The V-Roys

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The V-Roys
The V-Roys.jpg
Background information
OriginKnoxville, Tennessee, Tennessee, United States
GenresAlternative Country
Years active1994–2000, 2011
LabelsE-Squared Records
MembersScott Miller
Mic Harrison
Paxton Sellers
Jeff Bills
Past membersJohn Paul Keith

The V-Roys were a Knoxville, Tennessee-based alternative country band signed to E-Squared Records. The band was described as "walking the fine line between rootsy country and cutting-edge alternative rock".[1] Scott Miller, John Paul Keith, and Mic Harrison were the primary songwriters for the band.

History[]

The band was formed in Knoxville in 1994, with guitarist/vocalist Scott Miller, lead guitarist , bassist Paxton Sellers, and drummer Jeff Bills. They were originally named The Viceroys, but were forced to change it after being threatened with a lawsuit from a Jamaican band.[2]

Before their first album was recorded, Keith left the band and was replaced by .[1]

Releases[]

The V-Roys first album, Just Add Ice was the first release on Steve Earle's E-Squared Records.[2] The title is a playful reference to their decision to remove the letters "ice" from "The Viceroys" as a result of the threatened lawsuit. The album is described as a "solid reflection of their live show" and "jangling, melancholy country–rock".[3][4] The band recorded it "live without a lot of bells and whistles, to get something out as quick as we could and go out and support it".[3]

1998's All About Town is a "more subtle, but endlessly melodic" album that saw the band "stretch out and add elements of bluegrass and broader production values".[3][4] Miller commented that Earle "pushed us a lot harder and put his foot way up our asses this time", and "handed songs back to us if they weren't good enough".[3] Allmusic describes the album as "twelve concise songs that swing from the Creedence-ish "Window Song" to the country-folk of "Mary" to the sounds of Appalachia in "Virginia Way" to the great highway tune of "Strange".[5]

Both of the band's studio albums were produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy, known as the "Twangtrust".[3] The band also had 3 tracks on the soundtrack to the film You Can Count On Me.[6]

After road-weariness, Earle losing interest, and reaching their creative peak, the band decided to break up.[2][7] They released a live album, Are You Through Yet?, recorded at a concert at the Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee.[8] The album is complimented as "a marvelous send-off, but it also provides a fine introduction to the group for those who missed them the first time around".[8]

The band played what was then called their final show at the historic Tennessee Theatre on New Year's Eve, 1999.[2]

Reunion[]

In July 2011, it was announced that the band then would be releasing a compilation album on Miller's record label. The album, Sooner or Later features songs from their two studio albums, and previously unreleased tracks. They also played a concert on New Year's Eve 2011 in Knoxville. The show was called "One Show; Goodbye".[9]

Reception[]

The band was described as "a critically acclaimed, commercially under appreciated" band with a "tasty brand of roots rock".[10][11]

Their live show was often complimented. It was illustrated as shows that "swung from honky-tonk pathos to punk-ish ferocity, and by the end of a show it was sometimes hard to tell one from the other".[2] The band was particularly popular locally; shows were described as "genuine events, with advance tickets, sold-out clubs".[2] Just Add Ice was said to be the best selling album in ten years at a Knoxville record store.[3]

The V-Roys were named the best Knoxville band ever in a 2009 poll conducted by Knoxville's weekly newspaper Metro Pulse. The voters were members of the Knoxville music industry.[2]

Discography[]

Year Title Label
1996 Just Add Ice E-Squared Records
1997 Johnny Too Bad EP (With Steve Earle and the Fairfield Four) E-Squared Records
1998 All About Town E-Squared Records
2000 Are You Through Yet E-Squared Records
2011 Sooner or Later (Compilation) F.A.Y. Recordings


References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Bush, John. "allmusic ((( The V-Roys > Biography )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Everett, Matthew (January 28, 2009). "The Best Knoxville Band Ever No. 1: The V-Roys". Metro Pulse. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Bessman, Jim (October 10, 1998). "E-Squared's V-Roys Rock This 'Town'". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Frey, Michael. "allmusic ((( Just Add Ice > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  5. ^ Chrispell, James. "allmusic ((( All About Town > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  6. ^ http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/tracks/youcancountonme/
  7. ^ Nager, Larry (July 27, 2001). "Scott Miller's second act; Leader of lamented V-roys brings new band to Southgate". Cincinnati Enquirer.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Berick, Michael. "allmusic ((( Are You Through Yet? > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  9. ^ Mayshark, Jesse Fox. "V-Roys Say Hello Again, Goodbye". Metro Pulse. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  10. ^ Berrier Jr, Ralph (July 7, 2001). "Roots Run Deep For Virginia-Born Musician". The Roanoke Times.
  11. ^ Caligiuri, Jim (August 3, 2001). "Review: Scott Miller and The Commonwealth". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
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