Story: Slade Rand
Photos: Jon Angel
Railroad Earth rambles through Colorado this week with some heartfelt Americana poetry in tow for the band’s first shows of the new year.
The Rockies have emerged as a second home for the band from Stillwater, New Jersey that’s played through thunder, rain and sunshine during its trips out West. Railroad Earth sank its roots deeper into Colorado soil the past few years after bringing in native Mike Robinson on banjo, guitar and pedal steel.
“I love Colorado, and I’m so proud of the local music scene here,” Robinson told After Midnight. “I grew up seeing shows at the Fox and the Boulder Theater, but probably most important to me are the Planet Bluegrass venues in Lyons and Telluride.”
Railroad Earth gathered Hobos for shows in Aspen, Fort Collins and Denver this past year, with one weather-delayed hailstorm at Red Rocks as part of Blues Traveler’s annual Fourth of July show. Back in February 2020, members played with Peter Rowan for a set of ‘Old & In the Way’ music during one of the final shows at Mission Ballroom before live gigs ground to a yearlong halt.
The band hoped to make its Mishawaka debut earlier this fall, but postponed that run of shows to address health needs and recuperate for winter tour. Railroad Earth returns this week with shows in Aspen, Beaver Creek, Frisco and Fort Collins.
Along with Colorado’s own Robinson, Matt Slocum joined the band on piano and B3 Hammond organ in the past few years, and more recently, Dave Speranza began holding down the rhythm section with his stand-up and electric bass grooves.
“In a world of thrashing fast jam-grass I’m lucky enough to get to play heartfelt, spacious songs every night,” Robinson said.
Access ticketing details here for this week’s shows in Aspen (Jan. 9), Beaver Creek (Jan. 11) and Frisco (Jan. 12). Two-night passes for Railroad Earth’s stint at Washington’s in Fort Collins (Jan. 13-14) are available here.
Robinson and Slocum fell in to fill a role left empty by the passing of Railroad Earth founding member and multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling in October 2018. Andy’s passing left walking shoes to fill and a lifetime of skillfully paved roads to travel.
The band welcomed Robinson while wrapping the album it recorded in New Orleans with help from Anders Osborne in the producer’s chair and on guitar, titled All For The Song. Robinson stepped into the new music while the band as a unit navigated its own new world.
The current lineup features Todd Sheaffer on guitar and lead vocals, Tim Carbone on violin and electric guitar, John Skehan on mandolin and piano, Carey Harmon on the drum kit, alongside Speranza on bass, Slocum on keys and Robinson on his slew of strings.
The new album opens with “The Great Divide,” where the band patiently reflects on the road that life has set it rolling down.
“There’s tellin’ of a narrow pilgrim passage; A path to guide us on our way
Therе’s tellin’ of a narrow pilgrim passage; A path to guide us through thеse worried days”
Violinist Tim Carbone met Andy Goessling in 1978, joined his band that week and the two made music together for the next 40 years. Railroad Earth’s most recent album, All For the Song, is the first without Goessling.
“Many of our songs are written and arranged in such a way that we can, and strive to, take the listener on a journey,” Carbone said in an interview with After Midnight this fall. “And that journey can be a very personal one, because the lyrics [Todd] Sheaffer tends to write can speak to people in different ways.”
The band from Stillwater named itself for poet Jack Kerouac’s “October on the Railroad Earth.” The band makes its life on the road, but has found other parallels with the counterculture icon.
“Kerouac’s writing is very spontaneous, almost improvised, much like what Railroad Earth does every night,” Carbone said.
Like Kerouac’s flowing prose, Railroad Earth does not want to stop.
The band released All for the Song in 2022 and quickly worked the new material into live staples, mixed with classic tunes penned by Goessling. More than 20 years since coming together as a group in 2001, Railroad Earth is still covering new ground.
“We’re currently figuring out the ‘hows’ and ‘whens’ of making a new record with these fantastic musicians,” Carbone said. “Stay tuned.”
