Railroad Earth at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC (review by Todd "Fox" Johnson)
Railroad Earth photos from All Good Festival by David Oppenheimer
Railroad Earth photos from All Good Festival by David Oppenheimer
They have since produced three albums of imaginative construct and great instrumental quality. Railroad Earth by all counts is a fans band; lighting up venues of all kinds and unleashing a wave of playful soul stirring boogie not to be missed. Now if ever things could be better for the band, they are; having been the "Friends" in "Phil & Friends" the famous side project for Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead. They have continued to progress as a group of exceptional and aware musicians; who seek to equal their audiences passion for their work, with a lovingly assembled tapestry in each of their live shows.
On Saturday April 24th 2010, Railroad Earth brought its own version of (string amped/americana/rock) to The Orange Peel a well known venue in Asheville NC. I had seen them backstage before going on and could tell they were excited, to bring a memorable evening to crowd eager to see them again.
As well, the stand-out Asheville group Now You See Them opened the night, with a set of enthralling (indie/pop/folk) juiced up with non-traditional instruments. Although there are three core members (Jason, Dulci, Shane) they usually incorporate other musicians; as they did this night. Their eccentric high energy, well placed harmony and sweetly crafted melodies; really catapulted the substantial early audience into the fluid bouncing soirees they are known for. It is my understanding this was the first time NYST played at The Orange Peel; the beautiful fun-filled opening set they produced being evidence of what is to come. Current Railroad Earth members are Todd Sheaffer, Tim Carbone, John Skehan, Andy Goessling, Carey Harmon & Andrew Altman.
After a short interlude Railroad Earth lit up this smaller venue; crafting with ease and expertise the kind of performance we know them for. The already fully engaged audience had an immediate immersion of boogie filter the room, which none could escape. They continued on an expansively playful foray for a couple hours, to a packed house. You could feel the crowd flowing with the band and showing their joyous appreciation throughout the night. Yet again, showing their ability to make fans feel as though being treated to an at home performance by grate "Friends"; but also witnessing the incredible. The enthralled crowd left them with a trail of cheers and fan love, so thick you could cut a doughnut out of it.
As for Railroad Earth, this was one of a unique assemblage of venues in their Spring Tour; from a live broadcast on "World Cafe" to save the historic Queen Theater in Wilmington Delaware, to the always rollicking Wakarusa Music Festival in Ozark Arkansas, and ending with the exciting Clearwater's River Festival in Hudson New York on June 19 and 20. This all continues into their Summer Tour packed with outstanding festival engagements like: High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy California, All Good Festival in Masontown West Virginia, and the Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City Colorado.
Railroad Earth as always use their prowess to bring enlightened, blistering, spell-binding performances; that aid us in digging down into the musical roots as well spiraling onto transcendent "musicscapes".
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Railroad Earth Tour Dates & Tickets
* April 23 Asheville, NC— The Orange Peel
* April 24 Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse
* April 26 Birmingham, AL—Workplay Theatre
* April 27 Tallahassee, FL—The Engine Room
* April 28 New Orleans, LA— Tipitina’s
* April 30 Blacksburg, VA—Attitudes Bar
* May 1 Lexington VA— Washington & Lee University
* May 13 Portland, ME— Port City Music Hall
* May 14 Providence, RI— Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
* May 15 Wilmington, DE—Bromberg’s Big Noise
* May 20 Glenside, PA— Keswick Theatre
* May 21 Richmond, VA—Brown’s Island
* May 22 Carrboro, NC— Cat’s Cradle
* May 23 Charlotte, NC— Visulite Theatre
* May 27-28 Cumberland, MD— Allegany County Fairgrounds
* May 30 Chillicothe, IL— Summer Camp
* June 1 St Louis, MO— Old Rock House
* June 3-4 Ozark, AK— Wakarusa Festival
* June 6 Augusta, NJ—Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest
* June 17 New York, NY— The Temptress (Rocks Off Boat)
* June 19 Croton on Hudson, NY— Clearwater Festival
* July 1-2 Quincy, CA— High Sierra Music Festival
* July 10 Masontown, WV— All Good Music Festival and Campout
* July 16 Oak Hill, NY— Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
* July 23 Floyd, VA— Floydfest
* July 24 Asbury Park, NJ— The Stone Pony
* July 25 Trumansburg, NY— Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival
* August 15 Commerce City, CO—Mile High Music Festival
* August 20-21 Bond, CO—YarmonyGrass Music Festival
* August 27 Boone, NC—Music on the Mountaintop Festival
* April 23 Asheville, NC— The Orange Peel
* April 24 Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse
* April 26 Birmingham, AL—Workplay Theatre
* April 27 Tallahassee, FL—The Engine Room
* April 28 New Orleans, LA— Tipitina’s
* April 30 Blacksburg, VA—Attitudes Bar
* May 1 Lexington VA— Washington & Lee University
* May 13 Portland, ME— Port City Music Hall
* May 14 Providence, RI— Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
* May 15 Wilmington, DE—Bromberg’s Big Noise
* May 20 Glenside, PA— Keswick Theatre
* May 21 Richmond, VA—Brown’s Island
* May 22 Carrboro, NC— Cat’s Cradle
* May 23 Charlotte, NC— Visulite Theatre
* May 27-28 Cumberland, MD— Allegany County Fairgrounds
* May 30 Chillicothe, IL— Summer Camp
* June 1 St Louis, MO— Old Rock House
* June 3-4 Ozark, AK— Wakarusa Festival
* June 6 Augusta, NJ—Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest
* June 17 New York, NY— The Temptress (Rocks Off Boat)
* June 19 Croton on Hudson, NY— Clearwater Festival
* July 1-2 Quincy, CA— High Sierra Music Festival
* July 10 Masontown, WV— All Good Music Festival and Campout
* July 16 Oak Hill, NY— Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
* July 23 Floyd, VA— Floydfest
* July 24 Asbury Park, NJ— The Stone Pony
* July 25 Trumansburg, NY— Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival
* August 15 Commerce City, CO—Mile High Music Festival
* August 20-21 Bond, CO—YarmonyGrass Music Festival
* August 27 Boone, NC—Music on the Mountaintop Festival
