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(This is from the Sun Herald's marquee article as written by Justin Hooks..)
This is a column I've been waiting to write for more than two years. A local South Mississippi rock band has been signed to a record label and has just released their first five-track EP, available anywhere from Seattle to Saucier. Please, if you will, a hearty congratulations to Vancleave-based CastorTroy.
In less than a year's time, the band (Chris Scott/vox, Matt White/drums, Michael Dunnaway/guitar) went from a freezing, cramped practice room to playing before more than 13,000 people at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. They caught the ear of 3 Doors Down guitarist Chris Henderson, who produced the EP, 'Patience Above,' and helped sign them to New York-based Rock Ridge Music.
Now, the real work begins. But these guys deserve at least one moment of glory.
'Oh Lord, dude, that is a feeling that really is indescribable,' White said in a recent interview. 'It's just unbelievable to know you're on the shelf with these musicians you've grown up with your entire life. There's us, in the C section right next to Collective Soul and Creedence Clearwater Revival.'
'Patience Above' was recorded at Henderson's Rivergate Studios in Gautier last year. The EP as a whole is a solid appetizer for the band, and their first single, 'Worthless,' is receiving play on 97.9 WCPR FM. The song's a ripper, man. It's not going to rewrite the book on the genre, but you know how you just want to pound the steering wheel sometimes when you're driving to the grocery store? This is a good song for that. Or for driving to a friend's house. Or brushing your teeth. Or eating. Sleeping. Working. Breathing.
'With it being an EP, you can't really go too far in depth with what CastorTroy really is,' Scott said. 'But it's a good taste of what you're going to get in the near future. Now is the time where we have to hit the road and meet our fans and do what we have to do in order to stay successful and not be a flash in the pan, overnight deal. Once we get out on the road, it's not going to be too far along that we'll be out there full-time.'
Have any kind of extended conversation with the band and you'll hear these kinds of comments. They're pacing a hole in the ground waiting to hit the road and tour, and God bless 'em for it. Their local live shows are ridiculously high-energy and Dunnaway's guitar work has never ceased to impress me.
The band's eagerness to conquer Earth through their music made its way to 'Patience Above' in 'Pressure.'
'It's probably the hardest track we have,' Scott said. 'The meaning behind it, the struggle that we've been through to get to this point, it basically boils down to the fact that we're not going to take no for an answer. After so many years of struggle to get to this point...You've got to work your (butt) off for it, and that's exactly what we do.'
So give a listen to the two song clips we've posted on our Web site, sunherald.com. Check out CastorTroy for yourself and then tell the DJ's at WCPR I told you to call and request their songs. I've seen these guys play before 10 people, and I've seen them play before 10,000. The only difference in both of those shows is how well you can see the band sweat. Best of luck, fellas.
Justin Hooks covers bars and bands along the Coast for the Sun Herald. He can be reached at jhooks@sunherald.com.
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