Comments on: Josh Williams joins Rhonda and the Rage

By: Bart

Bart — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:35:25 +0000

Whether that’s true or not, and it may be, people can change over time, and i hope josh has done so because the life he was believed to be living is no life for a “Family man”! i believe Rhonda has had this planned for a couple months, knowing that getting Josh to rejoin, and this time, keep his private life just that would not have been too difficult knowing that Josh wasn’t earning enough to support his new family. This is a money deal, pure ad simple! While Ben, being so gifted he never had to work his way up the ladder, only new of the demands of playing with top Notch professionals. Josh, also being very gifted, came on the scene several years before Ben and had mad a name for himself as being one of the best and as such the only available premier Guitar player Rhonda That would Bring her a bigger following as she also gained Josh’s fan base as well. I’m a successful business man and if Money is the most important thing to one in life, this move makes perfect sense. I know they will be a band of great talent, but they already were.
This is business and something I understand very well. I can’t agree nor disagree with this move because Rhonda’s motive is what would decide that. I can only say that, based on my business model, why change something that isn’t broken? I know for fact, Ben was liked and Did his Job, all that was asked of him without question. I also know, and I think that most would have to agree, he held down the Guitar spot, actually incrementally increasing the level of musicianship over the past 4years (that’s not a statement that says he’s a better musician than Josh)! Now, Typical of Rhonda’sStyle, Ben’s out and Josh (who by-the-way is friends with Ben and I would say there’s absolutely no animosity between them whatsoever) is back in. I would expect him to do the same in the spot he’s in as I just mentioned Ben Doing. I know them both, they’re both EXCELLENT musicians and I know Ben wishes Josh the Best as Josh does for Ben.
Rhonda will always be Rhonda—Always trying to please her fans while being one of the best marketing musicians in the business today and also a voice that’s very special.
With all that’s taken place over the past month in the RV&R Machine, there’s one thing you must all believe…ALL INVOLVED WILL BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE THIS MOVE WAS MADE (does not take into account any residual for people directly affected but who are not involved in the change over…Josh’s old band members). I wish everyone the best and Merry Christmas!

By: Lee Roy

Lee Roy — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:18:35 +0000

Exactly why we all have to stick together and demand a half decent pay for a gig to stay alive!!!

By: Darren Sullivan-Koch

Darren Sullivan-Koch — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:38:56 +0000

I am hardly the first to do so. Part of the great thing about BluegrassToday is that it gives us fans—and the musicians, presenters, and labels that bring us bluegrass—an opportunity to dispel or confirm such rumblings. For instance, I am glad to hear that Josh has set his life right…I didn’t know that. Good for him!

By: grasser

grasser — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:27:23 +0000

I don’t know if I buy the “too many bands” theory. There have ALWAYS been many bluegrass bands. Seem like the ones that work to stay on top, do just that. Stay on top. I think it’s the idea of just six or seven bands that ARE on top and that is all the promoters want to book. I’m kind of getting tired of them myself but, I don’t put the beans on their tables either.

By: Lynwood Lunsford

Lynwood Lunsford — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:01:15 +0000

Well grasser, I wasn’t implying that the other members of Josh’s band weren’t good….but they certainly have not reached the level that Josh has.

You pointed out the success that the band enjoyed in the last 4 years. But doesn’t it make you wonder why such a good band, with seemingly so much going for it, can’t survive? I don’t think it is because of Josh……I still believe it’s a product of too many bands for too few gigs. For the promoter, it’s a buyers market and they can get very good groups, for very little money. And no matter how good your business model is, you simply can’t continually play for little or no money.

Today’s bands have to travel further for less money than ever before, just to get shows to play. That is why I predict more disbanding and consolidating in the future. And maybe that is not a totally bad thing!

By: Tom Feller

Tom Feller — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:06:29 +0000

I agree Chris. People must realize sometimes business decisions are made out of necessity for the business to survive. It’s not always personal. Because of the success that Rhonda’s enjoyed, it should be clear by now to everyone that there’s a good reason behind that. She has a great business model and part of that involves change, from time to time. Rhonda and Josh are two of my favorite people in this business and they deserve the success they’ve both worked hard to acheive. Ben is a great talent and the opportunity he experienced with Rhonda will help lead him to something great, in the future. I look at every opportunity I’ve experienced in a positive light and leave the negativity with those sitting on the sidelines.

By: grasser

grasser — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:59:11 +0000

So, are “exceptional” pickers like Josh, and yes, he is indeed exceptional, supposed to stay sidemen all their careers? From what I had seen on YouTube, Josh had a great band and they had also won Emerging Artist of the Year award from the IBMA and was in the process of finishing a CD that was produced by the great banjo man, J.D. Crowe.

I wish Josh all the good fortune that will come his way but to imply that his other band members weren’t up to the task is a little much.

By: Chris Hill

Chris Hill — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:40:21 +0000

I don’t think folks should post “word on the street” rumblings if they know don’t know if it’s true. If anyone has seen one of Josh’s shows lately, they would know that he admits making some mistakes in his life, he realizes that and that he has also turned his life around. If God can forgive the man and any other person for that matter, I know I can do the same.

By: Lynwood Lunsford

Lynwood Lunsford — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:02:53 +0000

As I’ve been lamenting on other Bluegrass chat sites, there are just simply too many bands these days, for the number of decent paying gigs. Josh Williams Band is another victim of this trend. And like many others, Josh is an exceptional picker and singer, but was never able to retain personnel that matched up to his caliber of musicianship. I predict there will be others to follow.

Best of luck to Josh…..and to Ben……as they undertake their next endeavors!

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