Redhill Road: The Story So Far...
We were younger then, obviously. Playing around the high schools, at parties. Serious about it though. Kingston Trio, Dylan, James Taylor, some blues, heartfelt folk but also the Beatles, Cream, Stones, early Springsteen. A couple of us made our way into coffee houses with names like Egertons, in Toronto, Knights II in Hamilton. Places where you might hear Stan Rogers great Canadian voice one night, or see Marc Jordan and his mannequin on another.
One of us formed a band that played high school dances, the cottage country bar circuit, got sponsored by a shirt company, courted by a record company, but chose university instead. Played Eagles, Stones, Jackson Browne, Beatles covers. Anything that would get the kids up to dance.
Meanwhile, another one of us was in a band, and co-wrote a song that won one of the first homegrown contest at a Toronto radio station. Won studio time, toured. Eventually joined a show band and hit the road: southern Ontario, northern Ontario. Then on to Florida, Las Vegas. Played any song they wanted to hear. Then a war of attrition - last one standing, playing covers with a drum machine and a stiff scotch.
When reality caught up and jobs beckoned we went to the weddings, funerals, took out mortgages, had children. Music came late at night when the kids were down. Maybe a Friday night jam with friends and family. Still writing though. Hundreds of our own songs between us by then.
The place on Redhill Road: the little hobbit house built into the side of a hill. Rory, Ralph and Jim in the One Shot band. Played the Toad in the Hole, the Free Times Café, the Hotel Isabella and the Nags Head (where the guy working the door made more than the band). Played original songs along with the Drifters, Chubby Checker, the Eagles, Beatles. Some music for film and TV on the side. Saved our money to record a couple of sides with Bill Usher producing. Eventually produced two albums on our own, but had no plan, suffered from bad timing, had no business sense, and no good luck either. We lost faith, momentum, confidence.
Then Reeves joined in, with his Swiss watch timing, big bag of musical tricks, endless supply of riffs, and a voice that could be anyone, anytime. Three of us Rory, Ralph, Reeves - become Redhill Road,
We'd already finished one Redhill Road CD when Brad joined the band. Great voice, steeped in traditional country, singing lead and also blending in seamlessly. Flavours the mix with George Strait, Eagles, Colin Raye.
Back playing in kitchens or living rooms but then also some community events and festivals, a wedding, a banquet, the mainstage at a big country oriented festival. Ralph's sneaky, left-field leads; Brad's bluegrass riffs and finger-picking guitar; Reeves' rock solid bass on the bottom; Rory's acoustic guitar-as-snare-drum. People tapping fingers and toes, dancing to Merle Haggard, Beatles, Eagles, Elvis, Dylan, Blue Rodeo, Good Brothers, John Prine, Van Morrison, and a couple of dozen originals. Together we finish a second CD, start experimenting with banjitar and mandolin.
Warm, friendly, timeless a nice place to be. When all four voices hit their notes and hang on, theres no place better.
You can buy Redhill Road CDs at CDBaby using the shopping cart below.
album