Small Town
206 plays
9,197 views
9,197 views
Band/artist history
Smalltown Biography
So, here's the story, the story of Rob Perry and Steve Jenkins, the story of Small Town. It all started back in 1989 in the place where all great bands have their roots: the action section of the local video store. Rob and Steve had been in a few college classes together, but never really paid attention to one another . So much so, that on that day at the video store Rob thought Steve was the local crossing guard in front of his house, and Steve thought Rob was the local weatherman from Channel 2. Once the identity crisis had been cleared up, and the two realized that they were actual classmates at an actual college, the talk of music sprouted between them.
Perry was a classic hard rock player. Jenkins was just as easy to read, though. With his usual five o'clock shadow, pink t-shirt, and white draw string pants, Steve had no trouble hiding his Miami Vice-80's rock roots.
Yet somehow, the two meshed.
However, it was not a pretty mesh. Not the kind of mesh that you see on a Christmas stocking hanging in a candy store. No, it was more like the mesh a person would see on the stockings of a 52 year old hooker trying to turn tricks on South Street in downtown Philadelphia at 4 A.M.
Rob Perry was looking to play classic hard rock while his counterpart, Steve Jenkins, was more interested in more soft rock and alternative sounds. Time and time again the two butted heads on songs, and, time and time again, the two thought about just calling it a day and moving on. Yet through it all, the duo realized that they needed each other. Rob, the music writer extraordinaire, and Steve, the incomparable lyricist, would be nothing without each other.
So, in early 1990, the two turned outward to forward their project. Rob Perry brought in bass player, Jay Hood , and in turn, Jay Hood brought in drummer, Corey Vandiver . Together, the quartet began a band known as Small Town.
In the early 90's, the band found huge success touring the local college circuit, playing gigs from upstate PA all the way down to southern Virginia. The popularity carried Small Town for several years, but in 1994, drummer, Corey Vandiver called it quits to get married and settle down, and bass player, Jay Hood, decided it was time to go back to school , once again leaving Rob Perry and Steve Jenkins on their own.
But this time it was different. Somehow, through playing with the band for four years, Rob and Steve had found a common ground of songwriting. Now the songwriting wasn't for what they liked, but writing for what others would associate with as well . The duo wrote several songs in the mid 90's before collaborating with drummer Steve Foutty and hack songwriter, Shawn Mitchell, in a band known as "The Calm" in 1997. However, just before the band was getting ready to begin a local tour ,Rob Perry's lucrative job moved him away to the Eastern Shore, bringing to an end any hopes that the band "The Calm" may have had.
Without Rob Perry around, Steve Jenkins turned to his songwriting for refuge . Steve found bass player, Mike Ford, whom he collaborated with on two different bands, neither without success.
In the meantime, Rob Perry found true love in the small town of Laurel, Delaware and married his wife, Daniela O'Neal . After a few years in Delaware, Rob and Daniela moved out to the western town of Forrest City, Arkansas where Rob started Hound Sound Productions. And, although, Perry found success with his own instrumental album and local recording artist, Autumn , Perry longed to be back with his longtime songwriting partner, Steve Jenkins.
After two years of non-communication, Rob called Steve to see how he had been, and within moments, the two picked right up where they had left off years earlier. Perry and Jenkins talked about music, songwriting, the old bands, and, yes, a future for Small Town (as well as tax shelters, the Oakland Raiders, and whether or not Joan Rivers was really dead). By way of phone calls, the postal service, and the internet, the two once again began writing songs. They recruited session drummer Jim McCarty (Donna Summer,Little Anthony)
Shortly thereafter, Small Town was reborn."lay it all on me" is pretty good, kinda spooky. it's like a good tune to drive to on a cool summer night on a dark windy road. normally i don't like your stuff, must have been rob. lol.
mikehey doc everything is looking good so far. we wish you luck and we'll see you soon.All comments (3)
206 plays
9,198 views
9,198 views
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Rob
@smalltown
Lookie! There is a message board! I like this one too, but Mike, you haven't heard the cd yet. I think you would like alot of that stuff too. We will need to obtain you a copy....