Railroad Earth
Encyclopedia
Railroad Earth is a roots
and Americana-based newgrass band from Stillwater
, New Jersey
. Their name was borrowed from the Jack Kerouac
short story
"October in the Railroad Earth," to which the band also has a song by the same name. 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.
. That appearance was 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. In early April 2001, the band returned to the same local studio and tracked another five songs to complete an album. The Black Bear Sessions was released to the public in June 2001, one week before their appearance at Telluride. The 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." Immediately following their appearance at Telluride, Sugar Hill Records approached the band and offered them a record deal.
In June 2002, Railroad Earth released its follow-up album on Sugar Hill titled Bird In A House, featuring songs such 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," 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."
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. 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 a 11-minute instrumental, written by John Skehan, "Spring-Heeled Jack." SHJ is John Skehan's initials backwards. It is the longest studio track to date for the band.
The band was announced to perform the self-titled album in its entirity and video tape it to send to the fans.
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
and Americana-based newgrass band from Stillwater
Stillwater Township, New Jersey
- History timeline :*1741, Casper Shafer built the Stillwater gristmill about half a mile from the present mill site.*1764, the Stillwater gristmill was moved to its present location and commercially operated there until 1955...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Their name was borrowed from the Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
"October in the Railroad Earth," to which the band also has a song by the same name. Railroad Earth's music combines elements of bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
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 first came together 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 group kicked off by rehearsing a handful of original songs, mostly written by Sheaffer, the former From Good Homes songwriter, just to get together, hang out and play some music. But after just three weeks of rehearsing, they decided to go into a local recording studio to track a five song demo. Recorded live with no overdubs except backing vocals, this untitled demo set Railroad Earth's career in motion. Within a week they had manager Brian Ross on board, who sent their demo out to several festival promoters...quickly landing them a slot at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass FestivalTelluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride Bluegrass Festival is held annually in Telluride, Colorado by . Although traditionally the festival focuses on bluegrass music, it often features music from a variety of genres. In 1974, its first year, it attracted 1000 participants. Currently the festival's attendance is capped at 10,000...
. That appearance was 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. In early April 2001, the band returned to the same local studio and tracked another five songs to complete an album. The Black Bear Sessions was released to the public in June 2001, one week before their appearance at Telluride. The 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." Immediately following their appearance at Telluride, Sugar Hill Records approached the band and offered them a record deal.
In June 2002, Railroad Earth released its follow-up album on Sugar Hill titled Bird In A House, featuring songs such 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," was issued in late January 2006. They performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
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."
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. 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 a 11-minute instrumental, written by John Skehan, "Spring-Heeled Jack." SHJ is John Skehan's initials backwards. It is the longest studio track to date for the band.
The band was announced to perform the self-titled album in its entirity and video tape it to send to the fans.
Current members
- Todd Sheaffer - guitar, vocals (2001–present)
- Tim Carbone - violin, accordion, electric guitar, vocals (2001–present)
- John Skehan - mandolin, bouzouki, vocals (2001–present)
- Andy Goessling - acoustic guitars, banjo, dobro, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, saxophones, vocals (2001–present)
- Carey Harmon - drums, hand percussion, vocals (2001–present)
- Andrew Altman - bass, vocals (2010–present)
Past members
- Dave Von Dollen - bass, vocals (2001–2003)
- Johnny Grubb - bass, vocals (2003–2009)
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Black Bear Sessions The Black Bear Sessions The Black Bear Sessions is the debut studio album by the bluegrass/jam band Railroad Earth, released in 2001.-Track listing:#"Head" - 6:59#"Lordy Lordy" - 4:12#"Seven Story Mountain" - 6:02#"Chains" - 4:29... |
Bos Music |
| 2002 | Bird In A House Bird in a House Bird in a House is the second studio album by the bluegrass/jam band Railroad Earth, released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Drag Him Down" - 4:19#"Bird in a House" - 5:28#"Like a Buddha" - 7:05... |
Sugar Hill |
| 2004 | The Good Life The Good Life (Railroad Earth album) The Good Life is the third studio album by the bluegrass/jam band Railroad Earth, released on June 8, 2004.-Track listing:#"Storms" - 4:54#"Bread and Water" - 4:24#"Mourning Flies" - 5:47... |
Sugar Hill |
| 2006 | Elko Elko (album) Elko is the first live album and fourth album by the bluegrass/jam band Railroad Earth, released on January 24, 2006.-Track listing:# "Long Way to Go" - 6:20# "Colorado" - 9:26# "Bird in a House" - 7:22... |
SCI Fidelity |
| 2008 | Amen Corner Amen Corner Amen Corner may refer to:*Amen Corner , 1960s British pop group*Amen Corner , 1983 musical*Amen Corner , novel by Rick Shefchik*The Amen Corner, 1954 play by James Baldwin... |
SCI Fidelity |
| 2010 | Railroad Earth | One Haven Music |
External links
- Official website - contains biography, sample MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s, tour dates, merchandise, and contact info. - Official Facebook Fansite - This is the Official Facebook page for RRE.
- Official MySpace Fansite - This is the Official MySpace page for RRE.
- Earthboard - Railroad Earth fan discussion site, with lyrics, band and concert updates, music trading, and more
- One Haven Music - Railroad Earth signed to One Haven Music in early 2010 and is releasing their sixth album in fall 2010 on the label.
- Live shows at Archive.org - provides over 600 free and legal downloads of complete Railroad Earth concerts from 2001 to the present
- Railroad Earth Interview 2009
- Railroad Earth Takes a Live Ride - The Music Box, Vol. 13, #2
- Railroad Earth Fansite - message board, setlists, tourdates and articles.
- Concert Photo Gallery - Photos from Railroad Earth concert at Blue Plum Festival - Johnson City Tennessee in 2006.
- http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/hotstar/archive_/2009/06/19/hotstar22833.aspx - RRE article in Pollstar Magazine.