Gin Denton Presents

Radio City

New band name, old friends. The duo, RADIO CITY, consists of life-long friends, Josh McBride and Jayce Long. When asked about their name, Josh says, “We knew we wanted to pick a name that told something about what we are and that would be easy for people to remember.” They are old friends playing familiar crowd pleasers that the audience can't help but to sing along to. Although this duo is fresh, they have both been playing music for a while. Both are fantastic singers and musicians. Josh plays cajon and Jayce plays guitar. They both teach or play music at the Reeves Theater, sharing their musical knowledge through fantastic skills.

I asked them to define their sound. Instead of describing a genre, they went straight to how you will feel when seeing one of their shows – the relationship between artist and audience. They compared the experience to sitting around a bonfire with friends, then “someone breaks out a guitar and the next thing you know, you’re all singing.” RADIO CITY fills the room with sound from the snarelike cajon, rhythmic guitar, and soulful singing. Singing that comes from the gut. They don’t hide. The music is there. Josh says, “No pressure to do anything but have a good time.” Josh is a self-taught drummer who started out by pestering his parents to buy him a drum-set when he was seventeen. A stick-to-it-and-get-it-story. He taught himself to play drum kit and quickly became a wanted commodity as a drummer. Josh cites one of his fondest memories of Jayce, “I remember when we were in the fourth grade everybody was talking about all the toy presents they received on holiday, and Jayce said he had received a bass guitar. I will never forget thinking how cool that was.” Jayce's father was active in a bluegrass band, so Jayce was accustomed to music rolling out of his home. Their musical history started in 2005 while playing in a band called JACOB, followed by a band called On Swift Wings. After that, they collaborated with other musicians separately but remained extremely close friends. Josh claims his roots in Surry County and Jayce moved from Surry to Yadkin. They love this area and try to play locally as much as possible. They are supporters of the Explore Elkin movement and want to support the music scene in Surry County.

Currently, Jayce does body work on classic cars, gives guitar lessons at The Reeves Theatre and does guitar repairs too. Josh currently plays full time with five bands, gives percussion lessons, and plays drums for the Reeves House Band. Josh and Jayce have both written their own songs which are sprinkled on top of a lot of their favorite cover songs. In true turn-dial-radio-style, they play everything you would hear on popular radio. Their current favorite cover is “Sail On,” by the Commodores. When I asked them about their goals, they didn’t talk about their music goals but life goals. They both want to be good examples to their children and be great fathers. Josh says, “As much as we both love music, there is nothing more important to us than trying to be the best example to our kids and teach them respect and how to love and to be loved.” Upcoming shows: Elkin Food Truck Friday – July 9, Tilted Ladder – July 15, Chapman Farmstead – July16, Tilted Ladder – July 22, J. Butlers – July 31, Serre Vineyards – Aug. 1, Stardust Cellars & Taproom – Sept. 11, The Wisdom Table – Nov. 4. Please visit Radio City’s Facebook page for videos of live shows and upcoming events. www.facebook.com/radiocitymusicofficial

Happy Trails to you!