From Charleston South Carolina

Travel journal from 10,200ft, Leadville, CO:  We’ve spent the last week driving around the Rocky Mountains of Colorado bringing our music to the snowy alpine country.  The drives have been spectacular, the crowds have been fun, and we’ve kept our longjohns on.  Russ, Wes, and I tackled the slopes at Crested Butte, bombing hills like chickenhawks (”Thanks Dan, for the cheap lift tickets!”) .  Yesterday we got to witness one of Leadville’s fine cowboy traditions at the annual Crystal Carnival.  The main street downtown is blocked off and piled with snow.  Large ramps are built and a weekend-long competition is held in which skiiers are towed through the course behind a galloping horse and rider through a cheering avenue of onlookers.  Somewhere between the rodeo and the Xgames, “skijoring” is one sport I don’t ever see myself attempting.

Our buddy, Linc, is taking us snowmobiling this morning before we head back down to Denver for another week of shows along the front range.

We are announcing our spring tour today.  Check the schedule and come see us in a town near you!  Click on the links to check out the Facebook event pages, and please invite your friends in these towns!

You can hear a new sneak preview from our upcoming album, “Believe” at our myspace and website.  The song “Suffer” will be available for free download through the month of March.

Wow,

Our tour to the Virgin Islands was a fantastic success.  We met some wonderful people, played 12 shows in as many days, lounged at Fabio’s villa, went snorkeling, and even caught a few waves!  Thanks to Bryan Austin for coming along as road manager and smoothing out the potholes on St. Thomas and St. John.  Though we were sad to leave the white sands and turquoise waters, it’s exciting to be heading out a busy winter / spring tour here in the USA.  We’re also excited about our upcoming album “Believe.”  We’re so jazzed on these tracks that we’re giving one away for free.  Read on to find out about the song “Orangeburg.”

More than 3 years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Orangeburg SC’s only bowling alley was still “whites only.”  On the night of February 8, 1968, after 3 nights of protests by SC State University students and others, a crowd of young people gathered on the   campus.  Police opened fire, killing 3 students (Samuel Hammond Jr., 18, Delano Herman Middleton, 17, and Henry Ezekial Smith, 19) and injuring 27 others, most of whom were shot in the back as they fled the barrage of gunfire.  The nine police officers who fired into the crowd were all acquitted of excessive force charges.  The only person convicted of wrongdoing was SNCC activist Cleveland Sellers, imprisoned for 7 months for “inciting to riot,” and pardoned 25 years later.  The first incident of its kind, The Orangeburg Massacre predated the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, and received little media coverage.

Growing up in SC, racial tension was a constant undercurrent in my school life, and for years I have wanted to figure out a way to address this in my songwriting.  When I checked out “ORANGEBURG 1968 A Place and Time Remembered” by Sonny Dubose and Cecil Williams from the library, I was moved by the photos and first hand accounts of the event to write a song about that dark day in SC history.  In commemoration of Black History Month, “Orangeburg” will be available as a free download at www.myspace.com/soldriventrain during the month of February.  The song was recorded at Hillcreek Studios in  Candler, NC and at Awendaw Green in Awendaw, SC, and was mixed by Jeff Hodges at Charleston Sound.  Two guest artists lent their talents to the track: Jim Peterman (founding member of Steve Miller Band) added some spooky Hammond B-3 organ and SC songwriter Danielle Howle belted out some powerfully mournful backup vocals.

Thanks for listening,
Joel

Happy Holidays from Sol Driven Train,

We are enjoying a few days off, catching up with friends and loved ones around the country.  Reflecting back on 2009, honestly it’s been kind of a blur.  We clocked up tens of thousand miles on The Original’s odometer, played over 150 shows from Florida to Colorado to Pennsylvania, wrote new songs, dug up old ones, released a live concert DVD, and went to Disney World.  Thanks to everyone who has come out to a show, bought a t-shirt or album, and shared our music with a friend.  You keep us rollling down the road and making music. 

2010 looks to be another exciting year for the band.  With a tour of the Virgin Islands and a new studio album in the works, we’re kicking off the next decade with a bang.  Come ring in 2010 with us and our friends Snake Oil Medicine Show on New Years Eve at the Pour House in Charleston, SC.  The Halloween show in Asheville with Snake Oil was a blast, and we’re looking forward to another fun night with Caroline and the boys.  Hope to see you there. 

Wishing you safe and happy holidays,

Sol Driven Train

We are driving south to the Bear Creek Festival after a fun last weekend in Pennsylvania. Thanks to everyone who came out to our shows and a special thanks to Debbie and Bruce Smith for hosting another barn concert. The cookies you sent us with didn’t make it through North Carolina. After the weekend in Live Oak, we’ll continue our fall tour with shows in Mississippi, Georgia, and the Carolinas. 

