Just last August, we profiled The Corduroy Road, the folk-rock band out of Athens, Georgia, and dubbed them the next big thing to come out of that fabled Southern music city. High praise, to be sure, and well justified, but now we are worried. Have we created a jinx? We certainly hope not, as we could have never predicted that, less than a year later, The Corduroy Road would be releasing what will prove to be their swan song, Live at The 40 Watt.
This latest release, recorded during two stints at The 40 Watt Club, a long time hub of the Athens music scene, showcases the musical evolution of The Corduroy Road. Take a listen to earlier releases from the band, especially back when original members Drew Carman and Dylan Solise played together as a duo, and the sound is more folk than rock. Live at The 40 Watt shows that the band, though, has transformed into a rock beast, more akin to the gritty Legendary Shack Shakers—the addition of John Cable on drums, Elijah Neesmith on bass, and Cameron Thomas on electric guitar added a gristled crunch to Carman and Solise’s originals and the band’s collective take on Appalachian standards. For evidence, take a listen to the renditions of “June Apple” and “Mule Skinner Blues,” two old time banjo tunes that the band absolutely shreds.
The Corduroy Road will continue to tour through mid-summer, so check out the band’s website for dates and see them when you can. And grab a copy of Live at The 40 Watt as a reminder or a great band that too quickly fell victim to one of life’s cruelest mistresses – rock and roll.
As far as that jinx goes? If there proves to be any truth to it, maybe we’ll start profiling folks like Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts.
