As part of a rising generation of bands who pride themselves on their eclectic influences, genre-melding songwriting, and electric live shows, Colorado-based outfit The Runaway Grooms aren’t just picking up the torch, they’re taking off with it. And on February 10th, the Grooms—guitarist and vocalist Adam Tobin, keyboardist Cody Scott, bassist and vocalist Zach Gillam, drummer Justin Bisset, and guitarist and vocalist Zac Cialek—are releasing their third studio album, This Road, into the world and onto stages nationwide.
Recorded on the road at Paloma Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with former Ardent Studio engineer Jeremy Horn, the Grooms’ third LP marks the band’s return to more of an American roots rock songwriting style, all while keeping one foot in the tight-knit jam band circle from which they emerged. Equally inspired by jazz-fusion exploration from the likes of Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Yes, and the guitar-driven prowess of Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Grateful Dead, This Road dives in and out of grooves and moods, turning on a dime, but always focusing on what the band sees as the most important aspect; the song. Oh, and keeping the crowd on their dancing feet. In addition to telling stories and gleaning wisdom from life, love, and struggle, This Road captures an array of emotions and moods drawn from the dramatic narrative of living on the road in a touring band.
Yesterday, JamBase premiered the first track from This Road, the piano-driven rocker “Jenny.” Written by Tobin as a letter from his late grandmother to his mother, “Jenny” is a story about love, life, family, and the passing of time. Recorded live in the studio to capture the organic energy found in The Runaway Grooms’ live show, “Jenny” winds higher and higher, punctuated by Cialek’s piercing lap steel guitar and Scott’s change from rhythmic piano to swirling B3 organ. The up and down dynamics of the song’s instrumentation flows beautifully with its lyrical content, exactly as the band intended, and is capped off by an all-engulfing slide guitar solo before the song effortlessly fades into the album’s next track. Westword included the track in their new music column this week, calling it "six minutes of classic-rock bliss that’s equal parts The Band and the Allman Brothers."
Fans of the aforementioned bands and more modern contemporaries like Goose or Billy Strings should check out “Jenny” today at this link and stay up to date on all things ahead of their February 10th release right here.
The Runaway Grooms are wrapping up their fall tour with two more shows this weekend in Arkansas and a Frisco, Colorado, engagement on December 10th. Tour dates can be found below or at therunawaygrooms.com/tour.
This Road Tracklist:
Jenny
Mister Ford
Here I Come Again
This Road
Heartwork
Catch The Runaway Grooms On Tour:
Nov. 18 - Little Rock, AR - Stickyz Rock 'N' Roll Chicken Shack
Nov. 19 - Eureka Springs, AR - Chelsea's Corner Cafe
Dec. 10 - Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall
For ticket information, please visit therunawaygrooms.com/tour.