Frank: We don't have a whatcha call "official album" right yet. But we're working on that. In the mean time. Here's a live cut of us doing a Band tune. Everybody likes the band. If you don't. Well you can go jump off a fucking cliff you earless tasteless waste of life son of a bitch. Anyway, never mind the anger. I'm just getting itchy feet and wanting to tour. We really do love you. Did I mention we were bringing southern rock back? But please Lord, don't ask us to play Freebird. That will get you punched. I prefer Tuesday's Gone anyway. That's a better Skynyrd tune. No Freebird, not ever. We may do it you know to honor our musical roots. But don't expect it to be a musical staple in the act. Like I said, I will punch somebody.

Edited by user 11 March 2013 07:07:58(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Frank: I can't say we don't that one in the slew of covers we usually do. We were a bar band starting out before I started writing stuff. So whatever gets the asses in or out of the seats. Simple Man puts a few free beers in your hand in the bar room if you do it right. I hate these new damned modern rock covers of that song. Turned it into some pussy power ballad. It's a sorry world.

erich:as a psychobilly musician,i am contractually bound to have every vehicle pushing 666 horsepower. i know i lose some of my southern charm by residing in new york at the moment,but i try to keep what i can. you guys came out of the woodwork in the rare non lulling parts of my career. after europe,we'll get together and pull the mustache off of danny glover. if he isnt wearing one at the time,we'll force him to grow on,or just tape one on him. he seems like he'd be a good sport about such things.

erich:now that is something i can get behind. everything is better in barbecue sauce.the other day i saw an ad for cake flavored vodka. what man is going to drink that? make it barbecue sauce flavored vodka!

I caught up with The Train Jumpers stalwart and outspoken frontman Frank Campbell outside of a Macon, Georgia dive bar. He rolled up in a shiny coal black 69' Dodge Charger. Looking every bit of how a good ol' boy should be rolling with mirrored shades, a Marshall Tucker shirt, and a pair of blue jeans. There was a lit cigarette hanging from his lips as he shut the engine off and walked up with a grin. Shaking my hand as he sauntered inside order us both some frosty one's. There were all types in this place greasers, skinheads, bikers, punks. Pretty much a bevy of people in this little hole that apparently welcomed all comers. After ordering some onion rings he took a swig of beer and we opened the interview up.


So The Train Jumpers have been together for 10 years. Now you're finally seeing your names up in big lights. Is it a bit of a system shock?

I got to tell you man. We cut so many independent demos that we paid out of our own pocket to put together. Banging on every door of any record company hoping to get a listen. We were called outdated and behind the times. Nobody wanted to listen to a bunch of southern boys trying to sound like skynyrd which was what we were told. Southern rock was done and nobody wanted to believe it would ever raise from the dead. We got turned away so many times. But we kept scratching and clawing. Played just about every dive bar and honky tonk in the south. Even a few juke joints. We said hell with it and just kept rolling. Persistence and good old southern stubbornness was what kept us pushing and knocking on the door. Eventually we found the right person to give us a listen. It was a bit jaw dropping when somebody at a label said. C'mon on in boys! Where the hell you been?! We were a little surprised but pleasantly so.

So after seeing our names on bar signs and the like. I got to say. It's pretty damn nice but too see our name up on the big marquees. All that work, time, and touring in a broken down rv really paid off. It was good to see it all pay off. We just smile at each other and nod. Enjoying the ride so far.

You're hitting the big cities and stuff now. Is it un nerving? A bunch of southern boys up north?

Well. We certainly stick out with all our hair and shit. I'm sure they've mistaken us for some rebel biker gang. We played in PA recently. They didn't know what to think of us. But we got those yankee stiffs on their feet stomping to the music. It's good to see us move a crowd. It get contagious. I don't mind the stares. Hell take a picture and if you're a woman. Baby wait until you get with a southern man. Your hoity toity boyfriend ain't got nothing on how love and get down.

Northern chicks got no idea what they're missing do they?

Hell no. We run on all 8 cylinders and are fueled by grain alcohol mixed with greased lightning.

Surprisingly your EP has been selling well regionally and up north. What's your take on that?

Music is music. But everybody can relate with southern rock. I mean everybody likes driving guitar licks and gets chills from a slide solo. There's something appealing and free about it that I think people relate. That and we tackle the everyman stuff. It ain't complicated music. It's relatable stuff. Even when we bust out tunes about partying. We may not do it how you do it. But you may agree with just getting wild and having a good time.

So you guys are really true about this Southern Rock Crusade thing?

It's not a joke or a marketing ploy. We are truly passionate about getting this music back into the radio scene again. You don't hear the allmans or anything like that on the radio any more. I want to have our stuff bust out on a pop country radio station, drop some jaws, sway hips, pump fists, and tear it up! You got to be passionate about the music you play. I don't give a shit whether you're playing metal, punk rock, plain old rock n' roll, country, folk music, alternative stuff, or whatever you fancy. It ain't worth a shit if you're not in it to win it. Putting your heart into what you play. So we're bringing it to your town or city, whipping your ass, and making you want more. Roll in, tear it up, and burn it down.

Edited by user 08 April 2013 23:28:03(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified