Band of the Week: River James

Earlier this week, Virginia-based band River James released their debut four song EP. No strangers to the music industry, frontman Vince Scheuerman, formerly of Army of Me, and drummer Jacob Marshall, formerly of MAE, met while on tour years ago. Bass player John “Scoops” Hutchins and guitarist Tyler Strickland were added to the mix during a canoe trip along the James River in Virginia. After 410 miles, much soul searching and bonding, they decided to tell their story to the world in song.

The songs were recorded live with the goal to produce an organic and raw sound. With honest lyrics and light music accompaniment, each track allows room for Scheuerman’s delicate singing style to leave a lasting impact.

“We would like to keep it organic, with acoustic guitar or piano in each song. And the idea is to run the gamut of dynamics, from the whisper of one man and his guitar, to the full band hitting you with everything they have,” Scheuerman said.

The EP begins with the haunting “Avenue A.” A song that discusses the struggles of alcoholism, crushed dreams and soul searching, the stripped down track strikes a chord. With light guitar strumming and Scheuerman’s questioning lyrics, the song has an intimate feel, as if the band is letting the listener into their recording studio with them.

“I’m wondering is this all that I get, everything I worked for/The few that I called my dear friends have finally walked out the door,” Scheuerman sings. This begins the constant questioning of one’s path in life, a theme frequently portrayed throughout the EP. Mid-song the beat picks up with wavering electric guitar and background percussion as Scheuerman continues to sing with passion.

Standout track “Heart Of Love” follows suit with Scheuerman’s familiar whispered vocals. With fitting percussion and soaring guitar parts, he sings of love. A beautiful tale, the song was inspired by one woman’s heartbreaking discovery.

“I wrote this song after I’d heard the story of a woman who found out she had terminal cancer and one year to live. There was no treatment option for her. So her husband took the next year of his job off, and just spent that year with her. They travelled and did all the things that she wanted to do before she died and he just enjoyed the time that he had with her, knowing that it was limited. The song is meant to be his words to her,” Scheuerman writes.

The EP continues with a new relatable issue: the universal desire for intimacy. Influenced by a Bruce Springsteen song, “In My Blood” embodies striking vocals while a steady percussion beat and guitar accompaniment round out the track. The album comes full circle with last track, “Dreams.” A song about struggling to pursue your dreams in the midst of endless obstacles, it strikes a chord.

“I pray we not forget our dreams” Scheuerman sings, convincing the listener to pursue his passion. No doubt influenced by his own experience, the listener finds solace that if River James didn’t leave their dreams behind, we shouldn’t either.

For more on the band and to listen to their music, be sure to visit their Web site. You can watch the video for “In My Blood” below.