Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Sly and the Family Stone, The Band, Django Reinhardt, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, The Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, DeVotchka, Billy Joel, Woody Guthrie, The Beatles, Elton John, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Rick Wakeman, CCR, Brian Wilson, Mouth and McNeal, The Who, David Bowie, Devandra Banhart, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, Solomon Burke, B.B. King, Jesse Fuller, Bo Diddley, Cat Stevens, Kenny Rogers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gogol Bordello, Donovan, Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Paper Airplanes, Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Dungen, Blind Blake, Boyz II Men, Hot Club of Cow Town, Bjork, Itzhak Perlman, James Brown, Koop, Man Man, Jackson 5, Muddy Waters, Of Montreal, Polyphonic Spree, Skip James, The Zombies, The Byrds, The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, And Academy, STYX, The Bee Gees, Prince
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Sounds Like
"Palace and Stage Boldly moves the plot on from 2008 debut First You Live with a self-assured swagger, tracks such as opener "All One", "The Ballad of Jim and Casey", and the truly epic title track [are] among the most heartwarming you will hear in a lifetime. -Q MAGAZINE UK, July 2009
"Considered a bit of an overnight sensation...the River Band first garnered praise with last year's First You Live...Album two eclipses that acclaimed debut with a singer who sounds like a young Steven Tyler and a collection of songs both vibrant and unpredictable. The engaging "Andy" takes Brokeback Mountain conceit as its starting point, while the title track is the touching story of a love affair with a vampire - and no, that isn't a metaphor. -MOJO FILTER UK, July 2009
"Crazy Hair and Tattoos aside, rock music is pretty conventional. Step outside the guitar-bass-drums blueprint, cross scene lines or mash together subgenres and the resulting blank stares prove the point-but that's what makes Dusty Rhodes and the River Band unique...the band use organ, violin, guitar, bass and drums, as well as the occasional ukulele, vibes, bells and marimba, to meld together classic rock, country, blues, and soul...and it feels good"-ALTERNATIVE PRESS, July 2009
"The breezy, soulful "Andy" (written and presumably sung by guitarist Kyle Divine, who colors his voice with a hint of vibrato) is performed with understated grace...meanwhile, violinist Andrea Babinski also helms a song to pleasant effect, and her voice turns "So Low" into a fun nugget of diverse, indie folk whimsy. Palace and Stage takes strength in such variety, and the album ultimately emerges as a fairly solid group effort -- greater than the sum of its parts, wide-ranging, and a nice follow-up to the band's debut."-ALL MUSIC GUIDE, May 2009
"Palace and Stage is likely to appeal to those who proclaim, "There is no good music anymore," while dragging a few unsuspecting other with them. Their melodies are affecting throughout-the likes of "Blind Lead the Blind" and "Fire in the Sky" the kind of songs that etch their way into your brain permanently after only a couple of exposures"-OUTBURN MAGAZINE, July 2009
"These SoCal space cowboys approach country the way label mates Gogol Bordello approach their Gypsy Folk: in a rush of vibrant energy and anything-goes psychedelia"-Q MAGAZINE UK, February 2008
"Rhode's unique phrasing allows him to get his concrete-mixer yowl around complex rhymes about lost loves, drunken excess, ghostly cowboys, militant sailors and his murderous grandpa, while fiddles, accordions, mandolins, all manner of brass, gospel and '70s soft rock are thrown into the soup. The most original take on West Coast country since Gram Parsons in a nudie suit." -MOJO FILTER UK, February 2008
"Utilizing a swaggering campfire sing-along ethic, they channel the indie folk spirit of Camper Van Beethoven, the boozy Celtic swing of the Pogues, the proggy pop bombast of Procol Harum and the punkish abandon of the Replacements, all while choreographing ’60s AM pop and inking in flannel sleeve tattoos of traditional country, British folk and bluegrass. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band thrum with schizophrenic charm, and First You Live is their wildly threaded and viscerally satisfying mix tape."-HARP MAGAZINE, February 2008
"a gang of southern rocking musicians with a swagger in their step and some good old-fashioned moonshine in their hipflasks. At times it sounds like they might have too much super-strength booze swimming amidst their number, as ‘First You Live’ wobbles precariously on that thin line between rather drunk and utterly rat-arsed. It’s no bother though, because these seeming pissheads sound so lovely" -NME
"The sextet...last fall released the exuberant "First You Live" (on SideOneDummy Records), an unironic throwback to the prog, folk and psych rock of decades past that is so far from the punk and emo being churned out by fellow twentysomethings it might as well be from another planet."-LA TIMES
, October 2007
