San Diego Reader

Andrew Armerding: Banjo, Guitar (electric), Vocals | Jon Kruger: Banjo, Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Harmonica, Vocals | Rob "Duke" Ivy: Drums, Percussion | Ryan Tannascoli: Mandolin | Chad Pittman: Bass guitar, Keyboards, Piano | Anna Levitt: Fiddle, Vocals

Genre: Acoustic, Country, Rock

Sound description: Countryish pedal-steel blues rock.

RIYL: The Silent Comedy, Bright Eyes, Nickel Creek, Silverleaf, John Meeks, the Western Set

Upcoming Local Shows

• El Dorado Cocktail Lounge — Thursday, June 20, 8pm

Related Links

• River City website

• "River City/Drew Andrews Double Album Release Party" · July 12, 2012

• LastFM

Synoposis

Ex-Band Members: Al Bubba Lee, Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric)

Influences: Tobyn Clark and the Tender Faeries, Castanets, Blackout Party, Carla Bruni

Background:

Alt-Country sextet River City uses a plethora of instruments blended to create a sound that is folk and not, soft yet jagged, while pulled and tied together with a somber tone of lyrical honesty for reckless lovers, foolish flames, and one-eyed captains sailing down flooded city streets with friendly choirs of casket-wielding, sign-waving, banjo-plucking poets.

They were nominated Best Americana or Country band at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards, and they released a self-titled EP in 2010. Their full-length the Flood & the Gavel, dropped in July 2012. Says the band, “The energetic sonic folk arrangements combined with an often dark and whimsical lyrical content provides for an expansive foot-stomping journey from beginning to end.” The full-length includes a sixteen page booklet of art and lyrics created by lead singer and songwriter Jon Kruger, whose art is also featured in the animated music video for the song “Into the Wooded Forest Cave.”

Discography

Video