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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Replacement Gives Prophets ‘Much Fuller Sound’

One of Spokane’s strongest-drawing bands, Roadside Prophets, stayed dormant for most of last year. Thus, rumors that the band had broken up began to circulate.

The rumors weren’t true. The band plays El Toreador tonight, Outback Jack’s on Saturday and Ichabod’s North on Thursday.

The absence from local clubs was due to personnel problems. Disbanding wasn’t even on the minds of vocalist-guitarist Dan Gilboy and drummer-vocalist Pat Bulger.

The problem lay with the band’s bassist, Rob Fairburn. Because of his job, Fairburn lived in Yakima and had to commute to Spokane for band practice. That worked for a while but quickly became an inconvenience to the band, especially because Prophets had just released a debut CD it wanted to promote. So Fairburn departed.

“It just got so hard with him living so far away,” said Bulger. “It was a mutual parting.”

Now Roadside Prophets has a new musician, Jonathon Hawkins, supplying the low-rumbling backbone to its sound, which is a melding of country rock, songwriter folk and roots rock.

Hawkins, a classically trained musician, has been a journeyman for most of his career. He spent several years playing in the Athens, Ga., scene. (Ironically, Roadside Prophets seems to have gained much of its influence from the rootsy Athens sound. And we’re not talking about R.E.M.)

After just a few months with Hawkins on board, Bulger and Gilboy say they have witnessed a vast improvement in the band’s sound.

“He’s incredibly accomplished,” said Bulger. “He brings a much fuller sound into the music. I never realized how much the bass sets up the whole backbone of the band.”

In recent months, Roadside Prophets has written scores of songs for its next album. And the band is really eager to get back into the studio.

“We weren’t 100 percent happy with our last project,” Bulger confessed. “We learned a lot from it. We feel that we can get a better sound onto disc.”

Tonight at El Toreador, the band will play unplugged. Saturday it’ll open for Obvious and Prayer Factory at Outback Jack’s. On Thursday, Roadside Prophets will headline at Ichabod’s North.

Elsewhere in the night

Tonight’s all-ages concert at REAL High School, featuring Southern California hard-core band F.Y.P., has been canceled.

Tickets for the Vince Neil concert at the Cotton Club in Hayden, Idaho, on Jan. 23 are on sale for $20 at G&B Select-A-Seat (325-SEAT) and at the Cotton Club. Neil is the former front man of Motley Crue.

There’s a new venue for people who like to catch live music but dislike going to bars. The alternative is called the Riverside Room, 307 W. Riverside.

Tonight and Saturday, local country rock and classic rock band Cornerstone will be on stage from 8 p.m. to midnight. The cover is $3. There will be espresso and a variety of eats, such as sandwiches, available. The Riverside Room also has plenty of seating.

, DataTimes