Top of the Rocky: Top Country Band: "Railbenders"

"They do torch. They do twang. They do fast. They do slow. They do pain songs and train songs. The Railbenders do country music better than anyone in these parts, and their albums “Southbound” and “Segundo” prove it. The band often is labeled alt-country, but that’s ironic for musicians whose down-home style sounds more like Dale Watson or Waylon Jennings. Maybe the “alternative” label stems from the Railbenders’ plucky cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” or maybe it’s their grungy stage presence."

PEOPLES CHOICE: RAILBENDERS.... Rocky Mountain News 2004

____________________________________________

Friday, 4:30 finds me cracking my first of the weekend PBR stash, listening to records in my room and tracking down tickets. It’s my day off, and I’m off to Denver to see The Big Show. This happens to be the Supersuckers’ new tour kicking off right about now, combining their country set with their raucous rock n’ roll set. Six o’clock finds me still cracking, but I’ve moved into my living room and I’m alternating between watching the snow fall on the foothills outside my window and the blinking tube. It’s a beautiful Colorado evening. Perhaps you’re wondering what the hell kind of tangent I’m going off on, and when will I actually get to the ‘benders? Well, the answer to that is that I’m setting up the mood of the record and the audience for which it calls. As 8:30 rolls around, my friend pulls up and we’re on our way to Denver to catch some country raunch and roll.

During Mr. Spaghetti’s second solo set of the night, a young, black-clad gentleman by the name of Jim Dalton strolls on stage to join him. They creep into an old Hank Williams, Jr. number together, “O.D.’d in Denver.” It’s a beautifully sad song about being on tour and wrestling with the stress and problems that come with the road. This song slides in at number seven on the Railbenders’ new album, Segundo (complete with Eddie Spaghetti on the guest appearance). This is a great, true country rock album which rolls, wanders and crawls like the best of ‘em from a couple decades ago. Jumping from curbside ballads, drinking mantras, self-reflection and tear in beer recollections, The Railbenders can swing and hold their own in the eyes of Cash, Parsons, Willie and Haggard. I don’t see why they aren’t be filling barrooms with Dalton’s smooth, whiskey-soaked vocals strummed down crystal clear, shaky strings, Tyson Murray’s rolling, thick bass lines and Graham Haworth’s snappy, driving pop of a beat. On a few tracks, a twangy pedal steel glides across, toying with Dalton’s vocals and the backing rhythm. So, if you’re into the sweet sounds of the country ‘Suckers or you dig the depth of Mr. Steve Earle, you’re gonna find yourself tapping your foot to this album and raising your glass for a toast.

It’s a rollercoaster of an album, back and forth between upbeat country rock and meandering, heartbreaking ballads, Dalton and the boys can make you feel. Track ten rolls in with a bit of thunder, churning downhill from the last, hitting a bump and spinning into a dizzying, stomping rendition of Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The album closes out on “The Hangover Song,” with Dalton promising to just get up the next day and do it all again. -Chaz Martenstein
5/3/04  from http://www.leftoffthedial.com/Railbenders_Segundo.htm

_______________________________________________

Big Bender Records) The Railbenders are a Denver based honky tonk outfit who's members are Jim Dalton (lead vocals , guitars), Tyson Murray (upright bass) and Graham Haworth (drums, backing vocals). Jim Dalton also writes the bands songs. The Railbenders' sound is hard core, hell raising honky tonk and they sing songs about boozin', lovin' & losin', livin' hard & partyin' hard and yep, even trains. It harkens back to the days of Cash, Haggard, Waylon and Willie. They've won two consecutive Best Country Band awards in the Westword Music Showcase and have opened shows for artists that include Willie Nelson, the Supersuckers, the Derailers, BR549, Junior Brown and Pat Green.

