001). He has collaborated with many other familiar regional Americana artists on stage and in the studio, including David Childers, Michael Reno Harrell, Duane Jarvis and Gigi Dover.

Noonan has recently returned to the stage fronting a new group that picks up where the Rank Outsiders left off, delving deeper into the trademark "Carolina roots rock" sound for which he is best known. The Bill Noonan Band brings together long-time musical comrades with interesting new talent. The lineup consists of Noonan’s long-time cohorts Bill Walpole on pedal steel guitar and Dillard Richardson on percussion and acoustic guitar, along with newcomer David Kroening on bass.

Ray Mitchell, drummer for the Rank Outsiders and widely known as one of the finest drummers in the region, is also part of the new lineup. Together in this new musical context, the two ex-Ranksters re-create and expand upon the energy and rock ’n’ roll heart for which their former band was best known. Noonan and Mitchell share vocals on many of the Ranks' most popular numbers, while breaking new ground on Noonan’s recent compositions.

The new band's rhythmic foundation has also been expanded and reinforced. Mitchell and Richardson form a highly capable percussion section, using a standard drum kit and a variety of percussion instruments, including the Cajun frattoir or scrub-board.

Noonan's songwriting arms the band with a deep-rooted original repertoire encompassing core American musical styles: folk, blues, country and western, and the hybrid that he tags "traditional rock 'n' roll." The band's sets combine new original material with old favorites from the Rank Outsiders songbook, and an eclectic range of cover material spanning old-fashioned country and western, bluegrass and rockers from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Neil Young.

In this new setting, Noonan stretches out as front man and lead vocalist. The group's high-spirited performances are driven by his spontaneity, wry commentary and fiery Telecaster chops. This is a strong, versatile band capable of breaking new musical ground while bringing new life to many of Noonan's trademark originals and favorite rockers from past musical lives.