J Roddy Walston And The Business

J. Roddy Walston and the Business formed in 2002 in Cleveland, Tennessee, led by J. Roddy Walston on vocals, piano, and guitar. The initial lineup included Walston, Billy Gordon (lead guitar/vocals), Logan Davis (bass/vocals), and Steve Colmus (drums). Their early work included the seven-song EP “Here Come Trouble” in 2002, recorded in the band’s living room. The band quickly gained recognition for their dynamic stage presence. After relocating to Baltimore in 2004, they released the five-song EP “LMNEP” in April 2005. The lineup changed with Gordon and Colmus joining from other Baltimore bands, and in October 2006, they released the “Fierce Tiger” EP.

On April 6, 2007, the band self-released their debut full-length album, “Hail Mega Boys,” recorded at a residence known as “The Pirate Ship.” Songs from this album were featured in television shows, including “Rock n’ Roll II” in an episode of “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Sally Bangs” in MTV’s “Caged.” “Tell You What” appeared in the Nickelodeon animated series “Glenn Martin D.D.S.” The band spent the following two years touring extensively across the South, Midwest, and Northeast, travelling in a distinctive church van. Their live shows became a hallmark of their career, characterized by Walston’s energetic piano playing. This touring period cemented their reputation for powerful performances.

In November 2009, J. Roddy Walston and the Business signed with Vagrant Records. Their self-titled album was released on July 27, 2010. This album featured tracks such as “Don’t Break the Needle,” which was used in the movie “Contraband” and a True Religion Jeans campaign, and “Pigs and Pearls” and “Brave Man’s Death,” which appeared in MTV’s “Caged.” The band toured nationwide, supporting acts such as Deer Tick and Drive-By Truckers, and performing at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits in 2011. They signed with ATO Records in 2013, releasing “Essential Tremors” in September 2013, which included the single “Sweat Shock” featured in a Coors Light commercial in 2014. Their final album, “Destroyers of the Soft Life,” was released in 2017. The band announced their dissolution in late 2019, concluding 14 years of activity.