Steelshot
During a time when Richmond was considered stock full of cookie cutter bands all striving for 15 minutes of fame, the club of “You Tubers” and screaming kids with tight jeans hanging from 
theirbacksides; a new sound of southern country hard rock songs began to hit the streets and at the reigns of that sound was Steelshot. Steelshot was formed from a few riffs by guitarist/songwriter Jason Yarbrough who began by tinkering around with the southern sound of his influences such as Lynyrd Skynyrd to the new wave of heavy hard rock from Black Label Society and mixing those sounds into one. It wasn’t long after that his new project found a solid foundation with fellow musicians whose style seems to fit like puzzle pieces cut to match in all the right places. A familiar sound long forgotten by radio & mainstream media could be heard from the song room, yet breaking ground with a new genre; Country Metal was the result. This new sound, unforgettable to any listener within reach, is original and creative leaving you wanting more. After 3 years of lineup changes, break-ups and reconciliations the trials and tribulations have ended in perfection. From their long awaited debut self-titled EP release in the summer of 2011 there is “Alive Again” and “In Too Deep”, giving audiences hard hittingwhite-knuckle fast driving beats. Then there are the more southern or country rooted songs such as “Never Understand” and “Southern Pride” establishing the anthem sound that is Steelshot. The sky is limitless for these artists with intense ambition and drive, they are set continue to working on their seconded release for 2012 becoming their first full length collection of original new music. Steelshot has shared the stage with a various local and regional bands such as Bullistic, White Knuckle Battery, Memory Fade, Proverbial, Thunderbrew, Automag, Silvertung, as well as national acts Faultline, Zoso the Led Zeppelin Experience, Die Cast, Mensrea, and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real just to name a few. Tired of the stock metal riffs and same repeated melodic leads, guitarist Jason Yarbrough felt something was missing; true down to earth rock n’ roll. After his years as a rhythm guitarist in Richmond groups Strikethrew and Transylvania Stud, he decided it was time to begin a new project which had no limits to genre or style. During the summer of 2008 Jason started sessions with long time friend, and classically trained jazz drummer Brian Shaw. After a few songs composed with just drums and guitar, a common friend suggested they give a tryout to local bassist Mike “Frog” Barham, whose low ended bass style comes from heavy metal 80’s groups who influenced him when he started performing at Chicago night clubs while still in high school. The first jam session is all it took and shortly thereafter they began working on ideas that would later become the standard sound for Steelshot, a new kind of southern country metal. “Never Understand”, “Southern Pride” and “In Too Deep” were the results and thus began the adventure. Fast forward a few months later and numerous new songs later, to the search for the voice that would later define the original sound of Steelshot; a singer who showed up with melodies and lyrics in hand. Enter Josh Duncan; a singer/songwriter whose voice can be heard on Nashville recordings and sessions with other country artists. His southern style and low noted country draw gives Steelshot the final touch that was needed to complete this power group of musicians. That December, Steelshot performed their debut show to a sold out New Years Eve event and with only 4 songs after 3 weeks with a final lineup. They performed with the talent of national artists and never stopped for the next year to follow. After numerous shows and a year of traveling between Richmond and New York the toll took its debt and drummer Brian Shaw was replaced for a short time with long time friend and fellow drummer Jon Ward (Faultline) who was able to keep the performances going until the break-up in late 2009. After a year of trying to work with new projects and no success, Jay called Mike and suggested they get together for a fun jam session of old times and good songs. Brian and Josh both returned and the original lineup began a few shows of what was thought to be just an affair for good times. But after attracting attention from labels and producers the 4 of them decided to finally record an EP and see what happens. Not long after the recordings, it was decided to add a second guitarist to perform to likeness of the EP on the live stage. Lee Waldron who was an open jam artist and friend of Josh’s filled in for a few performances but it was never a permanent relationship and he later left to persue his love for blues. As if that wasn’t more than enough hard times for Steelshot and their lineup stability, drummer Brian Shaw departed the band once again for personal reasons. It was not long after that drummer T.J. Sutherland from Pike Possum and guitarist Ryan Nuttle formerly of Boss Keen’s Ditch were hired on as full-time members. Finally, after the breaks and the lineup changes over the years, Steelshot began working on writing and demo recording sessions for their debut full length label release album set for sometime in 2012. *The self-titled EP “Steelshot” can be purchased at every show, online at iTunes, CD Baby and Amazon or by visiting their online store at www.reverbnation.com/steelshot
