Roadkill Ghost Choir

{{Short description|American alternative rock band}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2014}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Roadkill Ghost Choir | image = Roadkill_Ghost_Choir_-_profile_photo.jpg | landscape = yes | origin = DeLand, Florida | genre = Indie rock, Alternative rock | years_active = 2011–2019 | website = http://www.roadkillghostchoir.com/ | current_members = Andrew Shepard<br> Stephen Garza<br>Zach Shepard <br> Maxx Shepard <br>Kiffy Myers }}

'''Roadkill Ghost Choir''' was an American alternative rock band from DeLand, Florida.

In January 2014, they performed on ''Late Night with David Letterman'', and had notable appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Governors Ball festivals. In August 2014, the band released their debut full-length album ''In Tongues'', produced by Doug Boehm (Powderfinger, The Vines, Booker T. Jones).

Their sound was once described as "combining the experimental edge of Radiohead and the dusty roots-rock of Tom Petty, tailor-made for arena-sized, prog-rock festivals and grassy, pastoral stages alike."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kaye|first1=Ben|date=September 25, 2012|title=Stream: Roadkill Ghost Choir – Quiet Light EP (CoS Premiere)|url=https://consequence.net/2012/09/stream-roadkill-ghost-choir-quiet-light-ep-cos-premiere/|website=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref>

== Overview == Forming in 2011, the band released their debut EP, ''Quiet Light'', in 2012. Self-released, the mastering and printing of the record was supported by a successful Kickstarter campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Help Roadkill Ghost Choir Finish Their Record|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1681531257/help-roadkill-ghost-choir-finish-their-record|website=Kickstarter|publisher=Roadkill Ghost Choir|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> “Quiet Light” premiered on Consequence of Sound and received positive critical acclaim from outlets such as Absolute Punk<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robson|first1=Gregory|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir: Quiet Light EP|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2955662|website=Absolute Punk|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> and [http://thedropp.com/ The Dropp].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Robert|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir: Quiet Light Review|url=http://thedropp.com/dropps/ear-dropps/2012/10/album-review-roadkill-ghost-choir-quiet-light/|website=The Dropp|accessdate=2014-09-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005193827/http://thedropp.com/dropps/ear-dropps/2012/10/album-review-roadkill-ghost-choir-quiet-light/|archivedate=2014-10-05}}</ref> In January 2014 the band was invited to perform on ''Late Night with David Letterman'', where they performed standout track “Beggar’s Guild.”<ref>{{cite web|title=The Late Show with David Letterman|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/video/l1dJrURRD9G0Si8zUE2YHt_3svp0gb9g/david-letterman-roadkill-ghost-choir-beggars-guild/|publisher=CBS Network|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> They also were one of the bands handpicked to join the inaugural [http://communionmusic.com/ Communion Presents] Tour Dates, an artist showcase curated by Mumford and Sons' Ben Lovett.

Their debut full-length album, ''In Tongues'', was released 19 August 2014 to wide critical acclaim. Recorded in their home studio and produced by Doug Boehm, the album received exclusive streams on Consequence of Sound<ref>{{cite web|last1=Henry|first1=Dusty|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir Debut Album: In Tongues Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2014/08/stream-roadkill-ghost-choirs-debut-album-in-tongues/|website=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=2013-09-16}}</ref> and Paste Magazine,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Orr|first1=Darcy|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir - Slow Knife|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2014/07/song-premiere-roadkill-ghost-choir---slow-knife.html|website=Paste Magazine|publisher=Paste|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> as well as positive reviews from Rolling Stone, SPIN,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gaffney|first1=Stephen|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir - In Tongues Stream|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/08/7-albums-to-stream-dj-mustard-kimbra-daft-punk-roadkill-ghost-choir/|website=SPIN|publisher=SPIN Magazine}}</ref> Relix and [http://inyourspeakers.com/ In Your Speakers].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Datko|first1=Alison|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir Delivers Gritty Rock-Tinged Americana with In Tongues|url=http://inyourspeakers.com/content/news/299-roadkill-ghost-choir-delivers-gritty-rock-tinged-americana-09072014|website=In Your Speakers|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> Rolling Stone's Cady Drell noted that Andrew Shepard's vocals on the opening track "make him sound like the latter-day Tom Petty he's been pitched as”, and that "synths and roiling surf rock guitars illuminate fans' flattering comparisons of Shepard to My Morning Jacket's Jim James”.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Drell|first1=Cady|title='Roadkill Ghost Choir "In Tongues" Album Review"|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/roadkill-ghost-choir-in-tongues-20140829|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref> Similarly, Justin Jacobs of Relix magazine stated “Roadkill Ghost Choir hit the sweet spot between Mumford & Sons’ power-folk and My Morning Jacket’s passionate post-Southern rock.”<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Justin|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir: In Tongues|url=http://www.relix.com/reviews/detail/roadkill_ghost_choir_in_tongues|website=Relix Music Magazine|publisher=Relix|accessdate=2014-09-16}}</ref>

The band split in May 2019, playing a farewell show at the Caledonia Lounge in Athens, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barton|first=Andy|date=2019-05-08|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir, T. Hardy Morris, Grand Vapids|url=https://flagpole.com/calendar-picks/2019/05/08/roadkill-ghost-choir-t-hardy-morris-grand-vapids/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Flagpole|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Touring == The band toured with Band of Horses<ref>{{cite web|url=http://roadkillghostchoir.com/post/48864538450/a-huge-thank-you-to-band-of-horses-for-inviting-us|title=Roadkill Ghost Choir|website=Roadkill Ghost Choir}}</ref> performing opening slots in 2013, and were featured at Austin City Limits, New York's Governors Ball and [http://shakykneesfestival.com/ Shaky Knees]. 2014 saw festival inclusions at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Electric Forest and SXSW, among others. They also joined the inaugural [http://www.communionmusic.co.uk Communion Presents] tour, alongside Willy Mason, Yacht Club DJs and Rubblebucket, stopping at nine cities in one month.

==Band members== * Andrew Shepard – songwriter and singer * Stephen Garza – lead guitar * Zach Shepard – bass * Maxx Shepard – drums * Kiffy Myers – pedal steel, banjo

'''Former members:''' * Joey Davoli – trumpet, keys, whistling

== Discography ==

=== Studio albums ===

* ''In Tongues'' (2014) * ''False Youth Etcetera'' (2017)

=== Extended plays ===

* ''Quiet Light'' (2012) * ''Keep It Under Cover'' (2015)

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Alternative rock groups from Florida