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Railroad Earth rolls into Boise
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New Jersey-based bluegrass band Railroad Earth is coming to the Neurolux on Thursday as part of their latest nationwide tour.
With their second album, Bird In A House, released in June under Sugar Hill Records, Railroad Earth is chugging full steam ahead.
Success was quick to knock at Railroad Earth’s door. Within one year of forming in Stanhope, NJ, Railroad Earth already had performances at popular music festivals such as the High Sierra Music Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. This gave Railroad Earth a large and expanding group of fans.
“We’ve got people who come from the newgrass scene, and people who miss Grateful Dead and find something in our sound and spirit that warms their hearts. We seem to be somewhere in the middle of the hippie-sensibility and the bluegrass-sensibility,” lead singer Todd Sheaffer said.
The band recorded their first album, The Black Bear Sessions, after rehearsing for only three weeks. The album’s appearance on Napster had fans in a downloading frenzy, which inspired Railroad Earth to create their own Web site. Within the first two weeks of the site’s inception, the number of downloads soared past 2500.
Although the band is young as a whole, each musician in Railroad Earth is far from amateur. Sheaffer released a popular album on RCA Records titled From Good Homes. Fellow Railroad Earth members Tim Carbone, John Skehan, Carey Harmon, Andy Goessling and Dave Von Dollen all have abundant experience in touring and recording as well.
The musical bond between the band members is extraordinary. From the very beginning, Railroad Earth knew they had a unique musical chemistry.
“It is a special connection that the group seems to have. We’re from the same area, you know. We drink the same water, breathe the same air. There is a bit of a sound from northwest New Jersey that we’ve all kind of grown up with. I think we are similar musical spirits,” Sheaffer said.
Railroad Earth combines elements of folk, rock, bluegrass and jazz to invent their own unique sound. Bird In A House features jamming guitars, banjos, violins, and mandolins accompanied by high energy drums, percussions, bass and vocals that you can’t resist singing along with.
Railroad Earth has also become well-known for their unpredictable, jam-band style during live shows.
“It’s a fun band. We like to have a good time. We like for the audience to have a good time. It’s a pretty high-energy show, usually. Generally the audience tends to get up and get a little groove on, do some dancing,” Sheaffer said.
The band plans on taking a break in October after their long stretch of touring, but they have big plans for the near future. Railroad Earth is in the process of planning a European tour beginning in late June.
Sheaffer said the band is just getting started.
“[We want to] continue to develop the sound of the band and the live shows … to continue growing up as a band and to make some great records. And hopefully make a living while doing it,” Sheaffer said.
When Sheaffer is asked if he would like to say anything to his fans in Boise, he is shocked.
“Do we have fans in Boise? I don’t know! Hey, alright!” Sheaffer said.
Come show Sheaffer and the rest of Railroad Earth some warm Boise hospitality at the Neurolux tonight. Tickets are available by calling 1-866-468-7624 or online at ticketweb.com.
Lauren Consuelo Tussing, The Arbiter