Segundo is the follow up to their acclaimed debut, Southbound. Joining them on Segundo are Eddie Spaghetti (the Supersuckers) who contributes guest vocals on two tracks, guitarist Chuck Hughes (Hillbilly Hellcats) and pedal-steelist Glenn Taylor (Slim Cessna's Auto Club). Where they added a western flavor to their driving honky tonk on Southbound, they deliver straight up whiskey soaked honky tonk on Segundo.
 
On a disc filled with highlights, Segundo opens with the gorgeous two-stepping tale of loneliness and pain "Whiskey Rain" that moves into the equally strong "Country Song." Ramblin' ways and trains go traditionally hand in hand which is the case with the smoking barnburner "Midnight Train," and the boys crank it up into overdrive again on the devil-in-the-bottle tune "(One Hand On The Bottle) One Foot In The Grave." They deliver an outstanding, first rate shuffling barroom weeper with "Someone Take This Bottle" and they put an ingenious twist on barroom weepers with "Payphone" that mixes rock beats with crying guitar, resulting in one of the most original sounding stone honky tonkers to come along in a while. "Tombstone Serenade" is a dark and over the top two stepping take on the theme of murder and prison, a bit of a tongue in cheek parody, showing the Railbenders possess some cynically amusing humor.
 
Segundo includes two covers, both duets with Eddie Spaghetti. The first is an obvious (but well chosen) choice given the band's Denver homebase, a waltzing, stark acoustic version of Hank Jr.'s "OD'd In Denver." The second cover comes from way out of left field and what (hopefully) appears to be something that's becoming a Railbenders tradition that further shows their sense of humor and proves that country music should also include an element of just being plain old fashioned fun. On Southbound the boys took Ozzy Osbourne's metal classic "Crazy Train" and  successfully transformed it into an utterly convincing laid back country shuffle. On Segundo they chose for the second cover, Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and turn it into a rollicking fast two-stepper that not only elicits a grin, but just completely works- and it only becomes more infectious with each successive listen. They end Segundo on an appropriate note after all that hell raisin' with a standout swaying 'closing time' weeper, "The Hangover Song."
 
Jim Dalton possesses a strong, deep baritone and is a very formidable vocalist who's sometimes reminiscent of a young Johnny Cash. He's a terrific and witty songwriter who knows his way around a good, sturdy country song. The Railbenders play with amazing intensity and fire, another incredibly talented band who is faithfully carrying on tradition, toiling at their craft in the confines of regional bars and honky tonks and who most assuredly deserve far greater exposure. Segundo is a solid and well crafted album from start to finish, and anyone looking for well written, well performed hardcore whiskey drenched honky tonk, should seek out both this album and the Railbenders.          www.takecountryback.com...

_______________________________________________

PICKS  - the ONION 26 February-3 March 2004
Denver boasts a crowded and skilled alt-country community, but The Railbenders has muscled its way to the top of several local popularity contests on the strength of its recordings and live performances.  The band's two albums capture an authentic country twang, and when Jim Dalton sings, it's hard to tell, from his down-home accent, that he grew up around Denver.  The Railbenders' latest, last year's Segundo, builds on its strengths, adding more tunes about whiskey, trains, women, and heartbreak to the repertoire.  The richly evocative "Whiskey Rain" features the pedal steel guitar work of Glenn Taylor, and Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers guests on two songs, including a countrified cover of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."

_______________________________________________

RAILBENDERS   
Segundo... (Big Bender)
Johnny, Waylon, and Willie ploughed a row that Nashville chose not to follow. Fortunately for us aficionados, there are bands like the Railbenders that continue to seed that row. Hitting the road with the bare essentials of equipment, one guitar, a drum kit, and, one of those wonderful standup basses, this staple of the Colorado club circuit delves beneath the shallow passions of mainstream 'country' music. Theirs is not that 'poor little me music'; it's that 'shit happens, sometimes it's my own fault' brand that acknowledges our human frailties. From too much booze, to love not gotten, and not enough given, the 'Benders evoke a pattern that we can all at least partially admit to, if we're honest. If you can't relate to "Whiskey Rain", or "O.D.'d in Denver", then you're probably tuned to the wrong station here. And, just as you're looking for that railroad track to lay your head upon, they hit you with a rollicking version of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", just to remind you that, while life may be desperate, it ain't ever serious, kids. If you can't laugh at the slings and arrows, you've already lost; didn't that guy named Sue say something like that?

