Railroad Earth

Railroad Earth

Railroad Earth playing in May 2010
Background information
Origin Stillwater, New Jersey, United States
Genres Americana, progressive bluegrass, jam band
Years active 2001–present
Labels SCI Fidelity, Black Bear Records, One Haven Music
Associated acts The Revivalists,
Website railroadearth.com
Members Todd Sheaffer
Tim Carbone
John Skehan
Andy Goessling
Carey Harmon
Andrew Altman
Past members Dave Von Dollen
Johnny Grubb

Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based newgrass jam band from Stillwater, New Jersey. Their name was borrowed from the Jack Kerouac short story "October in the Railroad Earth." The band also has a song by the same name written by Todd Sheaffer. Railroad Earth's music combines elements of bluegrass, rock and roll, jazz, celtic and more, and the group is also known for its extensive live improvisation and lyrical songwriting within an acoustic base.

History

The six band members came together for the first time in January 2001. Originally composed of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Todd Sheaffer, violinist/vocalist Tim Carbone, mandolinist John Skehan, multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling, drummer/vocalist Carey Harmon, and bassist Dave Von Dollen, the six were brought together by manager Brian Ross, who both named the band and assumed management duties prior to their first rehearsals. Things kicked off with the six musicians working on a handful of original songs, mostly written by Sheaffer, the former From Good Homes songwriter, and began to realize that something musically unique was happening. After three weeks of rehearsing, Ross suggested they go into a local recording studio to track a five song demo of the songs he'd been listening to from their rehearsals. Recorded live with no overdubs except backing vocals, this untitled demo set Railroad Earth's career in motion. Within a week, Ross had them shoot a promo photo and sent their demo out to several festival promoters, landing them a slot at Telluride Bluegrass Festival. That appearance became the new band's tenth as Railroad Earth. The previous nine gigs had been little more than warm-ups at small North Jersey bars and Elks lodges and a couple of support slots for regional bands.[1] Realizing immediately how strong the initial five song demo was, Ross recommended that the band return to the same studio to cut another five tracks to complete an album for release in time to debut at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In early April 2001, the band tracked another five songs, and The Black Bear Sessions was completed. It was released to the public in June 2001, just one week before their appearance at Telluride. That album contains what are still some of the most popular songs in Railroad Earth's repertoire, including "Seven Story Mountain," "Head" and, of course, "Railroad Earth." Prior to their Telluride appearance, Ross had approached Sugar Hill Records with the still unreleased album and encouraged the label to watch the band's performance at Telluride. Right after their show, Railroad Earth was offered a record deal on the spot.

In June 2002, Railroad Earth released its follow-up album on Sugar Hill titled Bird In A House, featuring such enduring songs as "Like A Buddha," "Mighty River," and the album's title track. Throughout that year Railroad Earth's touring schedule increased dramatically and their growing fanbase began to emerge as something tangible to promoters, radio stations and other media. They were garnering raves for their unique sound and exciting live shows and had become a staple act on the line-up of any Roots, Folk or jam-band festival. Their fans, who were now calling themselves "Hobos," began to grow quickly in size, and the venues were getting larger along with them.

In late March 2003, Dave Von Dollen was replaced by Atlanta-based bassist Johnny Grubb. The following year, the band released its third studio effort, The Good Life, featuring "Storms," Mourning Flies," and "Goat." The band continued to tour throughout the country, and its first live album, "Elko (album)," was issued in late January 2006. They performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 15, 2007.

The band's fourth studio album, titled Amen Corner, was released on June 10, 2008. The album features songs such as "Been Down This Road," "Hard Livin'," "Waggin' The Dog," and "Lovin' You."

The current lineup of Railroad Earth playing Friday Cheers on May 21, 2010 in Richmond, Virginia.

On November 11, 2009, Grubb announced his departure from the band after Railroad Earth's New Year's Eve run of shows in Portland, OR. In February 2010, Andrew Altman of the Codetalkers and Blueground Undergrass was named as his successor.

The band's self-titled fifth album was released on Oct 12, 2010.[2] The album featured Andy Goessling, for the first time playing electric guitar, and new songs from Todd Sheaffer including "Jupiter and the 119" and " Too Much Information" plus an 11-minute instrumental, written by John Skehan, "Spring-Heeled Jack." It is the longest studio track to date for the band.

In February 2013 Railroad Earth performed at the Jefferson Theatre at the University of Virginia,[3] and at Workplay in Birmingham, Alabama.[4]

On January 14, 2014, Railroad Earth released their seventh album, "Last of the Outlaws," to rave reviews from media and fans alike.[5] In the tour that followed Railroad Earth headlined Red Rocks for the second time, selling out and with the help of the Mile High Horns (arranged by Jay Rattman). The result can be seem on the DVD "Live at Red Rocks".

Railroad Earth backed Warren Haynes on February 3, 2015 for a taping of the PBS series "Front and Center" for airing in May 2015. There were also studio Haynes tracks being recorded with Railroad Earth.[6]

The members of Railroad Earth have also released numerous solo albums. In 2009 John Skehan released a duet album with mandolinist Todd Collins, performing the eighteenth-century Italian sonatas of Emanuele Barbella.[7] In 2010 Tim Carbone co-founded the jamband supergroup The Contribution (band) with Keith Moseley and Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident along with Jeff Miller and Phil Ferlino of New Monsoon.[8] Tim Carbone has also produced albums by many bands, including Greensky Bluegrass and Great American Taxi.[9] In 2015 Tim Carbone contributed to Waywords and Meansigns, a collaborative project setting James Joyce's Finnegans Wake to music.[10]

Members

Current members

Past members

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label
2001 The Black Bear Sessions Bos Music
2002 Bird In A House Sugar Hill
2004 The Good Life Sugar Hill
2006 Elko SCI Fidelity
2008 Amen Corner SCI Fidelity
2010 Railroad Earth One Haven Music
2014 Last of the Outlaws Black Bear

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/hotstar/archive_/2009/06/19/hotstar22833.aspx - Speer, Deborah, "Railroad Earth", www.pollstar.com, June 19, 2009
  2. ↑ http://frontpsych.com/2010/11/04/railroad-earth-this-train-is-bound-for-jamming/
  3. ↑ "Railroad Earth chugs into Charlottesville", The Cavalier Daily, 13 February 2013
  4. ↑ Bluegrass? Jamgrass? Whatever it is, Railroad Earth played it (music review), al.com, 14 February 2013
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ http://www.jambase.com/Articles/123883/Warren-Haynes-and-Railroad-Earth-Front-and-Center-TV-Taping
  7. ↑ "Jambands.com article, John Skehan and Todd Collins perform mandolin duets of Emanuele Barbella". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  8. ↑ "The Contribution: Carbone, Miller, Moseley, Hann, Ferlino". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  9. ↑ "Jambands.com article, Tim Carbone: Producer Serving the Song". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  10. ↑ "Jam Bands, Experimental Music, and James Joyce". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
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