Excerpt from an 5/10/12 interview with Rivergod’s singer Ben Parent by wailingcity.com:
Read the whole interview here.
A few recent chestnuts:
“The Rivergods have been a durable part of Connecticut’s richest original music community, New London, since 1997. That kind of experience will give a band time to grow and find its own way, and they have. They’re generally regarded as an Americana band, but their roots are in rhythmic, well-crafted pop music of all sorts. … They were good then, and they’re even better now.” —James Velvet, New Haven Advocate
“There is a difference between soul music and music with soul. … Consisting of an interesting array of rock, bluegrass, country and latin rhythms, the Rivergods are building a foundation of fans throughout southern New England. … The Rivergods have this incredible chemistry that in turn, creates incredible music.” — David Fidrych, Soundwaves Magazine
“ ‘Signs’ is a new CD – a labor of love from the Rivergods, one of the area’s finest and best-loved bands. It hits the high points of the band’s alt-country legacy and yet moves forward in fresh directions.” —Rick Koster, New London Day
“The Rivergods know how to pull people in, keep their attention and make them listen to and enjoy things they wouldn’t expect.” —Wailingcity.com
The Rivergods and Dogbite share a bill Friday Night at New London church hall
Two of Eastern Connecticut’s favorite bands will take the stage for a special Community Showcase Concert beginning at 8 p.m. Friday at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation in New London.
The Rivergods and Dogbite will combine for the Friday Night Folk-produced show in Unity Hall.
“It’s always great to perform at any venue that’s designed for listening,” said Rivergods founder Ben Parent, of Waterford. “… as opposed to a bar, which is fun for other reasons. It lets the songs shine, the music breathe … it allows for nuance and subtlety that you might sacrifice in a louder venue.”
The Rivergods, born in 1997, are an original roots-rock, Americana band with no definitive genre.
“I think we’ve become known for our diverse style … no two songs really sound alike, and no two performances are usually alike,” Parent said. “We have 13 years of material to draw from, and we like to mix it up from show to show.”
MIX OF SONGS
Parent said the Rivergods will play with arrangements from their own tunes, as well as throw in a cover “here and there.” But during this particular show, covocalist Nancy Parent is expected to debut music from her forthcoming solo album, Parent said.
The band was named Artist of the Month in May by the roots/folk website Folk-Alley.com, and the single “Buddha on the Road” from their album “Time Has Come” won the Independent Artist Communi-ty’s Best Americana song award in 2007. The Rivergods also won a New London Whalie award this year for Best Americana Band.
And what’s great is the addition of Dogbite to the concert.
“… it’s always fun to play with Dogbite,” Parent said. “We know those guys real well, and have shared many stages in the past. Expect lots of inter-band interplay.”
Dogbite, based in New London, draws influence from Dwight Yoakum, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Eddie Cochran and others, performing regularly in rock venues and coffeehouses throughout the area. – Kelly-Ann Franklin
Review of Signs by Blurt-Online (6 out of 10 stars)
“…One of the best songs the band has written to date (on Signs) is “Shallow End.” “Shallow End” fades in somewhat lazily and almost sneaks up on you. It’s the kind of summation of life wisdom you’d get when you find yourself suddenly sober after a night of trying, unsuccessfully, to drink away a bad day, week, or year. Keep your friends close, say what you mean to say while there’s still time, everything is temporary. Just a little something to think about before the fadeout.” – Nick Zaino
Review of Signs by the New Haven Advocate 3/24/11:
The Rivergods, Signs (Good Sponge Records, therivergods.com). The Rivergods have been a durable part of Connecticut’s richest original music community, New London, since 1997. That kind of experience will give a band time to grow and find its own way, and they have. The Rivergods have seen a few line-up changes over the years, and they’ve supported and been supported by The Wailing City’s clubs, festivals and record labels. They’re generally regarded as an Americana band, but their roots are in rhythmic, well-crafted pop music of all sorts. The title track, “Signs,” is a perfect example of this eclecticism: country, gospel, pop and funky backbeats mix seamlessly. Ben and Nancy Parent write the band’s material, and most of the songs feature their close harmonies — Ben’s rough-edged tone, reminiscent of The Waterboys’ Mike Scott, and Nancy’s silky, Joan Baez-like sound fit together hand in glove. Underpinning a subtle mix of keys and guitars is the tight and tasty rhythm section of drummer Trevor Chandonnait and bass player Mike Palazzolo. Verses flow seamlessly into choruses and instrumental breaks, each passage getting its own fingerprint. It’s worth noting that Nancy plays pedal steel guitar in an understated manner not associated with the instrument’s usual pyrotechnics. It’s an important part of the group’s tight blend. Ben’s lyrics tend to question and prod; the unexamined life is not for him. Signs is The Rivergods’ first full-length release of new material since 2003’s Time Has Come. They were good then, and they’re even better now. —James Velvet
Review of Signs by the New London Day 3/24/11:
“Signs” is a new CD – a labor of love from the Rivergods, one of the area’s finest and best-loved bands.
