J. Roddy Walston & The Business

J. Roddy Walston & The Business has melded engaging, melodic songwriting with sharp observations about American culture on Destroyers of the Soft Life, their new album set for a September 29 release on ATO Records, co-produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Built To Spill, Father John Misty).

Destroyers of the Soft Life began two years ago when Rod Walston (lead singer / guitarist / piano), Billy Gordon (guitar), Logan Davis (bass) and Steve Colmus (drums) purchased space in a Richmond, Virigina WWII era bomb shelter turned lumber yard. The foursome gutted and subsequently spent seven months transforming it into their own recording studio. As they put down roots Walston also became a father for the first time, inspiring lyrics that take an unflinching look at family dynamics and parental motivations.

“We had never been a band where we pretended that it’s 1965,” Walston said. “Loud rock and roll music has become less relevant because it’s just been on a loop,” he says. “If there was any rule on this record, it was, let’s be a part of music right now. I want to be part of living music in this moment.”

Road warriors from the time they formed in 2002, JRWATB has been an underground favorite as they repeatedly crisscrossed the country’s clubs and bars, carving out their own rock ‘n roll niche. In the fall of 2013 their album Essential Tremors gained commercial and critical acclaim and lived on the Heatseekers chart for 6+ consecutive months with singles “Take It As It Comes” and “Heavy Bells”, reaching #9 and #12 at alternative radio, respectively. Essential Tremors tracks were also utilized in TV spots for Coors Light, ESPN and Showtime’s “Quarry”.