Tim Carbone – Violins, Electric Guitar, Vocals
John Skehan – Mandolin, Bouzouki, Piano, Vocals
Andy Goessling – Acoustic guitars, Banjo, Dobro, Mandolin, Lap Steel, Flute, Pennywhistle, Saxophones and Vocals
Carey Harmon – Drums, Hand Percussion, Vocals
Andrew Altman – Upright and Electric bass
Railroad Earth released its album Ashes and Dust in collaboration with Warren Haynes in 2015 and the band plans to continue touring, making a stop in Atlanta to play Variety Playhouse Jan. 14 and 15.
Get tickets to the Railroad Earth shows at the band’s website.
Members of Railroad Earth don’t losing sleep about what “kind” of music they play – they’ve been playing what feels right on acoustic instruments since they started out in 2001. Some people will hear Grateful Dead influences in the bluegrass, mixed with lively banjo and upbeat melodies.
“All of us had been playing in various projects for years, and many of us had played together in different projects,” violin/vocalist Tim Carbone recalls on the band’s website. “But this time, we found ourselves all available at the same time.”
Ultimately, Railroad Earth says its music is driven by the remarkable songs of front-man, Todd Sheaffer, and is delivered with seamless arrangements and superb musicianship courtesy of all six band members.
“Our M.O. has always been that we can improvise all day long, but we only do it in service to the song,” mandolin/bouzouki player John Skehan says on the website. “There are a lot of songs that, when we play them live, we adhere to the arrangement from the record. And other songs, in the nature and the spirit of the song, everyone knows we can kind of take flight on them.”
Sheaffer added the songs are the focal point and the beginning of the band’s sound. “It all starts right there,” he said on the band’s website. “Anything else just comments on the songs and gives them color. Some songs are more open than others. They ‘want’ to be approached that way – where we can explore and trade musical ideas and open them up to different territories. But sometimes it is what the song is about.”
Check Railroad Earth out at Variety Playhouse Jan. 14 or 15.
Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 9:15 p.m.
Advance General Admission $25
Two day passes $45