by Freight Train Boogie (http://www.freighttrainboogie.com)

_______________________________________________

Denver's Railbenders on honky-tonk track  Feb. 15, 2004 

By The Denver Post

Segundo. The Railbenders. (Big Bender Records)

From the opening notes of "Whiskey Rain," the Railbenders' alcohol-soaked evangelism makes you want to raise your hands to your God and/or your bartender.

In their solid sophomore effort, "Segundo," Colorado's Americana kings hardly reinvent the form; they just deliver 11 honky-tonk barnburners that hark back musically to the heyday of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, but with a lead vocalist (Jim Dalton) who possesses just a hint of Chris Isaak's romantic menace.

"(One Hand on the Bottle), One Foot in the Grave" promises to be the band's new live, boot-stomping standard, but "Segundo" soars with two ear-catching covers. Hank Williams Jr.'s sad "OD'd in Denver" features Dalton with guest vocalist Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers. And knock me over with a bottle of Bud if the harmonies on Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" don't make you scream along at the top of your lungs. Other guest artists include guitarist Chuck Hughes (Hillbilly Hellcats), pedal-steelist Glenn Taylor (Slim Cessna's Auto Club) and Denver's Marty Jones, who co-wrote "Someone Take This Bottle."

The Railbenders go off the track only once, with the terribly misguided and misogynist "Tombstone Serenade," a song that would be neither clever nor ironic in any era. Stick to the heartache and loneliness, boys, and leave the neck-grabbing and the shoving to the cretins of the world.

- John Moore

_______________________________________________

 (02/04/2004 - www.higherlistening.com)

"So much for the sophomore slump. Segundo, the new album by the Railbenders, picks up right were the much acclaimed Southbound (a top 10 Local CD in 2001) left off. It's a foot-stompin', whiskey-drinkin', hell-raisin' good time.

There is no doubt that the Railbenders are a country band. We have songs about drinking too much, losing your woman and, oddly enough, one tune that includes a train. Yeah, it sounds like a stereotypical country music fodder, but that's where it stops being typical.

What the Railbenders bring to the party are energy, passion and no compromises. While it shows more in their live show than on the album, there's almost a punk sensibility to their music. I'm not saying this is exactly how Green Day would sound if they grew up in Nashville, but I don't think they'd be far off. Graham Haworth gives a steady drum beat (no easy task at the pace some of the songs are taken at) and backing vocals. Tyson Murray plays upright bass and gives it a good, hard workout. Jim Dalton does just about everything else. His rich voice takes you in. His guitar drives the music. His songwriting makes you smile and sometimes want to cry. Oh, and he co-produced the album with Jeremy Lawton. They make effective use of some very talented guest musicians as well.

"Whiskey Rain" starts the album off with a bang. It establishes the feeling of the recording. If you hadn't heard any Railbenders before, you'd still know 90% of what they were about with this one song. "Midnight Train" is a great ride and "Someone Take This Bottle" is also a highlight on the first part of the album.

But Segundo really hits its stride on the back half. "Tombstone Serenade" is the kind of dark but strangely funny song the late, great Warren Zevon would have been proud of. "One Foot in the Grave" is another quick tune and "The Hangover Song" is a great way to wrap up, considering all the drinking songs beforehand.

There are three songs on second half of the album that really stand out. Two of them are cover tunes with Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers helping out on vocals. "O.D.'d in Denver" is a Hank Williams Jr. song which is perfect, considering the home base of the Railbenders. The other cover is an example of what I hope becomes a tradition on Railbender albums. On their first album, they covered Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" and made it work as a country song. I'm not sure my metalhead brother will ever forgive me for making sure he heard it. This time out, they take on Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." You almost can't help but smile. I played this song for three people without announcing what it was. I received a great look of surprise and approval from each.

