By Joe Hyde
Publisher
February 18, 2008

The Josh Grider Band has gained traction on the Texas country music scene, and San Angelo can be proud that many of Josh’s dues were paid right here, at Blaine’s Pub, 10 W. Harris St. In May 2007, Grider was touring heavily as a solo acoustic act while he and Walt Wilkins were finishing his sophomore album, “A Million Miles to Go.” According to Josh, his first album, self-titled, was released in 2004, before much was happening on the scene. He and his band toured, but nothing really sparked. In the interim, the original band broke up, and Josh was left with just himself and his guitar to keep his name out there while Wilkins put the finishing touches on the next album.

“A Million Miles to Go” was released in August 2007. Grider’s first hit song, “Crazy Like You,” was on it. It’s about finding a girl to love that is just as crazy as you are. “It’s also about leaving your ego in check,” Josh adds. “Crazy Like You” roared up the Texas Country Music Chart into the top 10. Today it is still in the top 50.

On February 15, Josh’s management released the second single off “Million Miles,” an amped-up and snappy biographical piece called “Stumbling on the Edge of Greatness”:

Self-imposed endurance is the only self-assurance, my friend you’re gonna find today. Taking a chance on maybe, might be the next Johnny Come Lately, but you can’t ever tell.

I’m stumbling on the edge of greatness, I’m tripping, I’m tripping, I’m tripping, I’m bound to fall.
You still don’t know my name, but I might be the biggest thing you ever saw.

I got no flight plan, just a big white van, a trailer and a band and we just ride around,
Hopin’ the people dig our sounds.

Last year, Josh had to pay his own way to get to the annual Texas country music festival in Steamboat Springs. This year, he was invited as a performer. That is a long way to climb in 12 short months. Josh is also traveling outside the state to gain more fans. He and Drew Kennedy took a trip to Virginia and back late last year. “It’s invigorating to play for people who have no idea of who you are,” Grider says.

On the way back, through Nashville, Josh and his three-piece band—Grider on acoustic guitar, Daniel Jones on percussion, and Chris Grady on upright bass—raised some eyebrows, according to Grider. “That is the country-est singer with the most un-country band,” Grider says the big wigs in Nashville noted.

Listen to the Podcast (linked above). Josh will fill you in on the trip to Virginia with Drew Kennedy and playing Steamboat this year. In between the interview segments, you’ll hear Josh sing “Drive You Off My Mind,” a great ballad from his first album. There’s also a live version of his next single, “Stumbling on the Edge of Greatness,” released February 15th. The recording segments were conducted during the sound check at Blaine’s Pub in San Angelo.