Courtesy Brian Powers
Growing has its pains, and Rosco Bandana has been experiencing them.
Hailing from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the band won the first “Hard Rock Rising” contest, and was given a record contract two years ago. Since then, they have been touring the country and show no signs of slowing down. One thing is for sure, Rosco Bandana is living in a comfortable state of transition.
Two months ago, the band replaced their original drummer Barry Pribyl. Surprisingly enough, the replacement has not caused a missed step in the path to becoming a successful band touring America.
After playing a set on the blistering stage at Oxford’s Double Decker Festival, Pat McGinley, the band’s newest member, reflected on the experience that led to that moment.
“I got the phone call on a Tuesday afternoon and had to learn all of the material for a showcase in Nashville that Friday,” McGinley said. “We rehearsed 15 hours a day that Wednesday and Thursday to get me up to speed.”
McGinley said he feels like a fully contributing member of the band.
“It has been a lot of hard work to get to this place, but I feel I’m playing the best music that I’ve ever played, with people that are ridiculously talented,” he said. “It’s a dream come true, and this is just the beginning.”
Jason Sanford, the guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter, has learned that hard choices have to be made that might alienate some fans.
“People have a lot of preconceived ideas of what it means to be signed to a record label,” Sanford said. “They think that there is a lot of glam to it. We did also, but couldn’t have been more wrong about that.”
Sanford said the band now has a better idea of what it takes to be a “successful musical organism.” The band has shed their preconceived notions of how their life will change after signing to a record label.
“We’ve always had the mindset of wanting to take it to the next level with every show,” Sanford said. “We’re constantly trying to make ourselves better.”
Sanford has gone through multiple member lineups on his way to forming the band that best suits their intended musical concept.
“I’ve been playing a lot of these tunes for six years with different players,” he said. “The songs take different shapes when different factors are added, and that’s necessary to function as a successful band.”
The band has not always been successful. In fact, they had a rather rough start.
Sanford started his musical journey with a bandmate who did not attend the band’s second show. However, he did not let the lack of dedication deter him.
“I told them that it was going to be fine,” Sanford said to assure the other members of his band. “The songs are there; let’s just go out and play them.”
Sanford has been forced to make decisions in regards to three other members when different situations arose that affected the band.
“Those decisions were hard to make, but necessary,” Sanford said. “We’ve definitely been through a lot as a group, and there is plenty more that we’ll go through.”
Sanford said that the current make-up of Rosco Bandana is the best it has ever been.
“I believe that this is the optimal lineup if we all stay positive and continue to be cohesive,” he said.
The rest of the band agrees.
“The shows are much more intense and cohesive,” mandolinist Jackson Weldon said.
Jennifer Flint, the band’s vocalist and a member of the original line-up, agrees with Weldon’s sentiments.
“I think that the current state of the band is on the right track, finally,” Flint said.
Theband recently finished a tour with the band Fun, have played at Turner Field after an Atlanta Braves baseball game and have shared the stage with many well known bands such as the Avett Brothers and the Trey Anastasio Band at many festivals around the country.
The influx of success does not mean that Rosco Bandana is planning on taking a break. McGinley is amazed at the work ethic of his band.
“We rehearse twice a week between tours,” he said. “Things keep getting bigger and better.”
The band’s debut album, “Time to Begin,” on Hard Rock Records, is available through iTunes and Amazon.