"Dusty Rhodes and his clan succeed in what many of us understand as early rock. Early rock meant a fusion of jazz, blues, country,…anything that would create a unique blend of music and that would be interesting. In First You Live, you get that mix in copious amounts. And it sounds so good." -MUSICTAP
“ ‘First You Live’ is a glowing tribute to American nostalgia. There are times where I am convinced I have memories from the early 70s trying to catch a foothold in my mind. Now, I don’t remember what I ate for dinner yesterday, so you can imagine my sense of shock. One of the most invigorating albums of the year.” -ABSOLUTEPUNK
"Blending modern and classic rock with folk, blues, zydeco, country and bluegrass into epic songs that defy simple categorization" -OC REGISTER
"Over the course of thirteen tracks, the band treats us to a veritable hoedown, with each song sounding like a mini Southern symphony" -AU UK
“A singalong bar-room hootenanny that sounds like the Polyphonic Spree covering Tom Waits.” -THE OC WEEKLY
“It’s time to shine, this time it's mine” are the lyrics that not only lead off, but define the new album Palace and Stage from Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. In stores May 19, 2009 on SideOneDummy Records, Palace and Stage, is the band’s sophomore album, bringing with it a new batch of adventures, characters, sing-a-longs and stories. The band successfully blends Modern Rock, Gospel, Motown, and Folk to showcase a sound that is as accessible as it is original.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band is comprised of singer/keyboardist Dustin Apodaca, singer/guitarist Kyle Divine, violinist/singer Andrea Babinski, guitarist/singer Edson Choi and drummer Eric Chirco. Palace and Stage is an album of timeless songs ranging from the sweetly soulful “Andy,” to the up-tempo rock anthems “All One,” and “Blind Lead the Blind” – which Apodaca says “…was originally about my personal economic hardship, but now everybody's hurting. Having money and then out of the blue having nothing. You start with respect and relevance, and then you’re forgotten and thrown away. Ultimately you’re in charge of your own destiny.” Other album highlights include the meditative “So Low” and the confessional “Sorry For Now” with Apodaca’s authentic lead vocals rising over an orchestrated wave made of lush harmonies, violin and keyboards.
“We don't really have a theme for this record. If there is a common thread from song to song it's the power of perception; like seeing a pair of feet shuffling behind the curtain – there's always a hint of smoke and mirrors to what we can take so seriously. To me personally, that's what ‘Palace and Stage’ refers to,” says Edson.
The group’s music defies easy categorization but boasts the freewheeling approach that draws natural comparisons to Arcade Fire, The Decemberists and “Exile On Main St”- era Rolling Stones. The band has toured the States with Gogol Bordello, I’m From Barcelona, Flogging Molly and Blind Melon among others, and most recently in the UK with Dirty Pretty Things. In 2008, Q Magazine dubbed the band one of the “Next Big Things” and named the single “Dear Honey” from their debut album as one of the “50 Songs To Download”.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band have spent the past three years playing everywhere from the local dive bar to the Astoria Theatre in London, sleeping on couches, and giving their hearts and souls to every performance. Palace and Stage is the natural progression from their 2007 debut album, First You Live.
Palace and Stage is in stores May 19, 2009 on SideOneDummy Records.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band's Friend Space (Top 26)
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You guys were awesome last night... as always! I am so glad that you played "Magic Words".. that one is my favorite from the new album... I just wish y'all had a longer set... can't wait 'till you guys come out again xoxoxoxox
The July 2009 issue #35 of Innocent Words Magazine is out now! www.InnocentWords.com
Issue #35 July 2009 Cover Story: The Dangerous Summer – following the Hopeless Records’ pop punkers on their Summer Tour; Living with Lions - from sharing a house to sharing a tour van - Living With Lions make their mark on the road; Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - more personal and focused on their sophomore release; Operation Aloha – featuring members of Gomez, Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet Settle - Pennsylvania coal mines and punk rock; Jeff Buckley – feature on Grace Around the World; Plus: CDs, DVDs and Books reviews
Great set at the Fir. After hearing so many glowing remarks from Dave and Boots, it was great to see you all live - you lived up to the very high bar of expectations they set. Can't wait to see you all again next time you're through the NW (and, say, at Boots' wedding, yes?)
Saw you all in Portales, NM. My husband's band played that night (War of Contrition). I love the sound and style of your music.. Hope you come through again sometime.
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