1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? Who thought of the name "Days To Come" and is there any meaning behind it?

Justin - I grew up in a musical household. I started playing the guitar when I was 17 and started singing when I was 20. One of my biggest musical influences is Alter Bridge. I dig the dynamics between the heavy tones and melodic cleans. I'm a sucker for melodies and I'm constantly trying to challenge myself to improve and grow as a songwriter.

I thought of the name Days To Come one day while I was at my day job. I was frustrated because we had all of the pieces to form a band except for a drummer and it is always so difficult finding a drummer! I knew that we would eventually find one and everything would work out in the future, but that moment of frustration gave birth to the name.

2. What do you want people to take away from your music?

Jalen - I want the listener to understand that each of our songs can be interpreted differently and that the same song can help through several emotions.

3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?

Brandon - We're continually developing and working towards what "Days To Come" sounds like, but I want to be able to say that we have pop styled, catchy vocal melodies layered with intricate music supporting it. Basically pop-prog.

4. Who are three bands you'd like to tour with?

Justin - Alter Bridge, Nothing More, and Red Sun Rising.

5. What are your three desert island albums that you'd never get tired of listening to?

Brandon - Tesseract / Altered State. Plini / The End Of Everything. Voices From The Fuselage / Odyssey - The Destroyer Of Worlds. I listen to each of these albums fairly often, and each time I listen, I'm constantly finding new things within the songs and throughout the music.

6. What's your take on the current state of Rock?

Jalen - It may not seem as big of a deal as it was, but the rock genre will never die.

7. What's the current music scene like there in Georgia both locally and state wide?

Justin - The Georgia music scene seems dominated by country and rap. There are great rock/metal bands, but we're definitely in the minority. Over the years, I've seen bands come and go. I hate seeing talented artists and bands give up, or break up, due to a lack of support, communication, or forward momentum. I'm a big believer in the power of consistent, hard work, and I'll always support a hard working group.

8. What's your take on legal/illegal music downloading?

Justin - We live in a culture where art, in its many forms, is expected to be free. The listener will continue to find ways to get music for free and we, as artists, need to find creative ways to deal with it, rather than simply complain that it is happening. I've never downloaded music illegally, but I'm definitely in the minority. Business is always changing and any smart business will adapt to meet those changes.

9. What's next for Days To Come?

Jalen - Next year is going to be the busiest we've been with tours and upcoming projects that we can't wait to share with all of you!

10. Any shoutouts?

Brandon - We appreciate our family, friends, and fans for continually supporting us throughout this journey. We appreciate all of the kind words, warm meals, beds (and couches), and love. Justin and I have been together since 2013 and the experiences we've had on the road have only made us stronger. We're very excited to have Jalen on board with us and we're looking forward to a busy 2019! New music coming soon!

Jalen - I wanna thank my mom and my sister for keeping me on the right path. I appreciate you both so much.

Justin - I'm grateful for my wife and son, my parents, and Brandon and Jalen. I'm so thankful for our families, our friends, and fans. We wouldn't be anywhere without your continued support and love. I'm thankful for the opportunities God has given me and I'm so excited for 2019!

Days To Come - We want to thank our endorsers - Curt Mangan Strings, InTune Guitar Picks, Spectraflex Cables, Xcel Drumsticks, and Dirtbag Clothing. We want to thank our booking agent, James Cripps with Blind Anxiety Entertainment, for the years of support he's given us. We want to thank our management team at Crown Artist Development. We want to thank Charlie and Jennifer Goodson at Georgia Pen Company for continually, consistently, providing for us and supporting our endeavors. We want to thank Eric Ball and his team at Venum Vapur for all of the love over the years. We want to thank Carlton at the Albany Herald, Brian and Joe at Rock 98.9, Sam at Rock 106.9, and Alison McCorkle at the Oglethorpe Lounge for being such an avid supporter of live, original, independent music.

ALBANY — Some Albany residents received a surprise after Hurricane Michael when Albany-based rock band Days to Come joined crews to help clear out the avenues where trees were piled up in and beside the road.

Days to Come vocalist and guitarist Justin Goodson literally answered the call.

“My brother is a police officer, and the day after the storm I was out at my parents’ house cleaning up a lot, and he came by and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come help me down the avenues’ because they were trying to get the ambulances through,” Goodson said. “So we went out there and spent the rest of the day clearing the alleys out there and the avenues so the ambulances could get to Phoebe (Putney Memorial Hospital).”

Armed with chainsaws and axes, Goodson, Days to Come drummer Jalen Hall and band guitarist Brandon Rix put themselves to work in different neighborhoods to clear out roads and driveways to make way for ambulances and other first-responder vehicles.

Hall said, “Really anything we can do to help others.”

Goodson and Hall said that when they do things for the community, it isn’t as a band but as individuals who want to help others because “it’s the right thing to do.”

“We had quite a few friends and fans from Florida send us pictures, and it is crazy the amount of devastation down there,” Goodson said. “It’s going to take a long time, especially for Florida where (the storm) initially hit, to get back on its feet.”

On Albany being taken by surprise by Hurricane Michael even after the January 2017 tornadoes, Hall said, “It’s probably because Albany is not used to natural disasters at this level, but, yeah, this one was a lot worse overall.”

“I will say,” Goodson added, “being thankful that the storms happened in 2017 is that all the trees that fell then didn’t fall now, if that makes sense, so it could have been a lot worse if we didn’t have that storm in 2017.”

“That (2017) storm kind of prepared us,” Hall said. “No one really took the storm in January that seriously because every time we get a storm warning, it just passes over like nothing in a couple of hours.”

Goodson said that with the experience of the January 2017 storms, the people in the Albany area were more prepared with food, gas and water in case they lost power.

Hall said that using a chainsaw for the first time was more difficult than he imagined. He joked that the movies make it look a lot easier, and Goodson said that Hall showed his proficiency with an axe.

“I’m a military brat,” Goodson said. “I’ve lived all over, so I’ve been through many, many storms helping my dad or the other guys when I was kid. You know, watching them use an axe and chainsaw and clear stuff, and actually this time my dad was in Texas for my grandfather’s funeral, and so that was kind of cool to be able to put all of that training that I’ve had over the years and just be like, ‘Yeah, I know how to do that, and I don’t have to ask anybody or for help.’ We can just take care of ourselves.”

It took the band members and other volunteers a few days, but with the help of a few power tools and a truck to pull trees out of the way, Goodson, Hall and Rix were able to aid the community in a big way.

Days to Come are busy preparing for the release of their new single and their first music video release.

For more information about the band, visit https://daystocomemusic.com. - Gypsy Crow

In the wake of the most recent natural disaster affecting the East Coast, newly endorsed Dirtbag Artists, DAYS TO COME stepped up to the plate to help with relief efforts.. Hurricane Michael made landfall on October 10th, 2018 as a Category 4 storm - the first of its kind in history to affect the Florida Panhandle, resulting in at least 13 killed.

