Alt-Country has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, being a guitarist myself. So when I see such a blast from the past as Kenny Roby and 6 String Drag, I get goosebumps. The band originally formed in 1993 and, essentially, disappeared sometime in the late 90’s. But, as of 2014, they are back! With one reissue already under their belt in the form of their album ‘High Hat’, they keep the reenergized momentum going with another upcoming release, this time with unreleased material in the form of ‘The Jag Sessions: Rare & Unreleased 1996-1998’.
The sessions really capture the raw energy of the band and that controlled gritty feeling with dirty slide guitars, raspy brass, and a country swagger only found in the purest of traditionalists. This will be released in only 500 copies of special vinyl so be warned, quantities are limited.
The album will be available from RSD-participating record stores on April 13 as an official Record Store Day release. The 12″ red vinyl edition of ‘The Jag Sessions’ also comes with a download card featuring two bonus tracks not included on vinyl.
About 6 String Drag
Schoolkids Records has announced the new 6 String Drag album ‘The Jag Sessions: Rare & Unreleased 1996-1998’, which will be released especially for Record Store Day. This will be issued on limited edition 12” red vinyl with just 500 copies to be made available.
In the mid to late ‘90s, Kenny Roby and 6 String Drag stood out as pioneers of the nascent alt-country movement. After a leaving a mark on this, as well as the Americana / No Depression scene, the Carolinas quartet essentially broke up.
The band’s second record ‘High Hat’ was produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy and was released in 1997 on Earle’s Warner Brothers imprint label E-Squared Record. This album remains an undisputed classic of its era.
In early 2014, 6 String Drag reformed with the ‘High Hat’ line-up and recorded their 2015 comeback record ‘Roots Rock & Roll’ too much fan excitement and critical acclaim.
In January 2018, the band reissued a 20th-anniversary reissue of ‘High Hat’ on CD, vinyl and digitally, following up with their fourth full-length studio record ‘Top of The World’ in March 2018. This album features 6 String Drag founding members and frontmen Kenny Roby and Rob Keller, along with new members Dan Davis and Luis Rodriguez. Both releases are available through Schoolkids Records through Redeye Worldwide Distribution.
‘The Jag Sessions’ album is a collection of unreleased rarities and record quality demos recorded by Byron McCay at Jag Studios in Raleigh, NC between 1996 and 1998. Previously, these recordings have only been circulated among fans and digitally as low flying CD releases for sale at shows.
This album represents the first time any versions of this collection and the songs found here are available on vinyl. Some of the collection are songs originally recorded for Columbia Records in 1996 for a demo deal with this label, but that ultimately never came to fruition. The songs from 1998 were recorded as pro demos and were intended for release as a new EP following ‘High Hat’.
Outside of the four 6 String Drag albums, Kenny Roby has released four critically acclaimed solo LPs – ‘Mercury’s Blues’ (1999), ‘Rather Not Know’ (2003), ‘The Mercy Filter’ (2006), and ‘Memories & Birds’ (2013), in addition to various compilations.
“The world’s a better place with 6 String Drag in it”
– Steve Earle“So thrilled to have 6 String Drag back again. They’re as great as ever. Like reconnecting with a long lost friend”
— Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)“A raw, raucous take on alt-Americana, a sound hard to put your finger on but one that wraps comfortably around your ears while it rocks your ass off”
— No Depression“In their original run in the ’90s, 6 String Drag was regarded as a better-than-average alt-country act; with Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll and now Top of the World, they’ve shown that they’re more than that in their second act, and this is mature, heartfelt, and resonant rock & roll that’s also plenty of fun”
— AllMusic (4 Stars)“A pair of deeply satisfying albums – including Top of the World, released on Schoolkids Records – that sound as though the band never went anywhere”
— Rolling Stone Country“Rootsy, authentic and heartfelt tunes with great harmonies and just enough of an Americana vibe to draw in those who claim not to dig rock. Vocal reminiscent of early Elvis Costello, and more jangle than twang”
— The Musoscribe
LINKS:
http://www.6stringdrag.com
https://6stringdrag.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/6stringdrag
https://twitter.com/6stringdrag
https://soundcloud.com/kenny-roby
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4WvOP47oMCIksgyMLpiGNB?si=aMLIWwNXSFWZWNa9xlkqUQ
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/6-string-drag/924629764
