J. Roddy Walston and the Business
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States |
| Founder | J. Roddy Walston |
| Headquarters | Richmond, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | jroddywalston |
J. Roddy Walston and the Business was a rock ensemble from the United States, originally formed in 2002 in Cleveland, Tennessee by J. Roddy Walston, who handled vocals, piano, and guitar. The group, based out of Richmond, Virginia, featured Billy Gordon on lead guitar and vocals, Logan Davis on bass and vocals, and Steve Colmus on drums. Celebrated for their vigorous live performances and Walston’s fervent piano playing, the band announced their breakup via social media toward the end of 2019.
Formation and Initial Releases
The band’s beginnings trace back to Cleveland, Tennessee, where Walston’s basement demo earned them a national festival showcase opportunity. Prior to this event, they independently released Here Come Trouble, a seven-track EP recorded in the living room of their rented home.
By the summer of 2004, the lineup—consisting of Walston, Nick "Two Dollar" Kaisharis (guitar/vocals), Zach Westphal (bass/vocals), and David Morton (drums)—moved to Baltimore. Shortly after settling in, Westphal experienced a gunpoint robbery near their apartment.
In April 2005, they unveiled a five-song EP titled LMNEP. Following the departure of Kaisharis and Morton, Billy Gordon and Steve Colmus joined the band from other Baltimore-based groups. This refreshed lineup released the Fierce Tiger EP in October 2006, which included new compositions alongside re-recorded versions of earlier tracks.
On April 6, 2007, the band self-released their debut full-length album Hail Mega Boys, recorded at Gordon’s home studio known as "The Pirate Ship". Songs such as "Rock n' Roll II" were featured on the television series Beverly Hills 90210, while "Sally Bangs" appeared in MTV’s mixed martial arts reality show Caged. Additionally, "Tell You What" was included in Nickelodeon's animated series Glenn Martin D.D.S. The track "Nineteen-aught-Four" makes reference to the Baltimore Fire of 1904.
The group toured extensively throughout the Southern United States, Midwest, and Northeast using a church van purchased from a congregation in Walston’s hometown. Nicknamed The Diaper because of its white paint and worn condition, the van retained its original decals which helped prevent theft and avoid speeding tickets. This vehicle and their relentless touring schedule were featured in an article by The New York Times. Their concerts became renowned for their energetic delivery; a review by Baltimore City Paper even claimed they "make James Brown look lazy." During a performance aboard a boat in New York City, Walston famously concluded his set by hurling his piano stool through a window into the East River.
Vagrant Records Era
In November 2009, J. Roddy Walston and the Business signed with Los Angeles-based Vagrant Records through an alliance with Fairfax Recordings. That same month, recording commenced for their first album under this label at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, with producer Kevin Augunas from Fairfax overseeing production. Before finishing the record, bassist Westphal departed due to personal reasons; Logan Davis—a family friend proficient on guitar and bass—stepped in to fill the role.
On June 21, 2010, the band endeavored to perform on all 27 pianos placed throughout Manhattan parks as part of Luke Jerram's public art initiative "Play Me, I'm Yours". They managed to play on 25 pianos; one was locked and another was continuously occupied.
J Roddy Walston and the Business (2010) Released on July 27, 2010 via Vagrant Records, this album attracted notice for its distinctive sound that fused influences such as Queen and Cheap Trick. The lead single "Don't Break the Needle" was featured during the opening sequence of the movie Contraband and appeared in True Religion Jeans’ Fall 2011 advertising campaign. Tracks including "Don't Break the Needle," "Pigs and Pearls," and "Brave Man's Death" were used in MTV’s reality series "Caged." Their tour poster was also visible in CBS's television show "Two Broke Girls."
Following this release, the band embarked on nationwide tours both as headliners and supporting acts like Deer Tick, Lucero, Drive-By Truckers, Shooter Jennings, Shovels & Rope, and Jonny Fritz and the In-Laws. During summer 2011, they performed at prominent festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, All Good Festival in West Virginia, and Lebowski Fest in Kentucky. They have been frequent performers at SXSW in Austin.
Signing with ATO Records and Release of Essential Tremors (2013)
On March 4, 2013, the group revealed their new partnership with ATO Records and announced they were working on a forthcoming album. The record Essential Tremors was officially launched on September 10, 2013. Following the release, the band embarked on the nationwide "Holler and Moan" tour, supported by Fly Golden Eagle, which included appearances during both weekends of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
During the summer of 2013, the song "Use Your Language" from their self-titled album was featured in the series finale of HBO's comedy show Eastbound and Down, significantly boosting their presence in media. Later, in autumn 2014, the track "Sweat Shock" from Essential Tremors was incorporated into a Coors Light advertisement, further increasing their exposure in commercial markets.
Destroyers of the Soft Life (2017)
The band released the lead single "The Wanting" in July 2017 as a precursor to their album Destroyers of the Soft Life, which was unveiled on September 29, 2017. Another single titled "You Know Me Better" followed in August 2017. To promote the album, they performed acoustic renditions of "Numbers Don't Lie" and "Heart is Free" at Electric Lady Studios in New York City on August 21, 2017.
Band's Dissolution
Towards the end of 2019, the band declared that their shows in Richmond, Virginia and Baltimore would mark their final live performances. Walston commented, "There are no intentions to produce another album or embark on a tour in 2020 or the near future. After 14 years together, four albums, and 889 concerts, it feels appropriate to pursue new directions—so we’re stepping back. There will be ample time to reflect on our journey and what lies ahead—rest assured we remain active individually and may collaborate again occasionally."
Musical Influences
Walston's upbringing involved singing in church settings in Cleveland, Tennessee, known for the Church of God and Lee University. Surrounded by gospel and country music—what his family described as "both kinds of music"—he learned piano and guitar from his maternal grandmother, who was a country musician loosely connected to the Grand Ole Opry. His musical inspirations include Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones (especially pianist Ian Stewart), Harry Nilsson, T. Rex, and Leon Russell. Critics have likened his style to a fusion of Janis Joplin and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Instrument Setup
While touring, Walston utilizes a Yamaha CP-60 upright piano from the 1970s designed for portability among touring bands; this instrument weighs close to 300 pounds. He stresses that he plays piano rather than keyboards, distinguishing his approach from typical keyboard or keytar performers.
Studio Albums
- Hail Mega Boys (2007)
- J Roddy Walston and the Business (2010)
- Essential Tremors (2013)
- Destroyers of the Soft Life (2017)
Singles and EPs
- LMNEP (2005)
- Brave Man's Death / Don't Break The Needle (2010)
- Heavy Bells (2014)
- The Wanting (2017)
Unreleased
- Here Come Trouble (2002)
- Fierce Tiger (EP) (2006)
Singles Chart Performance
| Title | Year | Peak Chart Rankings | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Alt. |
US Main. | US Rock Air. | |||
| "Heavy Bells" | 2013 | 13 | 33 | 28 | Essential Tremors |
| "Take It As It Comes" | 2014 | 16 | — | — | |
| "Sweat Shock" | 2015 | — | — | — | |
| "The Wanting" | 2017 | 22 | — | — | Destroyers of the Soft Life |
| "—" indicates no chart placement in that category. | |||||