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press write-ups Redding for the World - Huntington Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV)
press write-ups Redding for the World - Huntington Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV) Redding for the World - Huntington Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV) |
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Huntington Herald-Dispatch
[Huntington Herald-Dispatch
Life / Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004]
Siblings say being in band with brothers has ups, downs What’s the worst thing about being in a band with family members? According to Scott Depot, W.Va., native Micah Redding, it’s not being able to fire anybody. However, his family’s band has had little reason to consider firings, with a recent Battle of the Bands win and an upcoming new release. Music has always been a part of the Redding household. Micah’s picking and strumming skills were passed down from his father and grandfather. In August 2003, three members of the Redding clan (Micah, 23, Josiah, 21, and Gabriel, 17) decided to take their show public, forming the appropriately named band The Redding Brothers. Micah’s guitar was joined by Gabriel’s drumming. Josiah, who had traditionally played guitar, volunteered to take up the bass. In an act of sharing that should make their parents proud, the brothers split the lead vocal duties. According to Micah, the group’s inception was far removed from the rock star glamour they dreamed of attaining. "We decided to start recording in our basement," he said. "So we set up our own recording studio there. We had to sound-proof the room with T-shirts and blankets on the wall." The crop of songs generated in those early sessions were released on the Redding Brothers’ first recording, an EP called "Rough Draft." The tunes on that release were written collaboratively by the brothers, something they still do. The brothers just call their sound "straight-forward acoustic rock," but it has been compared by fans to that of Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies and Gin Blossoms. Being a band of brothers has its creative advantages, as differences are often worked out without having to worry too much about hurting fragile egos. "We each come up, a lot of times, with different directions to go with things," Micah said, "and we kind of hash it out. Usually, we come up with something different and better than any of us would have come up with by ourselves. We’re able to get through things like that without feelings being hurt." The brothers have been busy lately as they participated in the Got Milk? Shake Things Up Tour 2004 Battle of the Bands competition in October at the Huntington Mall and came away with $200 prize and a chance at the national finals. A win there could score them professional recording time and the opportunity to have a song posted on Mtv.com. The brothers also have a new two-disc containing "Rough Draft" and a sneak peek of their forthcoming LP, "Green Shag Carpeting." They’re also attempting to expand their fan base, touring to Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. To keep up with tour info and hear samples of the Redding Brothers, log on to www.reddingbrothers.com. |
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