43
The River’s Own ready to explode on the scene
By John Benson
A time bomb waiting to happen is how Youngstown resident Andy Timko describes his passion for music.
It was a few years ago when his solo acoustic project started collecting members. Before long, the result was The River’s Own, featuring Timko (lead vocals, guitar), Aaron Sensabaugh (lead guitar, backing vocals), Marino November (drums), Paul Haller (bass guitar), Jack Breegle (guitar) and Ryan Blakeman (keyboard).
“It’s a country-rock type of band that has been together since New Year’s Eve 2013,” said Timko, a 2007 McDonald High School graduate. “Our first show was with the Robbie Jay Band. They kind of were the example of how you can get involved in a country-rock type of thing locally.”
“Those guys kind of showed us that you can do whatever the heck you want. They were like an unapologetic alt-country band. We sort of gravitated more toward the mainstream country-rock side of things, but they sort of definitely set the example for us as to how you can do it successfully on a local scale. And we have a long way to go.”
Soon after that debut gig, the outfit opened up for national act Jeff Allen in Canton and never looked back. Over the past two years, The River’s Own has been playing out as much as possible with audiences gravitating to its Brantley Gilbert-sounding material.
Timko is excited about the group’s debut effort. The EP, which is free online, has been in the works for a while and includes material that has evolved over time into its current form.
“We didn’t sit down and try to work songs for the record,” Timko said. “We just kind of went to the studio and recorded what we always do. Material-wise, subject matter-wise, they lean more towards country songs.
“For instance, ‘Carolina’ is like your lost-love ballad. That’s one before we recorded; it was recognized in American Songwriter Magazine. There’s also ‘Running Red Lights,’ which is an upbeat rock song.”
Not only has The River’s Own performed with national acts such as Outshyne, Sundy Best, Zach Paxson, Simone Felice and The Cheaters, but the group appeared at the 2014 Country Energy Fest in Carrollton.
Though The River’s Own proudly calls Northeast Ohio home, Timko acknowledges there are limitations he’s experiencing as an original country-rock act.
“I think it’s a challenge for any original band just to be in the Youngstown scene,” Timko said. “We have some venues that support us like Cedars, but it’s definitely a challenge, and it’s a labor of love. Everybody does it because they can’t not do it.”
Considering The River’s Own trafficks in a Music City sound, how long will it be before the act considers moving to Nashville?
“That’s a time bomb, but I couldn’t tell you,” Timko said. “We talk about it all of the time. We’re going to do as much as we can here until that time bomb goes off.”