The storm made it as far as Albany, Georgia, the hometown of DAYS TO COME; a smaller city that sees the occasional tornado, or flood from the Flint River, but rarely ever a hurricane. Although none of their homes were damaged, the band spent over a week outside, working long days, chopping up tree trunks and cleaning up the mess so that life in Albany could resume as normal. There is still much more work to do, as Hurricane Michael is said to have caused upwards of $4.5 billion in property damage, and over $3 billion in damage to Florida’s forestland. - Dirtbag Garrett

ALBANY — Local band Days to Come is holding a video shoot and exclusive performance with special guest 4 Daze Dead on Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 10 p.m. There is no cover cost or entrance fee.

Days to Come play a style of rock reminiscent of the late 1990s and early 2000s with a sound that would appeal to fans of Avenged Sevenfold, 10 Years and Shinedown, with emotional lyrics about self, internal struggle and expression that fits the style of music.

Days to Come, an Albany-based band, has opened for such rockers as Saliva and Skillet and his toured extensively across the Southeast. The band performed with Skillet at Wild Adventures Theme Park in August.

“(Performing at Wild Adventures) was great. The side stage is outside and lends itself to a pretty intimate setting for the audience,” Justin Goodson, vocalist and guitarist for Days to Come, said. “It was so wonderful to see so many of our fans and also meet some brand new people. Definitely enjoyed connecting with Skillet as well.”

Days to Come drummer Jalen Hall added, “It was awesome. It’s always so much fun connecting with our audience and hearing them sing our songs.”

The group’s debut EP, “The Art of Survival,” is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music and Spotify, but the video shoot is for the band’s new single, “Siren,” and to promote a new EP. Days to Come are in the process of preparing their new album and will be shooting several videos throughout September.

“We’re always trying to think of new and creative ways to engage with our fans, and we’re thankful that we’ve had a bunch of support surrounding this show,” Brandon Rix, the band’s lead guitarist, said. “As soon as we announced we were going to shoot a video at the show, we got a large response.”

The band features members Goodson, Hall and Rix, as well as bassist Taylor Hartley.

The show and video shoot will take place at The Ozone, located at 426 Cordele Road in Albany. - Gypsy Crow

Thursday's are usually reserved for quiet time before the weekend here at Behind Daytona. However while driving my late night UBER shift a request came through from "Mark" on Seabreeze it was 3AM. I knew who I was picking up, and chuckled. Mark Rosenthal, a friend now manages the strip of the Seabreeze Entertainment district.
Mark informed me that Thursday night this past week was going to be packed with great music, he didn't lie.
5 Time Shag, Pulp Free Fiction, Michael Makepeace, Dellacoma and Days to Come.
He was absolutely correct.
​Lets start with 5 Time Shag a popular Local Band fronted by Scotty and backed up by incredible musicians Giullio, Eric and Patsy on the Kit, the smallest drum kit we have seen with the largest sound you ever heard.
​Next up at what I call Ricks Incubator, "The Patio" was Pulp Free Fiction. A new young band about to break out and hit the muzic scene here in Daytona.
You could smell the Ganja coming out of the notes played by the guitar, just hot.
Ok so this was then followed by the Band "Days to Come" out of Albany Georgia. Hard driving rock led by vocalist Justin Goodson. The presence on stage is raw, biting and something we have not seen here in Daytona for some time. They have opened for some great bands including Saliva who are set to appear at Main Street Station Labor Day.
The headliner this night was "Delacoma"
This was just kick ass stuff as the band features the former guitarist from Shinedown, Justin Todd and on the Drums and Keyboards Jarrod Medwin a consumate proffesional.
The performance was just what you would hope for. Loud, Tight, Driving, Energetic and Deep.
The Rok Bar and the Entertainment that comes out of it has come of age.
I look forward to years of great music.
Thanks and hats off to Mark Rosenthal and Richard Kitt great supporters of local Live Music. - Jeff Stolowitz

ALBANY - Spawned amid recovery and rebuilding efforts in the wake of the January 2017 storms that left many Albany families displaced from damaged homes and downed trees, the second annual Fallen Tree Festival is set to return to Albany on May 19 to celebrate volunteerism and raise money for charity.

Originally conceived to “celebrate” the massive community volunteer efforts during last year’s storm cleanup, and to bolster future rebuilding projects, the festival’s successful first year guaranteed its return.

“Well we started this thing to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism which really showed itself after the storms last year,” festival organizer Stacy Odom-Driggers said. “The festival, like last year will be at Sunnyland Roofing Supplies next Austin’s Firegrill on Old Dawson Road on May 19. All proceeds are going to benefit the Albany Area Fuller Center.”

The Albany Area Fuller Center is a non-profit organization that assists homeowners with repairs to improve the existing housing stock and quality of life for residents in Albany.

The organization’s website said its officials “seek out and promote collaborative and innovative partnerships in a quest to assure that all people in need in the Albany area have adequate shelter.”

Odom-Driggers said raising money is important, but hopefully, she said, the festival will shine a light on volunteerism and how important it can be for a community like Albany.

“It was amazing to see so many people and organizations coming together last year, we hope to continue promoting that community spirit this year,” she said.

The festival will feature some of Albany’s rockers, including Cut ‘N’ Run and Days to Come.

“We are very excited to be a part of the second Fallen Tree Festival,” Days to Come frontman Justin Goodson said. “This festival really helped to raise money for the families affected by last year’s tornadoes, which is exactly the thing that we like to be a part of. Our music is heavy, but our goal is to encourage, motivate and inspire, bringing a positive message to people.

“You know, normally when you are listening to rock music, the message is less than positive, but we definitely enjoy the genre, the heaviness of it. So, we are all about just trying to encourage and motivate, which is exactly what the Fallen Tree Festival is all about.”

For more information, visit Fallen Tree Festival on Facebook or call (229) 343-4393. - Jon Gosa

ALBANY — Most casual musicians — even the good ones — start playing with dreams of superstardom and untold riches dancing in their heads.

The Albany rock band Days to Come are not most musicians. Nor or they casual in their approach to playing.

So when frontman/guitarist Justin Goodson assures fans that Days to Come are in it for the long haul, he’s not spouting Cliche No. 32 from the rock star handbook.

“The way I’ve always looked at it is ‘The faster the rise, the faster the fall,’” Goodson said Sunday after rehearsing for a service at his church. (Yes, the malevolent-sounding voice that melts young girls’ hearts — sorry, ladies, [Justin's] a hard-core family man — and stirs up adrenaline in all the young dudes belongs to a devoutly spiritual man.)

“We’ve been playing together in this band since 2014, and in that time I’ve seen about 20 (local) bands come and go. That’s usually because those bands weren’t built on strong foundations. We’ve been at this for four years, building one fan at a time, and I figure we’ve got a good six to seven years of work to put in before we’ll be able to do this full-time. That’s OK. We’re committed to what we’re doing.”

