J Roddy Walston and the Business perform live in The Current studios
by Mary Lucia, Leah Garaas and J. Roddy Walston and The Business
September 09, 2013
It was J Roddy Walston's grandma who taught the blues-rocker how to play the piano informally as a child. Roddy, who leads The Business on keys, says it was a "self-revelation" when he discovered what octaves were. "I thought there were just random notes everywhere."
After opening for The Lumineers on an extensive arena tour, including a date at the Target Center in Minneapolis last May, J Roddy Walston & The Business are looking forward to performing more intimate shows on a headlining tour in support of the forthcoming Essential Tremors.
The band has quite the history with modes of transportation: In high school, J Roddy drove a '66 Mustang to and from school. The lack of an FM signal limited the number of radio frequencies, but it seems to have worked out for him because his go-to '50s station heavily influenced his successful sound.
When J Roddy Walston & The Business first started touring, the frontman bought a decal-clad van from an Alabama church. Dubbed the "Diaper", the born-again wheels hit 200,000 miles before the soiled sleigh and the band parted ways.
Last but not least, J Roddy Walston & The Business shared quite a story involving a boat and a bench, but we'll let you listen to the in-studio to hear that one.
Songs Performed
"Hard Times"
"Marigold"
"Heavy Bells"
All songs off Essential Tremors, the group's third LP out tomorrow on ATO Records.
Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Jade
Engineered by Mike DeMark