Recorded by world-class engineer Eddie Shea at his Underground studio in Ledyard, and featuring 10 tracks spearheaded by founding ‘gods Ben and Nancy Parent, “Signs” hits the high points of the band’s alt-country legacy and yet moves forward in fresh directions.
You’re well advised to attend a release party Saturday at the O’Neill. The ‘gods will perform, and CDs will be sold. “Signs” will also be available in April via iTunes and other outlets. —Rick Koster
Review of Signs by WailingCity.com:
Stalwart alt-country folksters The Rivergods have been pleasing audiences with their unique blend of all things “Americana” for over 10 years. Their brand new full length Signs offering is full of everything you should expect from a word like Americana. It’s not just another day at the office though, there are moments that, if they don’t surprise you, then they’ll at least make you smile a little wider than you already were.
For all of the instrumentation on this record the sound is surprisingly sparse, not to be confused with “hollow” or “lacking”. Due to meticulous mixing and panning none of the instruments jockey for position and none of the sounds overlap or muddy each other up, a place for everything and everything in its place. This doesn’t add up to a wall of sound but it allows your ear to drift from instrument to instrument and catch sounds as they come into and fade out of the songs. A song that’s as quiet and personal as “Shallow End” most people would not play with anything but an acoustic guitar. The Rivergods took that song and used full instrumentation and by keeping everything subdued and minimal they made it even more powerful.
On the poppier side of that coin “Runaway Mind” is another tearjerker of a song set to a very choppy piano driven verse which makes it skip along so you’re hopeful rather than crawl along and make you cry in the dark. This is my vote for best song on the album. The lead guitar pop’s and chirps over Nancy’s natural and fluid vocals while the piano and bass boost her up and let her shine. The Rivergods have always been an “all inclusive” band, they know how to pull people in, keep their attention and make them listen to and enjoy things they wouldn’t expect.
The biggest surprise on Signs is the Neil Young meets Black Angels “Roadrunner Blues”. A tense psychedelic journey through the rock n’ roll desert. The clicking snare drum is a time bomb that explodes during the choruses. Guitars sneak up on you from all sides and the low distortion rolls over the whole song like a fog. This is probably the most atypical song on the record and though it may surprise some listeners it’s the song that showcases the production of the album the best.
Signs is a collection of great songs that you would have to try very hard to wear out. There is plenty of variety and nothing to push you away from it. —Adam Wujtewicz
Check out the full review at the Sound Waves website here (page 19)!
Don’t miss the Signs CD release party Saturday, March 26 at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Rose Barn in Waterford, CT… more info here.
The New London Day’s SONG SPINNER video series – Ben Parent
The New London Day’s SONG SPINNER video series – Nancy Parent
“Waiting for the Great Leap Forward” The Rivergods in No Depression Magazine
