Music Notes | Battle brings bands, outlaws

Crossroad Station, a country/southern rock outfit from Columbus, Ohio, is one of 24 bands chosen for the Outlaw Nation ReverbNation Battle of the Bands to be staged on the oceanfront in Myrtle Beach all summer long. Like most bands with original material, they hope this will be the stepping stone that rockets them to stardom.

The band was chosen for a July 24 slot from among more than 1,200 country, Americana and Southern rock bands with ReverbNation profiles, but it is the upstart audio streaming service Outlaw Nation that really takes top billing.

According to Outlaw Nation’s press materials, the streaming, country, commercial-free radio began in Myrtle Beach in 2013, and is spreading across the U.S.

“Bar owners disgusted with the goofy teen pop being released as ‘country’ was the inspiration for this streaming of so-called ‘real’ country music, which includes outlaw, Texas red dirt, southern rock, and bluegrass.”

For this battle of the bands, five acts have been performing each night on July 3 and 10, with five more performing each night on July 17, 24, 31 and Aug. 7.

The winning acts from each night will perform at Oktoberfest on Oct. 10, where the grand prize winner will be crowned with cash, musical gear and publicity. Will it be Crossroad Station or one of the other 24 acts competing? Local judges will make the determination.

“We hope to win it,” laughed guitarist/vocalist John “JB” Dunfee, who had no real explanation for why he isn’t “JD,” instead of “JB.” “It’s just what they call me,” he said, “guess I’m stuck with it.” Dunfee is joined by Erick McKinniss (lead vocals), Robert Allen (bass, vocals), Jared Davies (drums) and John Dunfee (the first), who is Dunfee the second’s father. Got it? The band took a few minutes between sets at a gig in Ohio to speak with us last week.

“We’ve been together almost five years,” said JB. “Right now this is a full-time gig for us.”

The band travels by bus mostly through Ohio with occasional jaunts into Georgia, and the heart of country music, Nashville, but it’s the Myrtle Beach show July 24 that they’re hoping opens new doors.

“We submitted an application through ReverbNation like thousands of other bands,” said Allen, “and it all started from there. They’re down to the top 24 out thousands of submissions. We’ve never played Myrtle Beach before, and we hear there’s a great music scene.”

What might visitors to the oceanfront stage near Peaches Corner (Ninth Avenue North) expect?

“We’ll play our 45-minute set around 7 p.m. [competition starts at 5 p.m.] We basically play what the crowd wants to hear, and at a regular show that might include some contemporary and pop country [covers], along with our original music,” JB said.

At the competition, Crossroad Station will perform original material off an upcoming EP they hope to have ready by the July date.

“If we win we’ll come back to Myrtle Beach in October to play in the finals at Oktoberfest,” said JB.

With band members ranging in age from 25 to 55, Crossroad Station says they’re a “melting pot,” and realize this is a “young man’s game,” but that doesn’t deter them.

“We’re fortunate to have developed a little following and have some really great fans. So who knows?” JB said.

Find details of the battle of the bands at www.outlawnation.com and look under the “Concerts” link. Hear samples of Crossroad Station at the band’s Facebook and ReverbNation pages.

This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Music Notes | Battle brings bands, outlaws."