Railroad Earth

  • Stillwater, NJ
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  • Americana
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  • 2001
    started
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About Railroad Earth

There’s a great scene in The Last Waltz – the documentary about The Band’s final concert – where director Martin Scorsese is discussing music with drummer/singer/mandolin player Levon Helm. Helm says, “If it mixes with rhythm, and if it dances, then you’ve got a great combination of all those different kinds of music: country, bluegrass, blues music, show music…” To which Scorsese, the inquisitive interviewer, asks, “What’s it called, then?”
“Rock & roll!”

Clearly looking for a more specific answer, but realizing that he isn’t going to get one, Marty laughs. “Rock & roll…”

Well, that’s the way it is sometimes: musicians play music, and don’t necessarily worry about where it gets filed. It’s the writers, record labels, managers, etc., who tend to fret about what “kind” of music it is.

And like The Band, the members of Railroad Earth aren’t losing sleep about what “kind” of music they play – they just play it. When they started out in 2001, they were a bunch of guys interested in playing acoustic instruments together. As Railroad Earth violin/vocalist Tim Carbone recalls, “All of us had been playing in various projects for years, and many of us had played together in different projects. But this time, we found ourselves all available at the same time.”

Songwriter/lead vocalist Todd Sheaffer continues, “When we started, we only loosely had the idea of getting together and playing some music. It started that informally; just getting together and doing some picking and playing. Over a couple of month period, we started working on some original songs, as well as playing some covers that we thought would be fun to play.” Shortly thereafter, they took five songs from their budding repertoire into a studio and knocked out a demo in just two days. Their soon-to-be manager sent that demo to a few festivals, and – to the band’s surprise – they were booked at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival before they’d even played their first gig. This prompted them to quickly go in and record five more songs; the ten combined tracks of which made up their debut album, “The Black Bear Sessions.”

That was the beginning of Railroad Earth’s journey: since those early days, they’ve gone on to release five more critically acclaimed studio albums and one hugely popular live one called, “Elko.” They’ve also amassed a huge and loyal fanbase who turn up to support them in every corner of the country, and often take advantage of the band’s liberal taping and photo policy. But Railroad Earth bristle at the notion of being lumped into any one “scene.” Not out of animosity for any other artists: it’s just that they don’t find the labels very useful. As Carbone points out, “We use unique acoustic instrumentation, but we’re definitely not a bluegrass or country band, which sometimes leaves music writers confused as to how to categorize us. We’re essentially playing rock on acoustic instruments.”

Ultimately, Railroad Earth’s 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. As mandolin/bouzouki player John Skehan points out, “Our M.O. has always been that we can improvise all day long, but we only do it in service to the song. 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 continues: “The songs are our focus, our focal point; it all starts right there. 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.”

So: they can jam with the best of them and they have some bluegrass influences, but they use drums and amplifiers (somewhat taboo in the bluegrass world). What kind of music is it then? Mandolin/vocalist John Skehan offers this semi-descriptive term: “I always describe it as a string band, but an amplified string band with drums.” Tim Carbone takes a swing: “We’re a Country & Eastern band! ” Todd Sheaffer offers “A souped-up string band? I don’t know. I’m not good at this.” Or, as a great drummer/singer/mandolin player with an appreciation for Americana once said: “Rock & roll!”
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Photos

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  • Railroad Earth
  • Railroad Earth
  • Railroad Earth performs at the 2013 Hangout Music Festival on May 16, 2013.
    Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth performs at the 2013 Hangout Music Festival on May 16, 2013.
    Dave Vann Photography
  • Railroad Earth performs at the 2013 Hangout Music Festival on May 16, 2013.
    Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth performs at the 2013 Hangout Music Festival on May 16, 2013.
    Dave Vann Photography
  • Publicity/ SCI Fidelity
    Railroad Earth
    Publicity/ SCI Fidelity
    Taylor Crothers