We’re very excited to be releasing a new DVD titled “Live at the Windjammer.” Recorded last April at our favorite seaside venue, the 2-set show features several unreleased songs as well as material from our previous releases. The footage was shot by the production team for GillznFinz, a fishing and lifestyle television show entering its second season that weaves fishing footage from around the world with some of today’s premiere live concert experiences. Sol Driven Train will join the company of Widespread Panic,Umphrey’s McGee, Snoop Dog, and Slightly Stoopid when a portion of the concert appears on the show next season, due to begin on the Versus TV network in January 2010. Our DVD release party will be on Saturday, November 21 at Art’s Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We will have copies with us at our shows, and it should be available for sale on the internet by mid-December. The DVD just got a positive review in Charleston’s Post and Courier.  Read it here: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/nov/12/12cds/ Stay tuned for distribution details… 

Thanks to everyone who has called and emailed to tell us that we’re getting airplay on WNCW FM in North Carolina. They’ve been playing a few songs off “Lighthouse,” and one of the songs from our live recording session in Studio B is included in the station’s “Crowd Around the Mic volume 13″ release.  Request more Sol Driven Train at http://www.wncw.org/Request.html

Peace! 
Joel

Just wanted to give you a heads up that our Halloween show in Asheville with Snake Oil Medicine Show is rumored to be a sell out.  You can get tickets at www.rocketclub.net.  The Haunted LaZoom bus rides are SOLD OUT.  Hope to see you there in a costume!

Joel

Hey everybody!  We hope all is going well in ya’ll’s worlds.  We are currently tracking for our upcoming album here in asheville.  Today was particularly exciting with the master Jim Peterman of the Shane Pruitt Band.  He layed some outstanding B3 tracks for us, and is always just plain fun to be around.  Tomorrow, Oct. 10th, we’ll be in Greenville SC headlining the Fall for Greenville Bud Stage at 7:30 pm!  Sorry for the short notice but we just picked this one up and are very stoked to be back in Greenville.  Thanks Amanda!

October is breast cancer awareness month, and to do our part we will be donating a portion of PINK coozie sales (coolies or huggies to some) to the cause.  So, the next time you see us, help us do our part spreading awareness and keeping beverages cold by picking one up.  Thanks for the continued support.  We love you all very much.

Thanks,

ward

sol driven train

p.s.  Shinefest is coming up quickly(Oct. 17th)!  Get your tickets now!

http://www.shinefestcharleston.com/

Hello Friends

We are currently doing some more work on our up and coming album in Asheville NC at the Hill Creek Studio.  Our friends Jeff and Cameron Handell are coming in today to lay down some trumpet, keys, and percussion.  We are supper stoked about the sounds that we are getting and look forward to releasing some singles for radio.

Tonight we will be performing at the Emerald Lounge in Asheville NC at 12pm for the DIGG Festival.  Come out and see the Pond Brothers before us it is going to be a great show.

Friday Aug. 21 we are proud to be a part of the Summer Concert Series at the Rogers Park Amphitheater in Tryon NC.  The show will start at 7pm with a Kids set and will be followed by a full adult show.  The Concert is free so bring your blankets and picnic baskets and come share a great evening with Sol Driven Train.

Sunday Aug. 23 we will be performing at Local 506 in Chapel Hill North Carolina.  We will be opening for DOCO.  If you have some friends in the area send them our way.  The show is at 9pm.

Thanks

Russ

Hello Friends

The Coastal Conservation League is sponsoring a Video contest titled Music with a Message. They have several videos posted on their website for viewing. Please go to the following link http://coastalconservationleague.org/Page.aspx?pid=846 and vote for Sol Driven Train. Click on Vote and E-mail your vote to grettak@scccl.org

The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100, as well as a performance slot on the main stage at the 2009 Green Fair. In addition, the grand prize or top music performance winner will receive a day of professional studio time at Awendaw Green Studios. All winners will be heavily publicized in Green Fair promotions, including advertisements in the City Paper.

Shows Canceled on Aug 14th, 15th and 16th due to road troubles. We are bummed not to be going back to the Big Apple but are already planning on another trip. Currently we are making Lemonade out of Lemons and scored a recording session at the Awendaw Green studio for tomorrow afternoon. Sweet! We are hard at work bringing our next album effort to all of Y’all sooner than we had expected!!! So look out!!!

We just got back from Floyd Fest and are currently working on a new album at Hill Creek Studio in Asheville NC.  We are super stoked about opening for Grupo Fantasma on Thursday July 30th at the Grey Eagle Asheville NC.  We had a chance to see these guys at Floyd Fest and they were awesome.  Don’t miss a chance to see these guys.  We will be going on at 9pm so don’t be late.

Friday night July 31st we will be returning to Gottrocks of Greenville SC.  This a great venue with great sound and great food and did I mention that it is great!  Come down or up we don’t care just come and have a good time with us.  We are fired up from recording and ready to lay it out there.

Check out the Calender for the future and we will see you soon.

Rock!