Days to Come — Goodson, lead guitarist Brandon Rix, bassist Taylor Hartley and drummer Jesse Ivey — have indeed slowly built their following, developing a reputation among rock music fans and music business insiders as a band that’s about much more than the cliched sex and drugs and rock and roll. It’s that reputation that has fans clamoring for new music, new merch and a tour schedule so that they don’t miss a show.

And it’s that reputation on the business side of the ledger that has promoters and agents booking Days to Come to play opening sets for their established acts. The Albany band shared the stage with Skillet, Alter Bridge and Saliva last year and have been recruited to open for Southern alt rock heroes 3 Doors Down at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta on May 12.

“I was talking with the talent buyer at Wild Adventures about another show that he was involved in, and he hit me out of the blue with, ‘You guys want to come play with 3 Doors Down in May?’” Goodson said. “That was cool on a couple of levels. First, it was cool that he remembered us from playing with Skillet (for whom Days to Come have been asked to play with again this year).

“But to get the chance to play with a band like 3 Doors Down? Man, I have no doubts that the show is gonna be a ton of fun.”

The other members of Days to Come share Goodson’s enthusiasm.

“I remember seeing 3 Doors Down back in 2003,” Hartley said. “They had an amazing stage show then. Can’t wait to connect with them in May.”

Added Rix: “I love playing shows with my guys in Days. This is definitely another show that we’ll be able to look back on and be proud of. Looking forward to going back to Wild Adventures.”

Days to Come have already played a couple of high-profile shows this year, opening for Otherwise and Wayland at Atlanta’s Masquerade and playing a second show at Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival.

“It was a pleasure opening for Otherwise and Wayland,” Ivey said of the Masquerade show. “It was awesome to be able to connect and hang out with them for a bit after the show.”

For Goodson, any gig at Masquerade is an opportunity he relishes.

“I think that’s my favorite venue in all of Georgia,” he said. “It’s a true concert venue, not something else where bands just happen to play. The staff is very professional; it’s just an awesome place.”

This year’s Cherry Blossom gig was also a little different for the band than last year’s performance.

“Last year, we had a spoken-word artist on before us and an a capella group after,” Goodson said. “I don’t think they quite knew what we were. But it was much better this year, plus I got to take my wife and young son. It was cool to just hang out and do other things when we weren’t playing.”

The irony of Days to Come’s in-demand status isn’t lost on the band. The group decided to cut back on touring so that it could focus on studio work.

“Yeah, we try to do around 50 shows a year, but we decided to cut back to work on our album,” Goodson said. “I guess that’s the way it works. We decide to cut back, now we’re getting all these requests to play. Not a bad trade-off, though.”

Days to Come will play at the [JBG] Rock Fest at St. George Island in Florida on May 5. And there’s also that anticipated album that’s always on the band’s collective mind.

“Hey, the reality is, we all have day jobs, and it’s tough to schedule studio time,” Goodson said. “We worked on the album for a while last year, but we ran out of money. So we’re having to do shows to raise money for studio time.

“But I believe we’ll be able to finish the album this year. What we want to do, though, is make sure we have videos to release with the songs. We want to do it right. That, I believe is what will separate us from the ‘hobby bands.’”

Until the Days to Come album is complete, that growing group of fans will have to get by on the band’s EP, “Subsist | The Art Of Survival.” And follow the quartet’s exploits on their website, daystocomemusic.com.

“Man, we’ve got a long way to go yet, but it’s so overwhelming to think that we have real fans out there, people who stay in touch with us on Facebook and want to know when we have new merch and when we’re going to play a show near them,” Goodson said. “We’re definitely not just a local band anymore, and that’s just an amazing thing.

“But we’re going to keep working to give these fans what they want. We’ll play a show and add three or four fans, play another and add two or three more. That’s what we do, add fans one at a time. These guys in this band have sacrificed so much just to get to this point. We have to, though. I know I have to, or I wouldn’t be doing what God wants me to do with my life.” - Carlton Fletcher

When it comes to dedication to the craft of music Days to come is one of the bands you want to keep an eye on. These guys have been hard at it since their inception in 2014 and have never looked back.They have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with national acts such as Skillet • Saliva • Art of Anarchy • Wayland • Bobaflex • and Otherwise. Now they are set for a 3 day run with Melbourne Australia rockers Dellacoma at the end of June starting in Daytona Florida at ROK BAR and wrapping up in Satellite Beach Florida at Wynfields.

If your in the area be sure to check these guys out , I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Tell them Joe from Local musicians sent you. - Joseph Hazbrock

ALBANY — Piece by piece, Albany rock band Days to Come keeps adding to its resume.

After landing opening slots with alternative rockers Saliva and Christian rock band Skillet this summer, Days to Come frontman Justin Goodson announced this week that the band had signed to perform as opener for former Creed frontman Scott Stapp’s new band, Art of Anarchy. That show is scheduled for July 16 at Masquerade in Atlanta.

“(This opportunity) came out of the blue,” Goodson said before leaving for a vacation trip to Hawaii. “The talent buyer at Masquerade sent us an email saying he’s kept up with the band, and he wanted to offer us the slot opening for Art of Anarchy. He said that our musical styles were similar and he felt like we would really compliment the show.

“I’m flying back in from Hawaii on the 13th, which is a Thursday, (guitarist) Brandon (Rix) and I have a show in Bainbridge on Friday, the full band plays in Jacksonville on Saturday, and then we have the show at Masquerade on Sunday. I’m going to be jet-lagged, and my wife said she’s worried that I’ll be exhausted, but I told her this is not something we can pass up.”

Albany-based Days to Come — Goodson, Rix, bassist Taylor Hartley and drummer Jesse Ivey — are touring behind their first EP, “Subsist|The Art Of Survival,” which is available at a band show, at the Days to Come website, or on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Spotify.

If the members of Days to Come have learned nothing else in what is turning into a monumental summer for the band, they are getting more than their share of life on the road. They recently added to their road warrior status with the opening set for Saliva at Space Coast Harley Davidson in South Florida’s Palm Bay.

“It was incredible … and exhausting,” Goodson said. “We played in Tallahassee the night before and got into Palm Bay around 5:30 a.m. on (July) 1st. Load-in at the venue was scheduled for 10 a.m. We were running on fumes, but so thankful for the opportunity to open for Saliva.”

Drummer Ivey said the band jumped at the opportunity to play with the Memphis-based rockers.

“It’s still crazy to think we had the opportunity to play with Saliva. Definitely thankful!” Ivey said.

On the heels of that set comes the opportunity to play with Art of Anarchy in one of Atlanta’s premiere concert venues.

“I’m honored honestly,” Hartley said. “I grew up listening to Scott Stapp with Creed. Now my bandmates and I are getting to open for his new project. It’s an honor.”

The members of Art of Anarchy retooled after the death of original singer Scott Weiland, the former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman. The twin Votta brothers (Jon, guitar; Vince, bass); guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, late of Guns n Roses, and Disturbed bassist John Moyer accepted Stapp’s offer to replace Weiland, and the former Creed singer has gotten rave reviews for his vocals on the band’s latest album, “Madness.”