The last outstanding track I want to mention is "Payphone." It's a masterpiece of arrangement. Several verses feature a call and answer section where Jim Dalton's vocals are answered by some crying guitar. It's over a more rock-style drum beat and it just works. The words, the feeling and the sound all come together great stuff.

I can't help but recommend this album. Jeremy Lawton and Jim Dalton did a fine job producing this album. Railbender music is good enough to make my rock music fan friends that are too cool for country publicly admit they like it. This album shows why the Railbenders have won two consecutive Best Country Band awards in the Westword Music Showcase.

Written by: Myk-El (www.higherlistening.com)

_______________________________________________

"Best Country/Bluegrass/Roots" - Westword Music Showcase 2003"

"Best Country/Bluegrass band - Westword Music Showcase 2002"

"Top 10 local CD's of 2001" Railbenders: "Southbound" ...John Moore,  Denver Post 12/30/01

 "Best Ozzy Cover by a Country Act "Crazy Train" The Railbenders" - This up-and-coming honky-tonk band plays the stuff that made Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and their peers famous. Like those artists, the 'Benders know a sense of humor is a key ingredient in successful classic country. The group's re-creation of Ozzy Osbourne's classic "Crazy Train" on its solid debut, Southbound, is a mind-bending thrill; it's funny, devoutly twangy and downright wistful. This is one train worth riding.".... Westword (Best of 2001)

_______________________________________________

REVIEW of CD Release Party 1/23/2004

... "For those who have never heard The Railbenders, I liken them to a cross between The Charlie Daniels Band and Johnny Cash (in fact, the lead singer admits their love for Mr. Cash and even did a cover of one of his songs). There were many quick transitions between the songs, and the band plays fast and intense. Myk-El tells me that if Green Day grew up in Nashville, they'd probably sound like this. The slower songs were spaced out well for the audience, and gave the band a chance to recover from the fast songs. The crowd was enthralled and the dance floor never emptied. Lead singer Jim Dalton has a very commanding stage presence, and was able to head off a potential barroom scuffle, which he then turned into the introduction for the next song. This was VERY well handled. I approve.

... if you like country music (REAL country, not the crap the radio stations play now), then see the Railbenders. If you like rock and roll, see the Railbenders. And, if you just want to go somewhere and have a good time, GO SEE THE RAILBENDERS!"

Written by: Sh'wn (www.higherlistening.com )

_______________________________________________

From Belgium..."Redelijk straffe kost van een groepje dat van dezelfde poel drinkt als de Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash. De invloed van de Man In Black in zijn jonge jaren is inderdaad ook hier onmiskenbaar aanwezig. En ook de Railbenders brouwen met die bekende ingrediënten een bijzonder aanstekelijk nieuw mengsel. Tal van lekkere hapklare brokken dan ook hier! Opener “Southbound” zet meteen de toon voor wat een wild ritje belooft te worden. En “Whiskey Saturday Night” is exact wat hun label Big Bender Records van meet af aan beloofde: 180 Proof Drinkin’ Music! Dit zou in een wat rechtvaardigere wereld regelmatig uit zowat elke radio geknald komen en ook niet één jukebox zou er zonder kunnen… Aansluitend bevestigt “Lonesome Train”, als dat nog nodig mocht zijn, onze Cashtheorie – waren train songs immers geen stokpaardje van hun grote voorbeeld? Wij dachten van wél!

Klassiek countrymateriaal te over hier ook verder nog met ondermeer “There Was A Time”, “Texas Sun”, “Crazy Train” (Nog eentje!) en het als bezeten voortjakkerende “Breakneck Speed”.

Onze absolute favoriet is evenwel het twangzwangere “Whiskey Drinkin’ Man”, dat op een zalige gitaarlijn als een op hol geslagen trein doordendert.

Wil er iemand dit combo a.u.b. zo snel mogelijk naar de Lage Landen halen?"