The Riverband was written in 2004 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was initially themed on the 1977 Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas special, a Jim Henson creation. This was sillier than I could commit to, so I altered the lyrics to "I know an old, old man," instead of, "I know an otter, man.” I sat on this song for a very long time before releasing a version of it in April 2021 on my album, Middle Sea. Shortly after this, it won first place in the Red Lodge Songwriting Contest (associated with the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival). Aside from a satisfaction that comes with winning, I was invited back to play the festival in 2022 and when there I met Pam Owen and was invited to play the Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival in October of 2022.
Shortly after releasing the April 2021 version and winning the competition, I had a friend, Daniel Sanda, talk me into recording another version of the song. This was the last thing I wanted to do because I’d just released it and won a contest with it and had too many other songs to focus on. But he said he could get some of my favorite musicians to sit in with me, and that he’d video the session live. Two of those musicians were Eric Adcock and Chris French. I’d seen them both play with Roddie Romero and the Hub City Allstars and was blown away. They were one of the best acts I’d ever seen and had multiple Grammy nominations. Eric said he’d bring a friend, William Byron Smith, who plays with Truth and Salvage, for drums. So, despite the fact that The Riverband had received recent attention, I couldn’t say no. Daniel videoed the session. We actually used a different take for the video due to technical issues. But the track that one hears here was the first take after making a small production change. After the live session, which is unedited Rhodes, bass, drums, and vocals, I had Ben Herrington add trombone and Kevin McMann add clarinet. I added an organ and electric guitars. The horn players are both located in New Orleans. Ben has a steady NOLA gig, and Kevin just went on tour with the Glen Miller orchestra. The combined sound added what I hear as a New Orleans style sound, though this was very unplanned.
In the end, I’m very happy with it and will be happy to release the video, as well. The video will follow directly on the heels of the release of this tracked version.
lyrics
I know an old, old man
He's got a river band
They'll play it all night long
Their notes are never wrong
They sing of joys, untold
And how that river flows
I know an old, old man
He's got a river band
They've grown old, it's true
But close as friends will do
With all that they've been through
Their music still rings true
Old Sam plays violin
But he'll play that banjo, too
With all that they've been through
Their music still rings true
Row down that river, man
To hear that river band
Everyone's on their way
They wanna hear them play
We've got our girls with us
In case we drink too much
They'll steer the boats back home
But they'll only stay so long
We laugh and carry on
They steer the boats back home
We've got our girls with us
In case we drink too much
Row down that river, man
To hear that river band
Everyone's on their way
They wanna hear them play
Roll down that river, man
To hear that river band
Everyone's on their way
They wanna hear them play
credits
released December 9, 2022
Eric Adcock: Fender Rhodes
Chris French: Upright Bass
William Byron Smith: Drums
Kevin McMann: Clarinet
Ben Herrington: Trombone
Recorded at Dockside Studio by Justin Tocket
Mixing: Chad Viator
Mastering: Aaron Thomas
Originally from Arkansas, and now in Lafayette, LA, I play the surrounding areas regularly. Over the course of the years,
I've reinvented myself musically many times: piano to guitar, classical to art rock, art rock to folk, flat picking to finger-picking, solely songwriting to performing. My latest incarnation has me playing out often, sometimes touring, and writing and recording consistently....more
I played with Michael at the 2022 Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival and he's one of the good ones . . . if you get the chance to hear him live, do. Reece Sullivan
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