The Randy Rogers Band, one of the hardest-working and most energetic groups out of Texas, has turned in their new album to Mercury Records. I haven't heard the album yet, but I did have a chance to have lunch with them in Nashville a few weeks ago, so I asked them how they think it compares to their past work.
"If you've heard of our band before, and you expect things to be different - nothing's different," Rogers said. "The songs are better and hopefully the musicianship is better."
They recorded the album with Radney Foster over the course of a few weeks outside of Lafayette, La., and only included one outside song. For the most part, they tracked the whole thing live, and they wanted to capture the band's electricity in the studio. Now, they're back on the road, with an upcoming gigs at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., in May, where they'll be performing alongside The Eagles and John Fogerty. No doubt a few Creedence and Eagles songs used to be in their set list back in the day, before they built up their set list with original music.
Last year, they built their audience with a single and video called "Kiss Me in the Dark." They're hoping to film another video for the new album (the release date hasn't been set), while continuing to hit the road as hard as they can.
"I think our work ethic is as strong as it's ever been," Rogers said. "I don't think any of us have a problem with paying dues, if you want to call it paying dues. Because paying dues is what we love, which is playing music live and creating music and messing with the set list, and having fun at it."
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