Closely Watch Trains
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Closely Watch Trains

Hernando, Mississippi, United States | SELF

Hernando, Mississippi, United States | SELF
Band Country Cover Band

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Countryfied"

In a span of less than a month, the country band Closely Watch Trains expanded its audience and the venues it played.

On Sept. 25, the band appeared at the Mid-South Fair at the DeSoto Civic Center. Three weeks later, it was the Horn Lake Fall Festival in Latimer Lakes Park.

It's exactly where the five-member band wanted to be.


Scott Perry, lead guitarist for Closely Watch Trains, picks his way through a performance at Latimer Lakes. "We've got some East Coast stuff we're going to talk to some people about in November," Perry said. "We've already got our April booked."
"We're taking a different direction than we did when we were younger and in other bands," said Johnny Curry, who sings and plays guitar. "Our direction is to get our original music heard."

Said Jeremy Allen: "We try to play a lot of festivals. Everybody else is playing the bar (scene) -- and that's usually where they'll stay. Country music bands, if they're

not living in Nashville, they have to play these fairs to get there. That's where they start."

Curry and lead guitarist Scott Perry became acquainted 18 months ago. About a year later, Allen, Eddie Sorrell and Rex Bright put the near-finishing touches on the band, which is currently between drummers. The name is a slight variation of the 1966 Czechoslovakian film, "Closely Watched Trains."

"When you have a smaller band, it's easier to put together something real quick and have a tightness," said Curry, "but when you grow this big, especially the style of music that we're playing, it takes a little bit longer to find the right folks."

Among the more popular artists covered by Closely Watch Trains are Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. The group has about a half-dozen original songs.

"We're only going to release one right now," said Allen. "The biggest thing is we don't actually want to go in and produce a record until somebody is ready to produce our record."

According to Curry, mistakes in the studio are easily made.

"A lot of bands waste a lot of money recording a whole album, when really all you're looking for is that one song -- that one shot to get there in the first place," he said. "The people that are going to buy the music are from all ages, so if you go into the bar, you've got the 21- to 27-year-old crowd. You make more of a lasting impression with a broader audience, and that's our goal right now."

While a few Beale Street shows are upcoming, Closely Watch Trains will entertain thoughts of making 2010 road trips to the Jubilee!JAM in Jackson and the Vicksburg Riverfest.

"We've got some East Coast stuff we're going to talk to some people about in November," Perry said. "We've already got our April booked."

Until then, it's more about continuing to solidify a brotherhood between other local bands.

"The Dirt Brothers have really opened up the doors in this area for new country," Curry said.

Added Allen: "We all work. We all bust our butts. It's a daily grind. I'm hoping our next competition will actually be people that are doing this for a living."

-- Chris Van Tuyl: (901) 333-2018
- The Commercial Appeal


"Closely Watch Trains Makes Local Chart"

http://www.reverbnation.com/#/closelywatchtrains - Reverb Nation


Discography

Dianes song - #22 Reverb Nation
Down on the Farm - single release

Photos

Bio

Closely Watch Trains was formed in December of 2008 by Scott Perry and Johnny Curry in Desoto County, MS: Just south of Memphis, TN. The two came together after working on a collaborative project to form a “New” country music band in light of the recent popularity and air play of such artists as Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bently, Montgomery Gentry etc;
The duo worked acoustically writing and arranging cover music from other popular country artists while trying to assemble a band.
Jeremy Allen joined them on vocals and guitar in the Spring of 2009 and the group set course to become a hometown favorite of the Memphis area and create a pride in the country music community where they live with all it’s musical talent.
The group was rounded out with the addition of Eddie Sorrell on keyboards and Rex Bright on bass guitar and David Mason.
The group opened their project at the Hernando “A Fair” in May of 2009 with the joint effort from Jack Casey. The group is heavily influenced by today’s new country artist with edgy guitar riff’s and strong vocal harmony. While playing covers from popular artists the band is currently writing and recording for an upcoming release of a debut album.
Closely Watch Trains has been entertaining the new and old country music fans for the last year bringing live new country to venues and escaping the myth that people only want to hear southern rock. The clubs and festival venues have seen first hand the support for this new country music with Closely Watch Trains. This band was assembled to give the new generation of country music fans what they want a little less tears in the beer and a lot more riff in the twang.