The Grand Rapids band hosting an EP-release show took time to visit Local Spins on WYCE, which also spotlighted new regional tracks by The War Between, Boy From School, Lambo and more.
Stretching Its Musical Limbs: Red Legs is releasing its new EP, “Combative Words.” (Photo/David Specht)
THE MUSIC: Emo-hued alt-rock
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BAND: 8 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9) at The Pyramid Scheme, with Boy From School, Lipstick Jodi and American Arson
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Honing a band’s sound can take years, reflecting the varied influences and lineup changes that take place along the way.
On Stage: Red Legs plans to play as many shows as possible in the coming year.
When Red Legs first fired up more than three years ago, the Grand Rapids group unfurled “sprawling” hard rock, before shifting its sound toward pop-rock on the band’s 2015 sophomore recording, “Influencer.”
Now, with the addition of two new members, Red Legs delivers what’s been dubbed “emo-influenced Gaslight Anthem,” said singer-guitarist Logan Bailey, who fronts the band that also features co-founder and drummer Tim O’Connor and recent additions David Six, of Holland, on bass and Vinny Navaroli, of the Detroit area, on lead guitar.
That revamped sound propels the band’s new EP, “Combative Words,” which officially gets released Friday night at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, with Boy From School, Lipstick Jodi and American Arson also performing at the show that gets started at 8 p.m.
Red Legs
The EP was recorded and produced by Nick Hagen at Effloresce Recording in Saranac, unfolding “really fast” over a month of sessions. Bailey called the songs a “group effort” in terms of writing and arranging.
“The goal is to try and connect with as many people as possible,” O’Connor said.
“We try to write music that can inspire emotions and thoughts, but also reflect the story the words are already telling.”
The band showed off a couple of its newest songs for this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE, performing “New Rome” and “Punch Back” in Studio X and discussing their latest recording project.
Watch the video here and listen to the entire Local Spins on WYCE podcast below.
VIDEO: Red Legs, “Punch Back” (Local Spins on WYCE)
Video by David Specht
For Red Legs, the mission is clear: “Playing as many shows as possible,” said Bailey, with the band likely “plugging away at another release” next summer.
Band members also credit Grand Rapids’ encouraging and impressive music scene for inspiring them and others.
“Every band that we go see at any venue is just fantastic,” Bailey insisted. “The amount of support local bands have for each other is insane now.”
Plenty of examples of that burgeoning talent were on display during the Dec. 9 edition of Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured the premiere of songs by The War Between, Lambo and Turbo Pup, as well as new music from May Erlewine, Heaters, Matt Ten Clay & The Howlers, Plain Jane Glory, Jonny Carroll and Boy From School.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (Dec. 9, 2016)
Official Sponsor of The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
On the Air: Red Legs during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
