Jeremy Darrow

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here, but there’s been a lot going on! I took some time off from Detour over the spring and summer for two tours with bay-area progressive acoustic band Front Country. Over the course of ten weeks on the road we played dozens of shows all across the country, including Merlefest and Grey Fox, both major festivals. It was one of the most musically rewarding and personally gratifying experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have and I’m happy to share that as I write this I’m flying to the west coast to start fall tour as the newest member of Front Country. More on that in a moment.

It’s not an easy decision to leave one job you really like, no matter how appealing a prospective new job might be. Feelings of loyalty and uncertainty can raise serious questions in your mind, even when the change is clearly the right choice. It’s made more difficult when that job is in a band. By necessity, you become closer with fellow band mates than with office mates. Bands spend countless hours together rehearsing, performing and traveling. During the course of all this, you regularly leave yourself exposed to one another in ways that office mates almost never do. For better or worse, band mates almost always develop strong feelings about one another. That makes the choice to move an especially hard one.

For a number reasons it was clear that joining Front Country was the right choice for me; but it was not an easy choice or one I made hastily. I am extremely grateful for my time with Detour. We made a great and successful record together, were nominated for an IBMA award, played good music all over the country and we became great friends. It has been an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I’m particularly thankful to Detour’s bandleader, Jeff Rose, for the characteristic grace he showed when I called to tell him that the time had come for me to move on and during my final performances with the band. We parted on the best of terms and I know that they’ll continue to enjoy great success.

Having made the decision, I’m thrilled to be playing with Front Country. Playing with this new band doesn’t just mean a change of musical style, though it certainly means that. It also means an exciting change of trajectory. There are many great things on the horizon, as we start fall tour and finish recording our upcoming EP I’ll have lots more to share. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading.

JD