Goodson said the members of Days to Come have no expectations when it comes to swapping stories with the better-known groups they’ve opened for.

“We go in with zero expectations,” the singer said. “We go and play our set, and, yeah, it would be nice to meet and converse with these bigger bands. But this is about sharing our music. If we connect with one person at a show, it’s all worth it. Anything else that comes with it is icing on the cake.”

The Sunday show in Masquerade’s Heaven Room is an all-ages event. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8. Tickets are $10. Contact Days to Come for tickets. - Carlton Fletcher

Carlton Fletcher - Albany Herald

ALBANY — To secure a place in the often fickle music industry, talent alone is not always enough. Hard work is a given, but there also are intangibles, such as good old-fashioned luck and, sometimes, just being in the right place at the right time.

Those fated stars must align.

Several of the celestial orbs are apparently starting to move into the right orbits for Albany rock band Days to Come. In addition to an already-announced July opening slot with alternative rockers Saliva, who are no strangers to the Top 40 with hits like “Always,” “Ladies and Gentlemen,” and “Click Click Boom,” Days to Come were recently selected to open Christian rockers Skillet’s August show at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta.

“I’m so incredibly excited for the opportunity to perform with such influential bands. Saliva and Skillet have been around and toured all over,” band vocalist/guitarist Justin Goodson said. “The shows are gonna be wild.”

Goodson said that the band, at fans’ urging, reached out to Wild Adventures officials when the Skillet show was announced. The Grammy-nominated band is known for such hits as “Monster” and “Wake Me Up.”

“They asked to hear our music, and when they did they asked for lyrics; I guess they wanted to make sure they were suitable for family audiences, which they are,” Goodson said. “You could play our music for your 5-year-old. When we sent them the lyrics, they reached back out and said we were a go.”

Bassist Taylor Hartley said he and his bandmates have a great deal of respect for the two bands they’ve been chosen to open for.

“I’m really excited that we’re getting the opportunity to open for Saliva and Skillet,” Hartley said. “I used to listen to Saliva when I was in high school, and I saw Skillet play last year and was completely blown away. Being able to play with them now is an honor.”

Goodson said Days to Come were contacted by officials with Space Coast Harley Davidson in Palm Bay, Fla., about the opening slot for Saliva.

“They’d heard us play before and called to see if we were interested in opening for Saliva,” the singer/guitarist said. “Of course, we jumped at the opportunity.”

Days to Come guitarist Brandon Rix and drummer Jesse Ivey said they, too, are looking forward to expanding the band’s fan base at such high-profile shows.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to play with bands of such a high caliber,” Rix said. “Really looking forward to the shows.” Added Ivey: “It’s so crazy to think that we have the opportunity to play with bands like Saliva and Skillet. Definitely thankful.”

Days to Come are currently on tour, thanks in large part to tour sponsors Blind Anxiety Entertainment, Venum Vapur, Regal Wood Designs, Roberts Guitar and James Culbreth Photography. The band is working on its next record and will shoot a music video for a single from that record in the fall.

Information about the band’s tour dates is available online at daystocomemusic.com. (“We’re on all the social sites and if you look up daystocomemusic, you’ll find us.”) Days to Come’s first EP, “Subsist|The Art Of Survival,” is available at a show, on the band’s website, or on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Spotify. - Carlton Fletcher

Brad McEwen - Albany Herald

ALBANY — Still riding high off the success of 2016’s debut EP “Subsist | The Art of Survival,” Albany rock outfit Days to Come is not resting on its laurels. Despite a recent lineup change and a new addition to lead singer/guitarist Justin Goodson’s family, the band members say they are excited to gear up for an exciting 2017.

With a spring tour in the works and plans to release their second EP later this year, Days to Come, the rest of the year looks promising for the band. As 2016 drew to a close, that bright future looked a little uncertain with original drummer Russell Bowden making the decision to leave the group as it was poised for greater success.

On the eve of what is being dubbed the “2017 second quarter” tour, sponsored by Blind Anxiety, Venun Vapur, Regal Wood Designs, Roberts Guitar and James Culbreth Photography, Goodson and his bandmates addressed that situation and what the year has in store.

“I’ve had so many people asking me why he left or if we kicked him out and I cannot stress enough that we did not kick him out,” Goodson said. “Russell and I started talking about him possibly leaving the band last fall while we were down in Florida playing some shows.

“We all love Russell. And after many conversations, we respect his decision in stepping down. We want what’s best for each other and he felt like this was the right thing for him to do.”

Before departing, however, Bowden took the time to not only help the band find his replacement, he helped new skinman Jesse Ivey get comfortable playing the band’s songs.

“We’re incredibly fortunate that Russell was able to find Jesse and work with him to get him up to speed,” Goodson said. “We’ve been working with Jesse since the beginning of the year and we’re very excited for everyone to meet him.

“Bringing Jesse on as our drummer has sort of re-lit our flame.”

For his part, Ivey couldn’t be more excited about joining the group and says he’s looking forward to not only sharing life on the road, but what he thinks will be increased success, with his new bandmates.

“It feels bittersweet being the chosen replacement for Russell,” Ivey said. “Playing shows with the guys is a really great feeling and I feel like this is where I’m meant to be. You can really feel the energy packed within our music and I feel like it’s going to take us to higher places than ever before.

“Since I have joined Days To Come, it has been a dream come true. I’ve watched them perform a number of times, and have always been a huge fan of their music. It is so rewarding to be able to finally play a piece of music you’ve been practicing for months and feel really confident about a performance at a concert in front of hundreds of fans. I’m truly blessed to be in this band with these guys that have true talent and ambition for the music they love playing.”

Goodson also experienced a personal life-altering moment at the start of the year when he and his wife welcomed their first child in January. As much as that changed day-to-day life for the musician, he said the addition only served to strengthen his resolve to push forward with Days to Come.

“Having a son has completely changed my life,” he said. “He’s already brought so much joy and love. He encourages me to be better and do more so I can be a positive example. I want him to grow up being passionate about his goals and I want him to pursue his dreams completely.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the love and support that my wife continues to give me in my pursuits with the band. She’s been with me through it all and encourages me to continue when it becomes challenging.”

The band’s immediate challenge will be its touring schedule, which kicked off Thursday in Albany and will take them through parts of Georgia and a good portion of Florida throughout April and May, culminating with a hometown gig May 27 with fellow rockers Misplaced Shoreline at the Oglethorpe Lounge. Following that run of dates, the band will has an exciting opportunity to join renowned rock outfit Saliva in Palm Bay, Fla., on July 1.

“The new lineup is exciting and being out on the road is going to be awesome,” bassist Taylor Hartley said. “As for playing with Saliva, I’m absolutely stoked. I listened to the band in high school and I am a fan of what they do. Sharing the stage with them is another mark off my bucket list.”

“We’ve been given so many opportunities and we’re incredibly thankful to be able to get back to Palm Bay and open for Saliva,” Goodson added.

