Courtesy Riverside Voodoo
Riverside Voodoo has been shaking up the Oxford music scene for the past few years with their eclectic sound and jam-band energy. Their psychedelic rock n’ roll romp continues with the recent release of the band’s first full-length album “Metaphysical Seduction.” The group will be debuting their new album as they take Proud Larry’s stage tonight at 9 p.m. with Oxford locals Delta Springs and Chief and the Chains.
This creation from members Jonathan Peters, Mac Jones, Watson Horner and Jake Horner is far more than just a personal dream for the crew- as they put it, it’s also a very real labor of love.
“You hear that in the songs a lot on this one,” bassist Watson Horner said. “They’ve got more time put into them, and I think they’re more well thought out and put together. They’re still like the old ones, but there’s a little more of everything in this album. There’s a lot of different genres. You just have to listen and notice them.”
As opposed to the three-day production of their first EP, “Metaphysical Seduction” had a three-month fabrication timeline led by Bryan Ward of the Tone Room in Oxford, Mississippi. The utilization of a producer and studio created an incredibly refreshing musical environment for the artists, encouraging the writing and creative process. “Yeah, when you’re in a studio and being charged by the hour, time is a factor,” said vocalist and drummer Jonathan Peters. “It’s good to have constraints like that because it makes you finish. It makes you come up with something. Whereas, otherwise, you’re just being lazy.”
Despite their transition into studio production, the motley crew is sticking close to their raw and rowdy roots. The polishing and construction through the production process has helped enhance the group’s progressive rock sound. “It’s been a really good process if you think about it,” said Horner. “This is the kind of album that we all always wanted to make. We’re all proud of it, and it’s something that a lot of folks will enjoy. And I think it’s cool that we just went out and did it, and now we get to show it to people.”
Since the release of the 8-track album on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud, “Metaphysical Seduction” has been making waves among the group’s fan base, which spans far outside of Oxford and even Mississippi.
“We’ve been promoting it a lot more, so I think we’ll have a better turnout at the album release show,” said keyboardist Mac Jones. “Since we got the album out, I think a lot of people are listening. It’s been very well received so far, so I think everybody is going to be excited to hear the new songs since we haven’t played many of them before.”
With the release of the album behind them, Riverside Voodoo plans on taking the next step and reaching their fans in other states by going on tour.
“We’re just trying to promote and get people to listen to the new album,” Horner said. “We’ll play some loose shows in May and June. And in July, we’re planning on doing pretty much a whole month of the Southeast. We’re just trying to build everything up in an upward trajectory. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do, and I think we have to promote the album in the right way.”
Until then, Riverside Voodoo is planning on rocking their hometown with a “trippier” and “spacier” set than usual.
“I think it’ll be a really cool show for a lot of reasons, whether it’s the album release or the other two bands,” what other two bands? the ones mentioned at the beginning of the article, duh! lol Horner said. “It’s a cool night, and I think that there’s something for everyone with this album.”
