I really love my regional music and was blessed with 2 great years in Stillwater, Oklahoma - a mecca and birthplace for Red Dirt music - and another few years around nearby Amarillo. Most bands play in small venues, honky tonks, bars, rarely a full-sized stage, and there's truly an intimacy to the shows that you'll never get with most bands from big-labels out of Nashville. Most of the song writers describe their real lives through their lyrics and there's just something more pure about it. There's a little more grit and substance to what's occurring.
The down side of that is most regional bands spend most of their years on the road, away from their families, and never really strike it rich (with the $$ anyway). The fan bases are most always loyal, almost to a cult following for some artists. That's partly why it seems like a rough time when bands decide to call it quits. Fans for these regional artists are truly dedicated. So naturally, it's hard to see some groups call it quits, but you have to respect them for the decision. (See: Cross Canadian Ragweed, The Great Divide, etc.)
Now there's another great Stillwater band to add to that list... No Justice Band, which released this statement on their Facebook page:
September 6, 2013-After over a decade long reign as one of the most beloved bands in the Red Dirt music scene, Stillwater-based No Justice will extinguish their long burning flame this year. Their farewell tour is well underway and will conclude with two blockbuster shows at the Wormy Dog in Oklahoma City on Thursday, October 24th and at the Arbuckle Ballroom in Davis, Oklahoma on Friday, October 25th.
A statement from Steve Rice reads, “It has been 12 years since the creation of No Justice. Throughout this time we have shared music, laughter, tears and our hearts with each other. It has been an amazing and life changing ride that very few get to experience and we couldn't have asked for better people to share it with. On October 31, 2013 the band will be taking a hiatus from touring and recording, so that each individual can pursue separate endeavors. While some will continue to play music, others will take a different avenue. We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your dedication to our lifelong dream and for allowing us to pour our hearts out on the stage every night in venues across the world. We can't begin to tell you how much your support has meant to us. During our last couple months, we would like to encourage you all to make it out to a show and experience No Justice one last time. We would love to see you again.”
Hatched from the Red Dirt music mecca of Stillwater, Oklahoma and adopted into the live music epicenter of Texas, No Justice cultivated a powerful brand built on unforgettable melodies, miles of solid comprehensive songwriting, and adorned with five acclaimed record releases with combined record sales topping over 100,000 units, two #1 hits and eight Top 10 singles on the Texas Music Chart. Aside from this shiny career resume, No Justice’s impressive longevity in the music business was fundamentally built on the quality and continuity of their music. From their very first record release Far From Everything (2001) down through a motely mixed catalog including No Justice (2005), the renowned live series Live At Billy Bob’s (2007), the rock infused Second Avenue (2010) and their final release America’s Son (2013), which brought the band full circle back to their roots, their unique sound powered by the soulful voice of Steve Rice will forever be emblemized throughout the Red Dirt community. Steve Rice, Armando Lopez, Cody Patton, Joey Trevino and Bryce Conway would like to “Toast” their treasured fans and friends, and thank them for ten amazing years of lifelong memories.
I own every No Justice album and listen to them often. I had the opportunity to see them in concert once while I was in Stillwater. Best wishes to ya'll and your future ventures.
And another band rides off...
No Justice - Song on the Radio
One of my favorites - No Justice - Red Dress (Unfortunately, I can't get this video to insert, but here's the best quality, live performance of the song I could find) -- http://youtu.be/AGqkYkPFKec
Maybe we'll get lucky and a few of the guys will make a return like Cody Canada with his new band The Departed.