The band members are also excited about getting a change to return to Easpoint, Fla., on St. George Island to play in the JBG Rockfest the weekend of April 22-23.

“Another show that we’re just as excited for is JBG Rockfest,” Goodson said. “This will be our third year playing the festival and we’re pumped to get back town to Eastpoint and hang out with everyone..”

Following the string of live dates, the band will start polishing up and planning the release of it’s second EP, which the members hope will continue the momentum generated by their current single “Color (Of The Sun)” which has been getting a lot of airplay on area radio stations like Rock 105 out of Tifton.

“We’re currently recording and mixing out next record,” said Goodson. “We’ve grown as musicians over the past year and feel confident that this next EP will rise above ‘Subsist | The Art Of Survival.’”

With most of the music for the record written, Goodson and his bandmates say they feel the band has grown a lot since the debut and that listeners will be taken in new and exciting sonic directions.

“I think it’ll be a more mature version of ‘Subsist,’” said lead guitarist Brandon Rix. “The songs will still produce the same Days sound, but some songs will have a slightly different vibe. As we progress and continue to write music, we’ll invoke more thought and feeling into the songs to produce what we believe, is the best song.”

Despite the growth the band has experienced and its desire to broaden its range, Goodson is quick to assure fans that there will be no mistaking the fact that the new recording is a Days to Come record.

“I’ve never been a fan when bands change their entire sound one album to the next,” he said. “If I could put one word on our next record it would be ‘more.’ We would like it to be heavier, lighter, more melodic and rhythmic — just more dynamic as a whole. We would like each release to gradually build on the foundation we’ve been working from, just slowly becoming more mature as we continue to develop and shape our sound.”

Fans can keep a close watch on the band and keep up with its upcoming releases — including an upcoming video for the first single off the new EP, which will the band will be shooting in the coming months — via social media by looking up daystocomemusic, or on the band’s website daystocomemusic.com. - Brad McEwen

I got the awesome privilege to hear Days to Come with their new album, “The Art of Survival.” When you first turn it on and begin to hear every aspect of their music, it is not what you are expecting it to be. It is a very unique sounding music, and you can tell that this band has a talent that is like no other. The song I like off the album is, “Drown.” The lyrics to every song they compose though is just phenomenal, and like I said, a little different than what you might be used to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and you will as well. Each song is a unique different sound as well; it’s not the same song over & over again, like a lot of bands do, which is such a show of how much they want to branch out and give their fans different things.

This band has a very rock feel, with the emotion that flows through the music and vocals in harmony. You can really tell that this band is putting their best foot forward on doing all they can to get the word out about their music and band. Right now, they will be heading out soon, on the road to do multiple release parties for their new CD.

Aug 05 The Oglethorpe Lounge, Albany, GA
Aug 12 The Haven Lounge, Orlando, FL
Aug 13 Shady Oaks Lounge, Palm Bay, FL
Aug 19 Atmosphere Pub, Tallahassee, FL
Aug 20 Ashley’s Sports Page, Satellite Beach, FL
Sep 02 Rachael’s, Savannah, GA
Sep 09 Coach’s Sports Bar & Grill, Albany, GA
Sep 23 11th Frame Live, Madison, AL
Sep 24 Ziggy’s Underground, Chattanooga, TN

Be sure to pick up a copy of their new CD, see them live, and support this band. - Madame Suicide Promotions

Brad McEwen - Albany Herald

ALBANY — Although they believe their upcoming debut EP is an excellent representation of where they were as a band several months ago, for the members of local rock outfit Days to Come the best thing about dropping “Subsist: The Art of Survival” is that they finally have something other than T-shirts and stickers to give to booking agents and their swelling legion of fans.

“After two and some years, we actually have music,” lead singer/rhythm guitarist Justin Goodson said jokingly during a recent interview to discuss the release. “Otherwise, it seems we’re really more of a clothing company. People will come up and go ‘What do you guys sell?’ Well, T-shirts and hats and stickers. We don’t actually have music. What’s Days to Come? It’s a lifestyle brand, a premium VIP lifestyle. No music.”

Until now.

Although Goodson and his bandmates — lead guitarist Brandon Rix, drummer Russell Bowden, bassist Taylor Hartley — have a naturally jovial rapport with each other, and seemingly anyone floating around their orbit, they’re only half-joking when discussing their upcoming release, which they have been working on since they first came together a little more than two years ago.

Goodson, who is not only the band’s primary lyricist but also the group’s unofficial spokesman, explained that “Subsist” is the sound of a band coming together, finding its sound and learning how to play and record together. And, the EP is a “good description” of the band’s sound evolving.

“We’ve been working on the EP for quite a while, since we started as a band,” said Goodson.” We have been around for a little over two years, and, you know, we’ve written songs and enjoyed those songs and we’ve continued to mature. We’ve written more songs, and we’ve kind of gone back and reworked some of those songs. So some of these songs, like ‘Color of the Sun,’ that’s been around since the very beginning, and it’s kind of changed just a little bit as we’ve continued to mature and define our sound.”

Bowden agrees, saying that although the band is incredibly proud of its debut EP, when he listens to it he can’t help but hear a group of musicians still growing into their abilities.

“As Justin said, we recorded this about six, eight months ago, when we started, and it’s been a long process to get it done,” Bowden said. “As a band, I feel like we’re all pretty talented musicians, and I feel like we all excel at our instruments and have progressed since then even more so. It is nice for us to listen to it and see where we were then. I feel like we could definitely do better now, but from where we were then I feel like it is a nice breath of fresh air to look back. I would say I thoroughly enjoy it.”

The idea of the record as a measuring stick is also a theme for Goodson, who speaks with the quiet, measured authority of someone who sees very clearly the future he’s been building toward since the group came together.

“It’s cool; It’s a nice little chapter, and hopefully when we go through, later on down the road, the end of this year, or next year, we’ll start working on another one and we can really tell how much we’ve progressed, how much more seriously we’re taking this,” Goodson said. “And hopefully every time we do a release, we’ll be able to see improvements. Whenever we recorded this, six months prior to that, we wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

While the members of Days to Come believe they could make an even better record today, they also believe that they’ve created something special and something fans will enjoy. And the band makes no bones that the reason “Subsist” is as good as it is, the reason they believe they’ve established a rabid following, is the same reason they were able to win last year’s Albany Battle of the Bands despite having been together only a relatively short while. Hard work.

That hard work came in the form of weekly rehearsals and, more importantly, playing live.

“We’re trying to play a lot of shows,” Goodson said. “Last year, we played almost 50 shows in five states. And that, to us, was more important than recording because we were really trying to develop as musicians and get out on the road and go through experiences to try, fail and get better. That way, whenever we did release something, we could actually support it more consistently, rather than getting together, writing songs and releasing (an EP) before we’d even played a couple of shows together.

“(The strength of ‘Subsist’ is) only from getting together and rehearsing as often as we do. And, more importantly, playing shows. That’s one thing that I can stress to somebody is you’re going to not do well for a long time, so just go do it. That’s how you get better. You’ll just get way better.”

