There were no losers at the Casbah Saturday night as Rob Russell and the Sore Losers took the stage and rocked to a full crowd.
“We were really excited to see so many people there since it had been since December when we last played in Johnson City,” said Russell. “It sold out, we even had to turn people away.”
The CD release party produced excitement for RRSL fans and curiosity in newcomers.
“We were surprised that we had so many people traveled to see the show,” Russell said. “There were people from Jackson, Tenn., Charleston, W.Va., and Greeneville, S.C. That was special.”
The band – which includes Rob Russell on guitar and vocals, Andy Russell on drums, David Hart on guitar and vocals, and Josh Reifert on bass and vocals – has been together for five years.
I have seen this band four times over the span of my three year college career, and I would say this was, by far, their best concert. Not only was the band into it and in sync, the crowd re-energized the mood.
“It is always a good sign when you pack the place,” said Russell. “The crowd had a lot of energy which kept us going.”
The music was captivating and seemed to take over the crowd’s body and mind, and like most of the people there, I could not help but dance.
“The show was fabulous,” said Beth Jablonski. “A good live band is one when you go hear them you can feel the music.”
The band played mostly original songs, many of which were off their new CD, Lucky on the Side. They also covered an array of bands such as The Beatles, Johnny Cash and rapper Snoop Dogg
As Russell began singing the words to Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice”, ad-libbing his own words, “Its kinda hard being R-O-B. But I keep coming up with funky ass songs like every single day,” the crowd erupted with cheers singing along.
“Any band who can cover Snoop Dogg is alright in my book,” said Amber Schlobohm, an ETSU student and fan.
These renditions did not take away from the show or the originality the band personas, but enhanced the liveliness of the crowd. “The show was really great,” said Schlobohm. “The crowd was especially nice. This was my third Rob Russell show and they just keep getting better.”
Originality is also a hallmark of the Russell genre. He mixes up words from songs that he covers in order to make them his own. The lyrics also bring meaning to the songs, as Russell writes them from his own personal experiences, using everyday life and fitting it into his work. The crowd seemed to be able to relate to the lyrics, but at the same time relax and give in to the rock ‘n’ roll.
Russell, who rocks out in the evenings in smoke-filled clubs, is the Writing and Communication Center director during the day.
As someone who is familiar with Russell as the director of the WCC, I was slightly shocked to hear Russell’s remarks and lyrics while on stage. Spectators that know him for his proper use of the English language also marveled at his frequent use of expletives in his show.
He left the impression on me that he enjoys performing for such a crowd, whether they were sober or drunk. The way they interacted with the crowd, giving away T-shirts and posters, showed that the band was there for more than a money-making performance – they actually take pleasure in what they do.
As the show came to an end the crowd shouted for an encore. After giving a stunning encore performance, the band said there departing words despite the disapproval of the crowd. Going along with his enthusiastic personality, Russell left his instructions for partygoers, words they won’t forget anytime soon. Although I cannot repeat them, they went along the lines of encouraging the crowd to continue to party after the show and commit general acts of debauchery.
I know I speak for many when I say I felt like a winner after such an amazing and energetic show.
For more information on Rob Russell and the Sore Losers, you can visit www.robrussellandthesorelosers.com.

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