Gangs are groups of individuals who share a common identity. Take Richmond, Virginia’s River City Gang, for example.  Formed not far from the banks of the capital city’s James River, this talented trio of musicians realized early on that their individual talents fused together on stage to create something much bigger and infinitely more meaningful. 

Anchored by Virginia natives Sam Hayes (lead vocals) and Brian Friedman (guitars/vocals), River City Gang came together in many ways through a mutual admiration for the music and culture they were exposed to in the rural towns around Richmond, known to locals as “River City.”  Hayes grew up toiling as a teenager in the lumberyards of Yorktown, while Friedman recalls a childhood spent helping out in the family general store in historic Short Pump.  The two musicians would cross paths years later through the local music scene, but it wasn’t until meeting bassist David “Phoenix” Karns that the current RCG lineup officially formed in 2011.

“Sam and I grew up not too far from the James River in the towns around Richmond, and something about the small town values and history of that area really helped shape us as performers and musicians, I think,” says Friedman.  “And even though David’s not from Virginia, he clicked right away with what we were doing in the band.  Once we found out that he was actually raised in small town near the Mississippi River in St. Louis off of Virginia Avenue, it all kind of made sense.  RCG just seems like the natural place for all of us to be.”

Although River City Gang spends almost as much time in Nashville these days as it does back home in Richmond, the band’s first single, “This Old Town,” speaks directly to the people and places they grew up with.  The song’s video made its way to Country radio in late August, and the music video was picked up almost immediately by video outlets like The Country Network and CMT.com.

“‘This Old Town’ is really kind of an anthem for us,” says Hayes.  “It talks about the reality of progress, but also about never forgetting where we come from.  It summarizes what RCG is all about - respecting roots and tradition, but also moving forward."

”It's kind of like when you come home from a tour,” the enthusiastic singer continues.  “It seems like there's always new street lights popping up, new buildings, farm pastures turning into shopping centers...Tons of change, except that name is still the same.  Our songs let the memories live on."

Despite their small town roots, River City Gang is no bar band.  In what the band calls a quest to develop   “Arena Country,” RCG has already established itself as a Roots, Rock and Country hybrid that knows how to entertain an audience.  Echoes of iconic acts like the Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd filter through the RCG sound, while artists like Gary Allan and Montgomery Gentry are evidence of the band’s more contemporary direction and mainstream appeal.  Having shared stages with acts from ZZ Top to Phil Vassar, the trio has no reservations about putting on an electrifying show, no matter the circumstances.

“We want to put on a country music show that feels  like a rock concert experience,” stresses Friedman.  “And we’ve got the singer to do it.  Sam may be the youngest guy in the band, but he’s as experienced and natural a front man as I’ve ever seen.  He’s got the talent, the voice, the charisma - and that million dollar smile.  The fact that he’s still as humble and sincere as the day he got started in this business is really pretty amazing.”

Twenty-four-year-old Hayes explains it this way.  “We did a show with Loretta Lynn one time and learned a valuable lesson from her.  She said, ‘The fans pay good money to come in the front door.  We just sneak in and out through the back.’  I think that says a lot.  We want our fans to leave a River City Gang show knowing that we’re as supportive of them as they are of us.  It’s their show, not ours!”

With a slate of tour dates and festivals quickly filling up the rest of 2011, the band is hoping to put the finishing touches on their upcoming album in time for a fall or winter release.  In the meantime, fans can hear some of RCG’s new music on television programs like Oxygen Network’s Bad Girls Club. The group also inked a licensing deal earlier this year with Viacom, an entertainment media company whose brands include television networks MTV, CMT, Spike, Nickelodeon and others.

“Our music is really song-driven.  It’s about life experiences,” says Friedman.  “I grew up with old-school Country music playing in my parent’s little general store.  I’ve watched two-lane byways turn into eight-lane highways right outside the front door.  We write what we know and what we’ve experienced.  It’s reality – the good and the bad.”

“We truly believe in the 100 percent theory,” confirms Karns.  “We want excellence across the board.  Every show has to be better than the last, every song, every recording - each has to be better than the one before. We have a genuine appreciation of the fans.  They are River City Gang, too!”

Visit www.RiverCityGang.com for more information.