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2009 Best Country Music Performer 25.75% Renegade*
Others with Votes (more than one):
* On the ballot |
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It's been one heck of a bumpy mechanical bull ride for local country superstars Renegade, but after last week's Whammy victory in the Best Country Music Performer category it looks like John Curran and company are back in the saddle again.
"Right now we're sitting real good for a change," he said. "We've got a nice, steady lineup and we're sticking with the 'Renegade' name, doing what we do best."
One thing the guys from Renegade do best is win Whammys for Best Country Performer. This victory marks their ninth since the category was created in 1997. The other thing Renegade have done well over its roughly 12 years in existence is change members and names -- it's been Renegade, John Curran & Renegade, Dakota Sunrise and Renegade again -- but Curran said things are different now. The band -- Curran on vocals and mandolin, Fred Guild on guitar, Travis Parson on drums (and good looks), Jason Seiffert on bass, Doug Gusching on guitar, Ron Trable on keys and Carlo Renninger on sound -- is apparently on board for the long haul and is setting its sights on recording a new CD of original material.
"I don't know when it will come out, but it'll be a mix of older songs people have been asking us to bring back with a new flavor added to them and brand new material that we've been asked to get radio-ready," Curran said.
A few of those oldies but goodies include "The Outlaw" from the band's debut CD of the same name, "That's the Way It Should Be," "Cowboy and the Devil" and "Sweet Dream Lady." You can hear Renegade play these hits and others from their repertoire almost every weekend at several boot-scooting meccas around town, including the Rusty Spur and Neon Armadillo.
Curran said even after so many years and so many wins, the Whammy still has significance to him and his bandmates.
"It's an eye-opener," he said. "We don't advertise it when we're nominated for something like this. We figure if people want to vote for us, if they're really our fans, they'll do it on their own. We don't want to pressure people, and so the Whammy means people really do enjoy coming and seeing us."
In this year's Country Music Performer contest Renegade beat out their perennial rival, Amarillo, by just five votes. Other strong contenders included Huckleberry Blue and Shakin' Bake.
So loyal Renegade fans who have stuck with the band through thick and thin, name change after name change, can take solace in the fact that not only have their guys snagged another coveted award, but that there will be plenty of opportunities to see them take the stage in the future.
"We're playing and having fun and we ain't going anywhere," Curran said. (Deborah Kennedy) |
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