6 String Drag
After an 18-year hiatus, alternative country music favorite 6 String Drag is back and gaining attention. Their new album Roots Rock 'N' Roll was listed among albums that the Boston Globe is looking forward to in 2015, placing the band in the same company as Madonna, John Carpenter, and Steven Wilson.
In a recent interview, 6 String Drag vocalist Kenny Roby expressed his enthusiasm for the recognition.
"It’s nice to be welcomed back. If you take a 15-minute break in the music business then you are old, let alone 18 years. In music, people pretend they don't want any type of validation but they do. You want to be respected by your peers. You don't live by that but you've got to hang your hat somewhere.”
6 String Drag is promoting their new release Roots Rock 'N' Roll and will bring the nostalgic sounds of Americana music to Stillwater Taproom on Feb. 13.
During the '90s, the North Carolina group was among the first to explore the alternative country music scene. They shared the spotlight with musical cohorts and friends Whiskeytown, Son Volt and Drive-By Truckers. As forerunners of the Americana sound, 6 String Drag’s brother-style harmonies, energetic live performances, and Stax-versed horn section caught the attention of Steve Earle. In 1997, Earle co-produced the band’s second album High Hat to national critical acclaim.
In Dave Menconi’s book, Losering, Earle recalls the first time he saw 6 String Drag play live, “This girl drug me to Atlanta to see Whiskeytown, and 6 String Drag was opening. I signed them instead. Not that I thought Whiskeytown was bad, but 6 String Drag was just more interesting to me. They were really special and had this thing like The Band, where it’s so loose it’s tight, and I liked the way Kenny and Rob sang together.”
Reminiscing on the band's success and humbled by their good fortune, Roby says working with Earle was a formidable experience.
"We’ve been championed by a few people like Ryan Adams, Patterson Hood, and Steve Earle. I learned some really cool things from all of them," Roby says. “It’s like working with a baseball coach or a teacher in college. There isn't one teacher that teaches you everything because there are many teachers. Some teachers you have disagreements with but you learn from those disagreements, too. It was a valuable experience and we formed relationships that we still have today.”
After the release of High Hat, the band disbanded in 1997 and reunited in 2014 to record Roots Rock 'N' Roll. While writing the new songs, Roby took the opportunity to study his favorite music and get in touch with his earlier rock 'n' roll influences such as Roy Orbinson, Little Richard, and Muddy Waters. Roots Rock 'N' Roll was made in the spirit of the band's hero Doug Sahm who wasn't afraid to touch on the music he loved. With over 20 years of history and music among them, 6 String Drag has come full circle and is once again doing what they love. Roby adds,“Reuniting with these guys was deeply rewarding. Once we began playing it was like having our old bicycle gang back together again. We have all played with other musicians but rekindling this really felt like coming home."
6 String Drag will perform at Stillwater on Feb. 13 following the Sam Bush Show at Imperial Theater. The band will open for Drive-By Truckers at 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA on Feb.14. Touring musicians include Kenny Roby, Rob Keller, Dave Wright, Luis Rodriguez, and Kevin Rader. Roots Rock 'N' Roll is available on LP, CD, and digital format from independent label, Royal Potato Family.