News

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  • Railroad Earth
    Strings & Sol 2013: Yonder, Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon, Keller & The Travelin' McCoury's, Greensky Bluegrass
    www.jambands.com
    Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon, Keller Williams with the Travelin' McCourys and Greensky Bluegrass will be at the second...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Tim Flannery and Friends Sit in with Railroad Earth
    www.jambands.com
    Former Major League Baseball player and current San Francisco Giants third base coach Tim Flannery sat in with Railroad Earth at San Francisco, CA's F...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Bruce Hornsby and Railroad Earth Will Spend The Summer on the Noise of the Earth Tour
    www.jambands.com
    Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers have confirmed a series of summer dates with Railroad Earth. The Noise of the Earth Tour will hit markets across the c...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Umphrey's McGee, Benny Benassi, Railroad Earth, Dillon Francis, Lotus, Conspirator and More Confirmed for The Hangout's Kickoff Party
    www.jambands.com
    Umphrey's McGee, Benny Benassi, Railroad Earth, Dillon Francis, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Lotus and Conspirator are among the acts slated to app...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth's Andy Goessling Joins Greensky Bluegrass in NYC
    www.jambands.com
    Greensky Bluegrass kicked off their spring tour last night at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City. The band was joined by Andy Goessling of Railro...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Everyone Orchestra Heads to Colorado with Kimock, Members of SCI, Railroad Earth
    www.jambands.com
    The Everyone Orchestra will embark on a three-night run through Colorado May 17-19. The project will play shows in Denver, Gunnison and Fort Collins--...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Lotus, Edward Sharpe, Yonder & Railroad Earth to Play Free Shows in Buffalo, NY
    www.jambands.com
    Lotus will close out Buffalo, NY's Thursday at Canalside free concert series on August 29. Other acts that are slated to perform throughout the summer...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth's Tim Caroline Confirms a Solo Show
    www.jambands.com
    Railroad Earth fiddler Tim Carbone has confirmed a solo performance. This Saturday, June 8 Carbone will perform at Stroudsburg, PA's Sarah Street Gril...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth's Tim Carbone Confirms a Solo Show
    www.jambands.com
    Railroad Earth fiddler Tim Carbone has confirmed a solo performance. This Saturday, June 8 Carbone will perform at Stroudsburg, PA's Sarah Street Gril...
    Read More
  • Railroad Earth
    Magnolia Fest: Willie Nelson, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams and More
    www.jambands.com
    Willie Nelson and Family, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Marley, Railroad Earth, Mavis Staples, Keller Williams & The Travelin' McCourys, The...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 28 Friday
    Rothbury, MI, US Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 5 Friday
    Eugene, OR, US Emerald Meadows
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  • Jul 5 Friday
    George, WA, US Gorge Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 6 Saturday
    George, WA, US Gorge Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 8 Monday
    Saratoga, CA, US Mountain Winery
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 9 Tuesday
    Paso Robles, CA, US Vina Robles Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 10 Wednesday
    San Diego, CA, US Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Morrison, CO, US Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Boulder, CO, US Boulder Theater
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 14 Sunday
    Aspen, CO, US Belly Up Aspen
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 15 Monday
    Park City, UT, US Deer Valley Resort
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  • Jul 25 Thursday
    Floyd, VA, US FloydFest
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 28 Sunday
    Bridgeport, CT, US Seaside Park
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 1 Thursday
    Buffalo, NY, US Thursday at Canalside
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 3 Saturday
    Utica, NY, US Saranac Brewery
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 4 Sunday
    Vienna, VA, US Filene Center, Wolf Trap
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 6 Tuesday
    Richmond, VA, US Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 7 Wednesday
    Charlottesville, VA, US nTelos Wireless Pavilion
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 10 Saturday
    Atlanta, GA, US Atlanta Botanical Garden
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 11 Sunday
    Portsmouth, VA, US nTelos Wireless Pavilion
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  • Aug 15 Thursday
    Scranton, PA, US Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
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  • Dec 11 Wednesday
    Puerto Morelos, Mexico Now Sapphire Resort
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • Railroad Earth (2010)
    Railroad Earth
    Railroad Earth (2010)
    One Haven Music
  • Amen Corner (2008)
    Railroad Earth
    Amen Corner (2008)
    Sci Fidelity Records
  • Amen Corner (2008)
    Railroad Earth
    Amen Corner (2008)
    Sci Fidelity Records
  • Elko (2006)
    Railroad Earth
    Elko (2006)
    Sci Fidelity Records
  • The Good Life (2004)
    Railroad Earth
    The Good Life (2004)
    Sugar Hill (Country)
  • Bird in a House (2002)
    Railroad Earth
    Bird in a House (2002)
    Sugar Hill (Country)
  • The Black Bear Sessions (2001)
    Railroad Earth
    The Black Bear Sessions (2001)
    BOS Music
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