New Relics continue W.Va.’s music tradition with new album
By Marc Basham
Published: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Despite being a small, rural state, West Virginia
seems to consistently produce some of the most talented country music
entertainers in America.
With renowned acts like Brad Paisley, Bill Withers
and Little Jimmy Dickens calling the Mountain State home, musical
talent seems to flow through this state like Natural Light flowing
through a Mountaineer football tailgate participant.
One band (whose roots delve deep into the Morgantown
landscape) attempting to get its name listed among the likes of
Paisley, is The New Relics.
The New Relics have been performing in the Morgantown area since its inception.
However, the group has yet to reach critical and commercial acclaim in the rough and tumble Nashville music scene.
The group is hoping to change its fortunes with its latest release, "Monongalia."
With a title paying homage to their home county,
"Monongalia," The New Relics attempt to bring its down-home country
sound to mainstream audiences.
The final result is a pleasant country music effort.
Showcasing country sounds reminiscent of modern day
acts like Pat Green and Keith Urban, The New Relics have thrown out all
stops on this album – at least in regard to perfecting its sound – and
it really shows.
One song I believe showcases The New Relics better than most is "Middle America."
Describing U.S. small towns as "four churches, three
stoplights and a bar," The New Relics show signs of a group on the rise
in the song.
With lyrics one would expect in a John Mellencamp
album, the group really makes the song true to its title, utilizing an
interesting choice of lyrics that conjure up images of small town life.
Another song that really seems to jump to the top on
this album is "Shotgun," a simple country/southern rock anthem that
takes into account the American tradition of long road trips with
somebody you love.
"Shotgun" stands out to me the most as a possible
breakout single for the group. With a catchy melody, great lyrics and
an impressive concept, it is a song you should be hearing on the radio
soon enough.
The New Relics seem to encompass every section of
country music – from the slow, catchy ballad "Fast Lane," to the
high-tempo "Shotgun" and everywhere in-between.
While the album has its flaws, – there are overused
cliches throughout, and a few songs sound extremely similar to one
another – "Monongalia" is an impressive effort for the local group.
A few more performances like this and who knows how successful The New Relics will be.
It’s just another success story based in the hills of "West By God Virginia."
New Relics gain national attention
Morgantown band releases 2nd CD
By Mackenzie Mays
Published: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Updated: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Morgantown-based country music group The New Relics are receiving
national attention in the country music industry for its second album
titled “Monongalia.” The band is comprised (from left to right) of
bassist Josh Swiger, drummer Bryan Martin, vocalist Mike Arbogast and
guitarist Jim Bidwell.
Morgantown-based country music group The New Relics
have gained recognition and nationwide radio play with the release of
its sophomore album "Monongalia."
The album is named after the band’s home county and
was released in June 2009. It has attracted the attention of major
players in the country music business.
"It’s not twangy, cowboy hats and boots country but
it’s not glossy pop-country. I like to say that what we are doing is
what The Eagles were doing in the ’70s and Mellencamp in the ’80s,"
said Josh Swiger, bass player for The New Relics. "We tend to fuse it
all together, and you (the listeners) just get us."
The New Relics’ single "Beautiful" debuted on the Music Row Breakout Chart in its first week of release.
The new album also won a Music Row DisCovery Award, an award presented to impressive up-and-coming country music artists.
The band recently finished filming its first music
video for the single "Beautiful," and it is scheduled to play on the
Country Music Television and Great American Country channel in October.
With influences ranging from Dave Matthews Band to
the Allman Brothers Band, the band’s new album has been described as
bluegrass, alternative country and even rock, a sound that The New
Relics likes to call "fusion country."
Lead singer Mike Arbogast, with drummer Bryan Martin, wrote most of the songs on "Monongalia."
Arbogast takes his inspiration from "just life in
general" and claims growing up in Morgantown shines through the songs
on the new album.
"Things happen to me, my family, my friends, the
people I meet, and that’s where the stories come from" Arbogast said.
"We are really proud of where we are from, and the album is a
collection of tunes that reflect our lives here so we thought naming it
‘Monongalia’ was appropriate."
The band claims to have stuck to its signature sound but admits the new album brings some changes.
"Style-wise, our older material was everywhere; a
little country, a little jam band, a little rock, and it never really
worked," Swiger said. "On this album, we paid a lot more attention to
detail and have produced a more cohesive sound."
The band has declared "Monongalia" its "crown jewel" and best work to date.
Arbogast added about the band’s newly developed
sound, "Each song is still unique, but the album as a whole has a
distinct theme and sound so it works more as an album rather than just
a collection of tunes we wrote."
The band has worked hard on the album and has high hopes for it’s outcome.
"I think that good music reaches all people. We want
to attract an audience that wants to have fun and enjoy music" Swiger
said. "Good original music that can stand up to anything on the radio."
Currently signed with Morgantown label Blues Alley
Records, The New Relics have started working with Nashville audio
promoters Jack Pride and Jerry Duncan of Spinville Records.
Pride and Duncan have worked with artists like Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn and Alison Krauss.
The New Relics’ new album "Monongalia" is available
on several Web sites, including iTunes, www.cdbaby.com and
www.amazon.com. The album will also be sold nationwide at Best Buy
before December.