theirbacksides; a new sound of southern country hard rock songs began to hit the streets and at the reigns of that sound was Steelshot. Steelshot was formed from a few riffs by guitarist/songwriter Jason Yarbrough who began by tinkering around with the southern sound of his influences such as Lynyrd Skynyrd to the new wave of heavy hard rock from Black Label Society and mixing those sounds into one. It wasn’t long after that his new project found a solid foundation with fellow musicians whose style seems to fit like puzzle pieces cut to match in all the right places. A familiar sound long forgotten by radio & mainstream media could be heard from the song room, yet breaking ground with a new genre; Country Metal was the result. This new sound, unforgettable to any listener within reach, is original and creative leaving you wanting more. After 3 years of lineup changes, break-ups and reconciliations the trials and tribulations have ended in perfection. From their long awaited debut self-titled EP release in the summer of 2011 there is “Alive Again” and “In Too Deep”, giving audiences hard hittingwhite-knuckle fast driving beats. Then there are the more southern or country rooted songs such as “Never Understand” and “Southern Pride” establishing the anthem sound that is Steelshot. The sky is limitless for these artists with intense ambition and drive, they are set continue to working on their seconded release for 2012 becoming their first full length collection of original new music. Steelshot has shared the stage with a various local and regional bands such as Bullistic, White Knuckle Battery, Memory Fade, Proverbial, Thunderbrew, Automag, Silvertung, as well as national acts Faultline, Zoso the Led Zeppelin Experience, Die Cast, Mensrea, and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real just to name a few. Tired of the stock metal riffs and same repeated melodic leads, guitarist Jason Yarbrough felt something was missing; true down to earth rock n’ roll. After his years as a rhythm guitarist in Richmond groups Strikethrew and Transylvania Stud, he decided it was time to begin a new project which had no limits to genre or style. During the summer of 2008 Jason started sessions with long time friend, and classically trained jazz drummer Brian Shaw. After a few songs composed with just drums and guitar, a common friend suggested they give a tryout to local bassist Mike “Frog” Barham, whose low ended bass style comes from heavy metal 80’s groups who influenced him when he started performing at Chicago night clubs while still in high school. The first jam session is all it took and shortly thereafter they began working on ideas that would later become the standard sound for Steelshot, a new kind of southern country metal. “Never Understand”, “Southern Pride” and “In Too Deep” were the results and thus began the adventure. Fast forward a few months later and numerous new songs later, to the search for the voice that would later define the original sound of Steelshot; a singer who showed up with melodies and lyrics in hand. Enter Josh Duncan; a singer/songwriter whose voice can be heard on Nashville recordings and sessions with other country artists. His southern style and low noted country draw gives Steelshot the final touch that was needed to complete this power group of musicians. That December, Steelshot performed their debut show to a sold out New Years Eve event and with only 4 songs after 3 weeks with a final lineup. They performed with the talent of national artists and never stopped for the next year to follow. After numerous shows and a year of traveling between Richmond and New York the toll took its debt and drummer Brian Shaw was replaced for a short time with long time friend and fellow drummer Jon Ward (Faultline) who was able to keep the performances going until the break-up in late 2009. After a year of trying to work with new projects and no success, Jay called Mike and suggested they get together for a fun jam session of old times and good songs. Brian and Josh both returned and the original lineup began a few shows of what was thought to be just an affair for good times. But after attracting attention from labels and producers the 4 of them decided to finally record an EP and see what happens. Not long after the recordings, it was decided to add a second guitarist to perform to likeness of the EP on the live stage. Lee Waldron who was an open jam artist and friend of Josh’s filled in for a few performances but it was never a permanent relationship and he later left to persue his love for blues. As if that wasn’t more than enough hard times for Steelshot and their lineup stability, drummer Brian Shaw departed the band once again for personal reasons. It was not long after that drummer T.J. Sutherland from Pike Possum and guitarist Ryan Nuttle formerly of Boss Keen’s Ditch were hired on as full-time members. Finally, after the breaks and the lineup changes over the years, Steelshot began working on writing and demo recording sessions for their debut full length label release album set for sometime in 2012. *The self-titled EP “Steelshot” can be purchased at every show, online at iTunes, CD Baby and Amazon or by visiting their online store at www.reverbnation.com/steelshothttp://www.steelshotrocks.com/