Access ticketing details here for this week’s shows in Aspen (Jan. 9), Beaver Creek (Jan. 11) and Frisco (Jan. 12). Two-night passes for Railroad Earth’s stint at Washington’s in Fort Collins (Jan. 13-14) are available here.
“The band will musically take you on a journey with our jams and improvs,” Carbone said. “John Skehan, our intrepid mandolin and piano playing savant, has a way of writing our sets in such a way that establishes a theme; a journey with a destination.”
Mike Robinson spoke with After Midnight about Railroad Earth’s legacy this fall ahead of its New Year’s run and trip through the Rockies. Read a full Q-&-A with the multi-instrumentalist below:
AM: Growing up in Colorado, you were surrounded by talented artists and a big bluegrass scene. Can you tell me some of your inspirations that got you to this point?
MR: Growing up I was mostly a guitarist, and at the time there were some incredible players in Colorado. I mainly followed both Ross Martin and Grant Gordy around trying to learn what I could and eventually had the opportunity to take over for Ross in the Jeff Austin Band. Another huge influence on me was meeting Chris Eldridge at a very young age while he was touring with the Infamous Stringdusters. All of those dudes continue to be huge inspirations for me. I was at the first [Infamous Stringdusters] show that Andy Falco was on in Pagosa Springs Colorado!
AM: What makes this album, “All for the Song,” special to you and what are some of your favorite songs off the record?
MR: The songs on this album are special to me because they were just finishing it when I joined the band. The songs were as new as I was so they felt like a foil for my entry to the group.
I think my favorite songs on the record are “Showers of Rain” and “All For the Song.” I think both are examples of why I love this band. They’re one of the only bands in whatever you want to call this scene that isn’t afraid of space and patience. In a world of thrashing fast jam-grass I’m lucky enough to get to play heartfelt spacious songs every night.
AM: Outside of Railroad Earth, you have toured with a variety of acts such as Sarah Jarosz, The Freewheel Trio and the Jeff Austin Band. What are some of your fondest memories either onstage or off as a full-time musician?
MR: When I look back at my career so far, I find myself incredibly grateful to have shared the stage with my brothers in the Freewheel Trio and have the opportunity to even be in the presence of someone as talented as Sarah Jarosz. If I had to pick a highlight leading up to my time in Railroad Earth though, I would probably have to single out my time in the Jeff Austin Band.
That was a one-of-a-kind unit with Kyle Tuttle, Max Johnson and later with Jean-Luc Davis. We had the freedom to push the music as far as we wanted and Jeff let us go there and then took it further. Working with him was a masterclass in connection to the audience. Lessons I will never forget.
AM: What’s something exciting you see in the bluegrass scene or on the road now that maybe wasn’t there a few years ago? Has anything surprised you recently?
MR: There’s some young kids pushing it really hard. I’m turning 31 this week, so I’m not quite there to old man status yet, but I’ve been blown away by the next generation of players over the last couple years. I’ve been working with Colorado-based band The Cody Sisters and they are pushing the music in such an inspiring direction. There’s dozens of Gen Z pickers that are coming out of the woodwork in Boston, New York and Nashville as well! I think the future of the bluegrass scene is in great hands.
AM: Have you been listening to anything new, or rediscovering any older albums that are giving you inspiration nowadays?
MR: I’m constantly changing what I’m listening to. This week I’m really into a band called Pinegrove. Sort of indie/emo band from Jersey. A few weeks ago I was on a Kajun kick because I’ve been learning how to two-step. Obsessed with Lyle Lovett’s “Pontiac” over the last few months. I love listening to music and I think it’s a moving target for what will inspire me on a daily basis but I’m always looking for that next obsession.
Tickets for Railroad Earth’s two-night stand in Fort Collins this Jan. 13-14 are available here, and see details about the rest of its Colorado Winter Tour here.
After Midnight 
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