When Goodson talks about playing live, he’s clearly talking about one of his passions, and he waxes philosophical that a band’s ability to play live is what makes a group great.

“I would say, for me, that playing live is paramount,” said Goodson. “That is more important than recording for me. I mean, you can do a lot of studio magic and it can sound great with certain tones and with autotune and different amp styles and triggers. Live, it’s a totally different animal.

“I always, when I find a band, when I really enjoy them, the very first thing I do is I go look at a live video. And I’m not expecting 100 percent perfect because that is just not going to happen. But I want to see that they are trying, that they’re really giving it their all. If they’re doing that, then that’s a good thing. (I’m not interested in) some band that hits all the notes perfectly in a recording, because anybody can do that. For me, playing a show will always be first. That’s always what I love doing.”

That love of the live experience is also shared among his bandmates, whose eyes sparkle as they imagine themselves sweating it out under the lights in front of a wild throng of fans.

“I say it’s an adrenaline rush, just the thrill of being on stage and performing,” said Hartley.

“I agree, dude,” adds Bowden.

Even the quiet Rix, who spent most of a recent interview listening to his bandmates rather than opening up about his feelings, chimed in enthusiastically when talking about performing. In fact, it’s when talking about playing live that Rix finally reveals a bit about what makes him tick.

“You can just keep a mask on me, I’ll just stay in the corner and play,” deadpanned Rix (although he does far more than that when shredding at a gig). “I’m a machine. I play guitar, and then I go to sleep until the next show.”

In truth, as excited as the band members are to release their debut recording Friday, they’re equally excited about the EP release show they’re slated to play that night at Albany’s Oglethorpe Lounge.

For one, it’s a chance to rock out with their hometown fans. But it’s also a chance to say thank you to those fans and to the staff at the O, as the club is affectionately known, who helped them early on.

“Alison (McCorkle-Cleland) and the Oglethorpe Lounge have definitely helped us a lot,” Bowden said. “She actually booked our very first show and actually, for the longest time, they actually let us practice there. So I would say that without them, it definitely would have been a lot harder, especially starting off.

“I think that’s one of the reasons, one of the biggest reasons, why we chose the Oglethorpe to be the first place we have our release at here in Albany. And we’re really excited. We really enjoy playing there, and enjoy the people there and the management there.”

For the release show at the Oglethorpe, the band will share the stage with local metal favorites Dog Head, with whom the guys in Days to Come have a special bond. In fact, Chris Lodge, Dog Head’s lead axeman and the architect of their sound, played an important role in making “Subsist: The Art of Survival” a reality.

“We actually had Chris Lodge, he mixed and mastered it for us, which was absolutely great,” Goodson said. “I’m really glad that he was able to do it for us. He’s a really good guy. Super nice, and he’s got great ideas.”

Another close friend of Goodson’s was also instrumental in helping birth the new EP, which Days to Come recorded in Albany over the course of several months.

“We recorded with a friend of mine that I’ve known for a very long time, like 10 years, and he lives in Pensacola, Fla.,” said Goodson. “His name’s Chuck Johnson, and he actually came up, brought almost all of his gear with him, and we recorded over multiple weekends, multiple months, in between playing shows.”

The band’s humble sense of thanks is also apparent when they talk about their inner circle. Both Goodson and Bowden are married, the 26-year-old drummer also a father, and both of them repeatedly share how much they appreciate the sacrifices those loved ones have made.

“I want to be a full-time musician, a full-time original musician, playing songs that I’ve written with the guys, not a cover band,” said Goodson. “And I work full-time, I’m married and do a ton of other things. I’m very thankful for my wife’s support in letting me do this and letting me have time away from whatever it is that we’re doing and pursue this. She knows that it’s very, very important to me, and Russell’s the same way. He’s married, he’s got two kids, and family definitely comes first.”

“I definitely agree about what Justin was saying,” added Bowden. “I work, and I’ve got two kids and a wife, and without my wife’s support, it would be impossible. So definitely, it’s good to have her support.”

The band members also make a point to talk about how much they mean to each other. All of them have played in other bands prior to coming together, but it’s the magic they create together that they believe can propel them to the next level.

“I feel it’s been a long time coming,” said Hartley. “I’ve been playing music for 13 years, and these three guys are the reason that my dream is finally coming true.”

“I’ve been in previous bands before; I’ve been playing music since I was 15,” said Bowden. “It seems like every other band I’ve been in before, it goes good for a while and then somebody just loses their drive. I’ve always been the one that wants to keep driving. With these guys I think we all have an equal drive to make something happen, and I feel really good about my future. I definitely think this is the most successful band that I’ve been in and I see this going somewhere.”

The good thing shared by Days to Come’s musicians will be on full display this weekend as the group follows its Oglethorpe Lounge show with a gig Saturday night at Coach’s, where they will be joined by their good friends from Oblivious Signal and Mopeland. Soon after, the band hits the road to support the EP. And do what it does best.

“The next place we’re going is Birmingham, Ala.,” said Goodson. “We’re playing at the Knick, and that’s an awesome venue. It’s been around forever. I mean Elvis played there. Then we’re playing Hattiesburg, Miss., the next night at the Tavern. Then we’ve got a couple of release dates lined up in Florida as well. We’re playing in Orlando and Palm Bay and Tallahassee. And before the end of the year, we’d like to go to the Carolinas.”

Although they’re excited about converting new fans with their live shows at those upcoming gigs, Days to Come are also excited that they now have the ability to leave something special in their wake.

“This will be the first time our CD is available,” said Bowden. “You can go play places and people will like you at the time, but if you don’t have any material, such as a CD to give them, the next day they probably will have already forgotten about you. We’ve enjoyed playing, we love playing and we will always enjoy playing, but we obviously need to have content to get fans to remember why they like us and to also be able to sing along to us, to get more involved with us at our live performances.”

The band also realizes the importance of having a CD when it comes to booking gigs. Goodson points out that the band has been very fortunate to have gotten gigs through developing relationships with other bands they’ve shared bills with, as well forging a bond with promoter James Cripps.

“He has really helped us with booking down in Florida, and he’s been absolutely fantastic and we didn’t even have a CD,” said Goodson. “He kind of took us at face value. So we’re grateful for that.”

The band is also grateful they’ve now got a chance to share their music with fans far and wide, and to further represent the town and the fans that have nurtured them along the way.

“We are proud to be from Albany,” said Goodson. “As a band we appreciate the support that we’ve had from people here and we look forward to gaining their trust. We hope that whenever we’re out and about in other cities playing shows, that we represent Albany well.”

When it’s released Friday, the six-track EP “Subsist: The Art of Survival” will be available to fans through a variety of channels, including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, CD Baby, and Google Play. Fans can also pick up hard copies and download cards. - Brad McEwen

Brad McEwen - Albany Herald

ALBANY — Like most young men in their early 20s who have achieved a modicum of local fame, Days to Come guitarist Brandon Rix has little doubt that his band has the potential to make it big. That said, he’s a realist, and if things don’t work out as intended, Rix has formulated a backup plan, albeit one that’s almost as challenging as becoming a famous rock musician.

