The Lyric: Ryan Chrys and The Rough Cuts
by Angela Kerr
Highlighting Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts- “My Town”
Management & Promotion: [email protected]
Meeting the Rough Cuts is meeting modern outlaw country. I watched as the core band assembled which includes Ryan Chrys (vocals and guitar), Bradley Weaver (vocals and lap steel guitar), Vic Stauffenberg (Drums) and Paul Lanier (bass). Missing this evening are Laura Quam (fiddle) and Josh Skelton (voice, guitar). As an overall feel – extremely polite and “way laid back” comes to mind.
I begin by asking a few questions about each band member and what they do when not playing music. Ryan the leader of the Rough Cuts works with an internet company where he builds websites, e-books and website and social media presence for companies. Bradley works with the Home Depot, as well as teaches guitar lessons. Vic teaches the drum line for CU Boulder’s marching band as well as he offers private and group drum lessons. Vic also works as a para professional for special Ed students. Paul (aka the prom king) works in the healthcare industry. They formed the Rough Cuts about a year ago each representing 20+ years with their instruments. The guys were very comfortable with one another and had played together in different ensembles in the past. All state the same end goal: To play music full time.
When I asked how many shows they performed in 2013 – they respond “about 100.” Their music is comprised of sixty or so songs with a third of them being originals. Although most of the existing works have been written by Ryan, he sees the future with more co-written material. When I asked about the “MY TOWN” submission to the Lyric, Ryan responded “I wrote the song in 2012 about my hometown, Phillipsburg, Montana.” In researching his town, I found that Phillipsburg has over 75 lakes and reservoirs and is located in the heart of sapphire country. “We played the home fair last year, it is a really small town – it’s a great place. The lines in the song are true. A lot of people that I knew worked in the mill and they shut that down and it is just a graveyard now. My high school buddies worked in the mine and still do. I grew up raising cattle…that is how it was, and still is.” Ryan eventually moved to Colorado with his older brother’s roommate, now Rough Cut Bass player Paul Lanier… over sixteen years ago. I follow the guys down to their practice site to hear My Town:
| I was born up in the valley with a jack knife in my handthis land and these people taught me how to be a man
I grew up workin cattle, while my buddies worked at the mine my brother he’s a hunting guide and logger in the summer time I ran off to the city like a hobo and hunkered down, but one thing I’ve never forgotten is that this is my town… this is my town Chorus we work hard for a living sometimes till our hands bleed, we ain’t got much but what we got is all that we need we help each other when times get tough and when the crops go brown, same for when the floodin’ came and when the mill shut down this is my town….this is our town. Repeat Chorus You can say that we’re simple but it ain’t as simple as that we’re a damn smart bunch of people we know the simple life is where it’s at |
Chorus:It is my town, and I loved livin every day of my youth
this is my town, and this is where I’m gonna stay, until it’s through no there ain’t no better place, anywhere around, no these are my people, and this is my town.
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The practice site is immaculate, beautifully designed and equipped with mixing room. The performance was all country and was followed by Ryan’s favorite Johnny Cash song… Cry, Cry, Cry. According to Ryan, the reason they consider themselves outlaw country is because of the Johnny Cash influence in their music. Other notable influences include Willie Nelson, Whalon Jennings and Merle Haggard.
Although each member has recorded several CD’s with other bands, they have one recorded album as the Rough Cuts entitled: A Lick and A Promise. Plans for 2014 include continued performance and the recording of their second album. Vic summed it up for me: “Music is never going away. It is rare when you can have something that is a passion and a small business all at the same time.” Paul adds: “The goal is to do what you enjoy doing and be able to survive. You don’t need to be super rich millionaires; you just want to do what you love to do – be solvent, and be comfortable. It’s not a job when what you do is what you love.”
You can find Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts at their next performance dates:
Feb 7 @ The Boot Grill in Loveland
Mar 7 @ The Bluebird Theatre in Denver with Rev Payton’s Big Damn Band
Mar 22 @ The Little Bear in Evergreen
Online: roughcutsband.com
Pictured in photo from bottom left to right: Vic Stauffenberg, Josh Skelton, Ryan Chrys, Laura Quam, and Bradley Weaver
Top: Paul Lanier
Category: Buzzworthy2
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