Red Moon Rounder
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2017 | SELF
Music
Press
The Colorado Springs based band Red Moon Rounder is Justin O'Connell (vocals/guitar/harmonica), Chad Cunningham (vocals/banjo/guitar), Blake Goodwin (percussion) and Quinn Bryant (bass). The players have been around together with Cunningham and O’Connell previously playing in a band called the Pint Glass Killers and later, in 2017 when Goodwin and Bryant joined they turned the band in a new direction which runs the gamut of blues, rock, folk and bluegrass, and thus was born Red Moon Rounder.
Their debut album Red Moon Rounder combines all these influences into an album which sounds like it was born out of nights of hard bustling and drinking that the west is known for, or at least what I know of it.
The record gets going from the get go with the opening track, “Take Me Home” starting out as a slow and heartfelt country twanger and then exploding into a well rounded hand clapping, toe tapping alt country swagger that sounds a lot like early Wilco. The backing vocals harmonies really helped to give the song a standout feeling as did the rippling banjo and complementary harmonica solo. It’s fun and happy and hard to not like, even if you’re not really into this genre. A few beers and it really seems to open itself up to your ears.
The next tune “Settle Down” also has that easy to love alt country aesthetic that sort of ropes you in like a calf and you just sort of settle down to it.
They do ballads in the country style pretty well to as they do on the beautifully instrumented and heartfelt “Don’t Cry for Me” which ripples with so much emotion as is the equally powerful but heavier sounding “Worth” which again just hits the mark so perfectly it’s hard not to say “damn,” no matter if you’re a fan of twangy rock or not. They even make the most ramshackle and derivative kind of country tune sound first class as they do on “Lonesome Song” and the hyped up closer “If Yer Leavin.”
Red Moon Rounder, it should also be noted have constructed a very well-engineered record that sounds like the real deal. This is a band that you go out to see at a bar and end up getting silly fun drunk and just having a good ole time to. So crack a few beers and fire up Red Moon Rounder on the stereo. You’ll thank me later - Jamie Robash
Red Moon Rounder is a relatively young band coming out of Colorado Springs who musically embody the hustle and grind of working towards success in the west. Their songs will all have you tapping your foot with the beat and nodding your head with the harmonica solos. They just released their debut self-titled EP and it is obvious that they have the energy needed to continue to grow. Check out their website for more info. - 303 Magazine
Discography
Red Moon Rounder EP
Photos
Bio
Red Moon Rounder (RMR) started in the Spring of 2017 when Blake Goodwin (percussion), a recent transplant from the Tulsa, OK scene met Justin O’Connell (vocals, guitar), a transplant from the Midwest by way of San Diego. While performing mostly covers in an acoustic folk duo, Justin had the urge to focus more on his originals. From their first jam session, Justin and Blake felt an instant connection musically. They agreed to expand the acoustic duo into an eventual four piece with Chad Cunningham (banjo) and Quinn Bryant (bass).
In 2018, RMR released their first EP and began making their way into the local scene with a raw, energetic sound rooted in folk. RMR played notable shows, including opening for Shane Smith & The Saints as well as Great American Taxi. RMR also made their debut at the FIBArk Whitewater Festival in Salida, CO. Tabitha Reule (fiddle, vocals) began sitting in for shows throughout 2018 and into 2019.
In 2019, RMR expanded their footprint throughout Colorado. They made their debut on the pallet stage at Black Shirt Brewing in downtown Denver and were regulars at the Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen. The band also broke into the performing arts center scene with an appearance at the Gunnison Arts Center. At the end of 2019, the band revamped their lineup with the departure of Chad and Tabitha joining as a regular member.
Heading into 2020, RMR had a lot of momentum with a busy slate of shows lined up throughout Colorado. Unfortunately, COVID put a damper on things as with many live music acts. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the band played sparingly and was reduced to a three piece after the departure of Quinn. Justin focused on songwriting and recording demos and after taking some time off, RMR decided to refocus on their original intent…to record and perform original music.
In early 2022, Justin built a recording studio in his basement and the band began focusing on arranging new material written by Justin. RMR reinvented its sound, incorporating more elements of Indie and rock, featuring harmonies between Justin and Tabitha and favoring more polished arrangements. Bart Wachtler (keys, guitar) joined and added a final element to complete the band’s sound evolution. RMR had its most notable year yet in 2022 with performances that included Cheyenne Mtn Zoo’s Moonlight on the Mountain and Tails & Tunes events, the Mountain of the Sun festival in Woodland Park, a return to the Gunnison Arts Center, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival and performing for the Beulah Valley Arts Council.
Throughout 2022, RMR has been self-recording their debut full length album, which is expected to be released in Spring 2023. RMR will also make its debut at the Meadowgrass music festival in Black Forest, CO.
Band Members
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