Anybody whos banged their head to their debut LP "End of Silence" knows how RED rolls: the ambitious young Nashville quintet’s creative blend of industrial, classical and hard rock offers a beacon of hope for an ever-growing army of fans.
The band has already scored their first Grammy nomination, reached the top 10 on R&R’s active rock charts for national airplay, and they’ve amassed an enormous following - none of which means they’ll be resting on their laurels anytime soon.
Although their no-holds-barred live show has yielded numerous injuries,(guitarist Anthony Armstrong has a bad habit of accidentally tomahawking Barnes)the guys simply shake them off and forge ahead delivering their message of overcoming adversity no matter the cost. "There are things that people are struggling with that they have the power to overcome," says Barnes. "Halfway through "Let Go", theres the lyric, You cant have me anymore, you cant have me anymore, let go. A girl on MySpace said she was dealing with bulimia and just hearing that song really helped her. It can’t consume her anymore; it can’t have her anymore. It was really empowering."
The members of RED wear their close relationship with and understanding of their audience as a badge of honor and see it as the first stage of their success. "To be able to do what we do on a daily basis and share our music with people everywhere", says Rauch "that is success for sure!" Scenarios like the one with the afore-mentioned fan on MySpace, speak to the heart of the band their empathy, humility and warmth as individuals, and serves as the counterpoint to the heavy music that comes from their creative process as a group.
The band gelled when Barnes and boyhood pals/identical twin brothers Randy and Anthony Armstrong, bass and guitarist respectivley, decided to leave Western Pennsylvania in search of like-minded musicians in Nashville. They forged fast friendships with recording studio worker and guitarist Jasen Rauch as well as drummer Hayden Lamb, and spent over a year and a half applying their diverse influences to create "End of Silence." Although "End of Silence" shudders with skyline-toppling distortion (Let Go, Wasting Time), it also exhales at just the right moments, offering somber reflections (Already Over, Pieces) that reflect the fragility of Barnes lyrics.
’The one thing we hope people see in our music is dynamics,’ Rauch says. "We can have a stripped-down ballad, we can have a really heavy song, but first and foremost we do consider ourselves a rock band. When we play, some people tell us that were heavier live than we are on the record. For us, something soft makes the heavy part after it even heavier." Bass guitarist Randy Armstrong, identical twin brother of guitarist Anthony Armstrong, hopes their music communicates to listeners that they are not alone in their struggles. "You never know what people are dealing with in their everyday lives, but I am willing to bet that at some point, we all have experienced the same feelings of anger, sadness, and confusion. Our music addresses a lot of those experiences; those feelings, and the situations that caused them. I hope our music inspires people and let’s them know that they are not alone."
The band is constantly striving for balance. "Already Over", for example, was so bleak that they finally agreed to close the record with a more optimistic reprise to even the scales. Thats RED in a nutshell guiding you through the darkest depths, but ultimately showing you the way out. And their devoted followers are happily strapped in for future turbulence, on CD or in the pit.
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Wondering why "Pieces" isn't on your voting widget for favorite song. The whole album is awesome, but "Pieces" is my favorite song. Keep rockin' on, guys. :)
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