Bread and Circus is an indie American rock band formed by singer/songwriter John Axtell with a rotating cast of musicians both live and in the studio.
Originating in the Tucson borderlands of the U.S. sonoran desert, Bread and Circus expanded the circle to include New York, San Francisco, Austin, and Los Angeles. The band plies a unique hybrid of musical styles, with songs that run the gamut from raucous up-tempo stomps and gritty rockers, to heady down-tempo desert blues jams and lo-fi meanderings. The band’s name references a satire by the Roman poet Juvenal, where a democratic populace willingly gives up it’s political rights in favor of bread and circuses.
Others have said …
“Bread and Circus plays rough-hewn country-rock on their debut CD, which has shades of Neil Young when he’s in his most down’n’dirty mood, or a bit of cowpunk on some of the brisker tunes, and perhaps a bit of the early-‘70s Rolling Stones . . . on the whole, however, it’s country-Americana-tinged roots rock with a slightly weary and cynical feel, though it’s not laid back, with some grunge and flame to the electric guitars.” -Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide.
“Bread and Circus Spare Me Over is a laidback collection of fun, sloppy rockers in the well-worn tradition of other super groups like Golden Smog and Danny & Dusty. In fact, fans of Wilco, Dream Syndicate, and fellow Arizona desert dwellers, Green On Red should certainly jump right in to this cool oasis of goodtime groovers. This is definitely a major entry in the always fun ‘Saloon Rock’ style of good time rock and roll. -Jeff Penczak, Terrascope U.K.
“Bread and Circus Spare Me Over is one of those albums that sounds timeless: It infuses traditional countrified desert rock with elements of folk, rockabilly, blues and psychedelia, with the shadows of Bob Dylan and Neil Young hovering over it in equal measure.” -Stephen Siegel, Tucson Weekly