During a recent sit-down on the eve of his band taking top honors at the recent Albany Battle of the Bands, Rix, who was still pinching himself after being named Albany’s favorite guitarist in the recent Friday JAM music polls, said that just in case his band isn’t able to “make it” he’s also hard at work becoming a physicist.

“Right now, I’m going to Darton and majoring in physics,” Rix said. “Before I decided on that, it was between music and physics. When I tell people that I chose physics, they’re really surprised. I was just interested in it. I really have two lives: I have the band life, which is just fun and I get to act all crazy, and then I have the physics side. I’m really a math and science guy. I like physics because I like trying to understand how everything works.”

Rix said learning about physics isn’t much different than playing guitar in that he gets to figure out how things work, and it is difficult, which offers a challenge that he relishes. It also, in a roundabout way, helps to fuel his passion for playing in Days to Come and working hard to achieve success, something that has been happening at a rapid pace in the short time the band has been together.

“It’s been less than a year, and we’ve played the Battle of the Bands and shows in Alabama and Tallahassee and around outside of Albany,” said Rix. “We want to keep pushing forward and branching out. I could see this going for a long time. We’re trying to make it. But I’m going to have that backup plan. And that backup plan is a hard one. I’m going to be a physicist. I like the challenge.”

Taking on challenges for something he loves is nothing new to the guitarist, who graduated high school only a little more than a year ago. Rix said that while he didn’t immediately thrust himself into his guitar playing, he eventually become fascinated by how it worked and became obsessed about learning more about the instrument and how to get better at playing it.

Rix, who was born in Albany, said his family moved to Chicago for a period when he was young, and it was there that he was introduced by his grandfather to the instrument he’d devote himself to. But like many 8-year-olds, it wasn’t the technical side of the guitar that drew him in at first.

“Every boy kid wants to be a rock star,” Rix said. “My grandfather gave me my first guitar, an old ’80s Ibanez, and I was like, ‘I want to play guitar!’ I started playing that for a while, and I just wanted to wail and do whatever a kid wants to do. Then I sort of died off of that and started playing acoustic, and my dad’s friend named Chris helped me with a couple of lessons, how to read tabs and how to do guitar stuff, chords. That’s when I first really got into technique and theory.”

When the family moved back to the Albany area, Rix started taking guitar lessons from Charlie Meyers at Parker Music and delved deeper into the craft of playing — practicing constantly and learning new styles and techniques.

Despite his quest to learn about different things and expand his palette, Rix held a special love for the music that got him excited about playing guitar in the first place — rock and roll.

“It started off like music didn’t really affect me (when I was really young),” said Rix. “It was just like I’d get in the car and listen to music, then it just ended. But back in Chicago, and I think this is why I wanted to play guitar, my dad introduced me to the first band that I actually followed, Guns N Roses. He handed me their greatest hits and said, ‘Here, listen to this.’ I finally listened to ‘Welcome to the Jungle,’ and I was hooked. I heard Slash just shredding and wrecking all those tracks, and I think that’s what interested me in playing guitar, just hearing that fat, really aggressive tone in his guitar.”

That introduction into hard rock led Rix to eventually fall in love with many of the other masters of ’80s riffage, like Angus Young of AC/DC and the more technical players of those days, like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai.

“I like doing all the modes,” Rix said. “I tap a lot on the guitar, and I took that from Steve Vai. Van Halen I guess, too. I learned my tapping from him because my hand is in the same sort of style as his.”

While Rix was gobbling up all he could possible listen to, he wasn’t really doing much other than practicing his craft. Finally Meyer told him about a guy looking for a lead guitarist, which is how he met Days to Come’s Justin Goodson, himself a guitar player and songwriter. Goodson was already trying to form a band with his friend, bassist Taylor Hartley, and the pair needed someone to handle lead guitar.

Rix said that it took only one conversation to find out he and Goodson were kindred spirits with similar tastes in music and that he needed to give the band a shot.

“I think I was near my last lesson at Parker’s, and Charlie was saying some guy was looking for a lead guitarist,” said Rix. “Then I started talking to Justin and he mentioned Shinedown, and at that time I really liked Shinedown. I still do but at that time they were at the very top. I was listening to ‘Enemies’ every day. So he said ‘Shinedown’ and I was like, ‘I’m up for it, let’s play.’”

Rix, Goodson and Hartely started picking up acoustic shows around town at places like Mellow Mushroom and Austin’s, playing mostly covers and some material they had written themselves. After playing a bit with a different drummer, the trio hooked up with Russell Bowden and Days to Come was born.

For Rix, being a part of the band has been a blessing in that the others in the group have challenged him and made him into the player and performer that he is.

“If it wasn’t for Justin and Taylor, I wouldn’t have a stage show presence,” Rix said. “They are the ones that pushed me to get on stage and play. After that, I just kept learning more guitar techniques and guitar tricks and things.”

In fact, his fierce loyalty to his bandmates actually made winning the Friday JAM poll a little difficult for the guitar player, who ended up being the only band member to win his poll category, despite the other members and the band itself being nominated.

“When it was in the early stages, it was all four of us and the band,” said Rix. “We were pushing to the front, and we were all really into it, and then at the last minute I get pushed ahead and then Taylor and Russell started falling behind. And Justin was like 16 votes behind in his category, so that was tough. As for the band, we knew it would be hard going against some of the bigger, more well-known bands like UBL and Highway 55, but we were still hoping.”

Rix said that of all the members in the different categories, he really didn’t expect to be the one to make it to the final and ultimately take home the victory. Despite that, he made sure he used winning the poll to shine a light on the entire band.

“People were saying, ‘Oh you’re a great guitarist,’ which was really weird to hear,” said Rix. “Normally, whenever I’m in any kind of contest, I never win so I didn’t expect much. When it got down to the final four, my hope just skyrocketed, and I wanted it. I was really surprised when I got in the final to be honest. But when I saw that I was the only one of us I was like, ‘Well, at least I get to promote Days to Come.’”

Not only did taking the Friday JAM poll help Rix promote the band, Days to Come itself got another huge boost recently when the band took top honors in the inaugural Albany Battle of the Bands.

Competing against nine other groups from south Georgia, the popular rock outfit was voted the top band by a panel of judges that included a national recording artist, a well-known radio personality, a concert promoter and a record label executive.

The win earned the group a top prize of $2,000 cash, a $3,000 Cryo Stage package from Atlanta FX, a $500 prize package from Albany’s Venum Vapor, a custom snare drum from Outlaw Drums and an option to join Atlanta’s CBM Records, to go along with some serious bragging rights.

“That was absolutely phenomenal,” said Rix of the win. “I feel honored to be chosen as the champions, and I would love to be a part of the next Albany Battle of the Bands.”

