The most successful enterprises often have humble beginnings. That humility’s a big part of what makes the Randy Rogers Band what it is: one of the biggest acts to emerge from the Texas/Red Dirt scene, which Rogers describes as “a brotherhood.”
“We all realize we’re a bunch of like-minded individuals, and without each other, we were pretty weak. But if we all banded together, we were pretty strong,” he said. “People are starting to recognize [Red Dirt] as a distinctive sound and something different from mainstream country.”
Since playing its first show 11 years ago, the Randy Rogers Band has done its part, one gig at a time, eventually landing a major-label deal and commercial success. Its most recent album, 2010’s “Burning the Day,” reached No. 2 on Billboard’s country chart.
For that record, the band’s producer encouraged the guys to get the songs perfect. They rehearsed more than they ever had. On top of this, the material was heavily road-tested.
“We had done that on the very first record we made together as a band, and we’ve been trying to get back to that kind of deal where we test the songs, play them live 50 times before we actually record them,” Rogers said.
They went into the studio with as many as 50 songs before paring down to the 11 that comprise the tight, but somber and reflective “Burning.”
“The goal now is to write as much as possible,” Rogers says. “I’m not saying I write every week, but I think as we’ve gotten older, we’ve realized the quality of the songs is where it’s at. Obviously, the more songs you write, the more opportunity you have to find a gem.”
Until the next is unearthed, Rogers is happy to be back playing Wormy Dog’s annual New Year’s Eve bash and Sunday’s Hangover Ball.
“There’s always a hangover on New Year’s Day. Even for the church folks,” he said. “I remember when I first got invited to do one, and I thought I was a cool kid because I got invited. I was on about the C-team back then. I don’t know what I am now, but I know I’m not on the C-team anymore.”