In the meantime, however, Rix and Days to Come are hard at work writing material and honing their musical chops at various gigs around southern Georgia, northern Florida and eastern Alabama.

“Right now, we have a bunch of shows lined up,” Rix said. “We always want to have a minimum of four shows lined up a month, one for every weekend. We’re also trying to work on an EP right now, too, with Justin’s dad’s friend who wants to be a producer and has all this equipment. We actually got lucky with him because we can do tracks for free. Near the end of the year, we want to have a fully produced EP out. For the immediate future, we want to branch out so people will know us and want more and crave Days to Come.”

Anyone wanting to learn more about Rix, the band and upcoming shows should check the group out on Facebook or visit their official webpage at www.daystocomemusic.com. - Brad McEwen

Brad McEwen - Albany Herald

ALBANY — After all the rain and wind had come and gone and 10 different acts had laid it all on the line, Albany’s Days to Come emerged victorious in the first-ever Albany Battle of the Bands last weekend at Chehaw Park.

Days to Come, which has been building a steady following in South Georgia over the past year, ultimately took home a top prize of $2,000 cash, a $3,000 Cryo Stage package from Atlanta FX, a $500 prize package from Albany’s Venum Vapor, a custom snare drum from Outlaw Drums and an option to join Atlanta’s CBM Records, to go along with some serious bragging rights.

Coming in right behind Days to Come was Ozell Road, who earned a custom-built guitar from Roberts Instruments as well as other assorted prizes.

“For the Albany Battle of the Bands being the first of its kind, we took a stab in the dark and it ended up being a full success,” said Steve Owens of EGA Productions, which produced the event. “Our staff has been approached by several members of the public and received nothing but good remarks.”

Despite that success, Owens said a storm, which produced winds in excess of 50 mph Saturday afternoon, did create some issues the company had to work around in order to pull everything off.

Saturday’s entertainment had just gotten started with a performances by 3CC, which served as one of the alternates based on online voting, and competition openers Wampus Creek before organizers were forced to cancel the rest of the night’s performances due to safety concerns.

“The weather did play a toll on us Saturday as we evacuated the area just in time,” said Owens. “We ended up cancelling the rest of the day. The Chehaw staff and our staff quickly rescheduled for the next day and everything worked out.”

Owens said all bands participating gave it their all and any would have been worthy winners, but it was Days to Come who proved victorious, drawing immeasurable praise from the judges, including recording artist Scramn Goolsby, songwriter and radio personality Kirsten Underwood, music promoter Austin McAlpin, and Kimberly James, owner of Atlanta’s CBM Records.

Taking top honors came as a complete surprise to the members of Days to Come.

“I’m absolutely humbled that Days to Come won the 2015 Albany Battle of the Bands,” said guitarist/vocalist Justin Goodson. “The scene is full of talent. We’re extremely thankful for the opportunities that we’ve been given and look forward to continuing creating music and playing even more shows.”

Guitarist Brandon Rix echoed those sentiments.

“The event was absolutely phenomenal,” said Rix. “Competing with all of the other amazing bands is something I’ll never forget. I feel honored to be chosen as the champions, and I would love to be a part of the next Albany Battle of the Bands.”

While they were certainly thrilled to be named this year’s winner, each member of Days to Come had nothing but positive things to say about the other groups playing in the competition and what the talent level displayed says about the area music scene.

“Every single band that showed up to perform brought it and showed the judges not to sleep on Southwest Georgia,” said bassist Taylor Hartley. “I’m humbled by the fact that the band won because after seeing a few other bands, I did have my worries. Overall, it was a chance for all the bands to get their moment in the spotlight.”

Russell Bowden, drummer for Days to Come, not only had praise for the other acts but also had praise for the event itself, the efforts of EGA Productions and the support of event sponsors for making the Battle of the Bands a reality.

“I loved getting out there and meeting everyone that came out to support all of the bands,” Bowden said. “I appreciate all of the hard work that EGA put into this festival, and I also appreciate all of the bands that came out. The Outlaw drum kit provided for the show is phenomenal. I’m so glad I was able to use it. I had a blast.”

Owens said EGA Productions, which will be producing more concerts in the area in the near future, has begun planning next year’s event, which is slated for April 29-30, 2016.

“We are already in the planning stages for the 2016 Albany Battle of the Bands as well as some other new events never seen in the area,” said Owens. “So watch out Albany, y’all haven’t seen anything yet.” - Brad McEwen

Brad McEwen - Albany Herald

ALBANY — Albany’s Battle of the Bands got off to a rocking start recently when local artists Days to Come and Mopeland duked it out in the first of a series of pre-battles leading up to the Battle of the Bands finale in April.

Nearly 100 spectators filled Coach’s Bar & Grill Jan. 15 to see the two local favorites showcase their talents by each playing a 45-minute set. Days to Come won the opening coin toss and opted to close the show, following Mopeland’s set.

That date also marked the opening of online voting through www.albanybotb.com, where fans can cast votes for their favorite artists through April 10.

Once voting is concluded, the Top 10 vote-getters will compete in the Battle of the Bands finale April 25-26 at Chehaw Park.

Albany’s Battle of the Bands is being presented by EGA Productions. Steve Owens, who owns EGA along with partner Jerry Funderburk, said that response to the event and the first pre-battle have been tremendous.

“Both bands had a blast, and Wayne McClung (owner of Coach’s) was very happy with the crowd and has extended the invite for Battle of the Bands to come back,” said Owens.

That sentiment was also shared by members of both Days to Come and Mopeland, who said they were not only pleased with the crowd response but really excited to see the Battle of the Bands taking place.

“We really enjoyed participating in the first showcase for the Albany Battle of the Bands,” said Mopeland guitarist/vocalist Ross Smith. “Jerry and Steve did a fantastic job setting up and promoting the event. We’d like to thank Days to Come for proving themselves worthy adversaries as well as Coach’s for hosting such a cool show.”

Days to Come guitarist/vocalist Justin Goodson has similar positive comments about the pre-battle and was especially complimentary of his band’s fellow combatants.

“We had a blast playing at Coach’s with Mopeland,” Goodson said. “We’ve had the opportunity to play with Mopeland a few times and it’s always fun. They’re one of the many talented groups we have here in Albany. We think that the Battle of the Bands is a great way for bands to gain exposure, as well as connect with venues, other bands and promoters. We’ve only had positive vibes since joining the Battle of the Bands.”

The second Battle of the Bands pre-battle between Dre. and Big Josh went down Thursday night at Big Rax Saloon. Voting for the two contestants is ongoing at www.albanybotb.com.

Although the lineups have not been set, EGA has already announced two more pre-battles for Feb. 28 and March 14 at the VFW on Philema Road.

According to Owens, both dates will feature eight to 10 artists performing from noon until 11 p.m. The event is open to all ages until 5 p.m. and restricted to 21-up after that. The cost for both events is $5 at the door, but veterans get in free.

To learn more about the Battle of the Bands and check on upcoming pre-battle scheduling, visit www.albanybotb.com. - Brad McEwen