Jam Band Road Waves’ Latest Single ‘Frog Rock’ Leaps Into A 10-Minute Musical Adventure + Announces Fall Tour
How many songs do you know about a frog on a rock? Not even Kermit sang about the simplicity of hanging out on your pad, but the latest single from Ontario-based jamband Road Waves strays no further.
“Frog Rock” is as advertised, outlining the story of a frog who can’t wait to go to his favorite rock and enjoy everything it and its surroundings have to offer. In typical Road Waves fashion, the bouncy tune lasts for nearly 10 minutes, with loads of captivating melodies and harmonies interwoven into the consistently positive and upbeat sound.
When he wrote the song, Road Waves vocalist and guitarist Ji Sharp said its playfulness was a way for him to cope.
“I wrote ‘Frog Rock’ with the intention of bringing more lighthearted fun into the world,” he explained. “As life became increasingly dark and challenging for me, I felt compelled to create something that had a no hidden agenda or profound message – although one could argue that the absence of such is a statement itself.”
Turning to light to shield from darkness, Sharp penned lyrics that infuse a child-like wonder with nuances that adults can appreciate.
“Hoppin’ in the trees, and bouncing on the canopy
Sittin’ on the forest floor, waiting for my morning feed
Glistening in the breeze, Diptera in the atmosphere
Lots of things to eat, I finally found my place to be”
That was intentional, Sharp said. He wanted to make something that anyone could find solace in.
“While many musicians choose to write songs about love or heartbreak, I wanted to create a story that could be enjoyed by everyone,” he said. “From toddlers to the elderly, I aimed to craft a tale centered around an endearing frog who simply wants to revel in his time on his little rock.”
One day after Road Waves released ‘Frog Rock’ on Spotify, the streaming platform added it to its editorial playlist, “Modern Jam Bands,” and in three months, the song has amassed more than 15,000 streams and 3,000 views on YouTube. Perhaps Sharp’s plan is working.
Road Waves is about much more than streams, though. Since its founding in 2014, performing live has been central to the band’s identity. Over the last five years especially, hitting the road has been regular for the group, extensively touring across Canada and the United States with energetic, soulful, and funky shows that consistently push the bar.
When the pandemic forced worldwide shutdowns in 2020, Road Waves began doing concerts over livestream and used video to stay in touch with the fans they would usually interact with in person. Near the end of the 2020 summer, the band successfully engineered a social-distanced drive-in concert, further testament to the energy it puts into delivering live music for its listeners.
“Our shows are built on a philosophy of playing from our hearts and open minds, making for an exciting journey with a huge sound,” the band said. “The synergy with our audience is apparent from the start, and each time a song is played, it grows and develops as a better version of itself – much like the living being that is music.”
Welcome back! Tell us what you’ve been up to since the last song.
Thank you! Right after the release of Small World and our Fall tour in September of 2023, we parted ways with our longtime drummer Matt Maxwell. We were on the hunt for a new member to complete our band. It was a bummer, but I spent the whole winter searching for the perfect replacement while we took a break from shows. We were starting to lose hope until out of the blue, Phil Bosley reached out to us in March of this year.
Within a week, Phil sent us his audition videos and we knew he was the missing puzzle piece we were looking for. We spent four months rehearsing intensely, making sure Phil was up to speed with all our songs, and finally, in July, we were ready to rock the stage again.
Since then, we’ve played more than 40 shows in 6 provinces and 8 states with this amazing new lineup. In August, we hit the road and headed to the West Coast, bringing the house down as far west as Vancouver and Seattle. And just recently, we returned from an unforgettable adventure on the East Coast. It’s been an incredible year of touring, especially since we’ve gotten to perform in cities we had never been to before. Despite some tour cancellations due to wildfires, hurricanes, and flash-flooding, and a couple of van issues, we couldn’t be happier with how this project is turning out so far. It’s been a crazy journey, but our new formation has brought so much musicality and excitement to our music.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Frog Rock” – it’s almost 10 minutes long!
Writing and recording this song was an absolute blast! We actually wrote it back in 2021 when Yo (our old bass player) and Matt were still part of the band. We were in the middle of lockdowns and feeling pretty down about not being able to play shows, so we decided to create something lighthearted to brighten our days. We came up with the silliest concept we could think of and even did some research on frog facts to add some poetic elements to the lyrics. It was such a fun and whimsical experience!
Recording the song took some time but it was just as enjoyable as the writing process. Working with Russ Donohue at Stonehouse Recording is always a smooth and fulfilling experience. His studio facility is gorgeous, and I’ve developed a great friendship with Russ over the years. His attention to detail and commitment to quality are truly next level.
We initially laid down the drums and bass at the end of 2021, but due to budget constraints, we put the song on hold while we searched for a new bass player. In 2022, we hit the road again and between our tour stops, I would head into the studio with the hired studio musicians to add some magical layers to the song. It was a dream team of people I had to work on this tune. I’ll never forget the time I spent with Patrick Smith, recording the sax lines and being blown away by his incredible harmonic approach and intonation. Every take he delivered was outstanding! Working with Joel Visentin (keys/organ) was equally amazing and brought so much color to the recording. Everyone’s talent and skill made it so difficult when it came to choosing the final take because they were all so good.
Overall, the process of writing and recording this song was an absolute joy. It brought some much-needed light and fun during those dark times of lockdown. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented musicians and to have Russ Donohue guiding us through the recording process. I’m happy the song is being received so well and all I can hope is that it will bring a smile to everyone who listens, just like it does for us.
In a world where it’s almost impossible to keep people interested in a new song after a few seconds, you’ve gone against the grain for this one.
I reckon my song could be way more popular, especially on the radio, if I had kept it shorter. But hey, I’m more tapped into the underground music/jamband scene, and they (as well as myself) dig longer, jam-packed songs rather than those neatly tailored for airplay. Maybe I’ll drop a radio edit sometime in the future, but the truth is, I enjoy crafting songs that reflect my artistic style, and I don’t really worry about making them radio-friendly. It’s the last thing on my mind, you know?
Tell us more about the jam scene where you are.
The jam scene in Ontario is absolutely incredible. Though not as big as its American counterpart, it radiates with a soulful and vibrant energy. Road Waves owes a great deal of our musical growth and development to the immense pool of talented individuals and the beautiful community that surrounds us. We are grateful for the mutual embrace between us and our fans, who have played a significant role in our journey.
Throughout the year, Ontario hosts a multitude of festivals that cater to our love for jam-filled music. Events like the Come Together Music Festival and Big Railroad Fest (formerly known as the Big Rock Music Festival) bring together local talent and fans in celebration of the jam scene. Being part of such a supportive and thriving scene is an absolute blessing to us, and we count ourselves fortunate.
Favourite jamband, and who should we listen to (besides you, of course!) if we’ve never checked out the genre before?
If you haven’t delved into the jamband genre yet, there are two absolute must-listens that will open up a whole new world of musical exploration: Grateful Dead and Phish. The Dead set the foundation for the entire scene, starting all the way back in 1965 with their infamous acid tests performances. The combination of being the first band to allow audience members to tape their shows, as well as never playing the same setlist, gained them a devoted community of die-hard ‘deadheads’ who traveled far and wide to catch their ever-changing shows.
What captivated me about the Dead was their incredible ability to take on a song so differently each time they played it. You never knew what gems they would unleash, keeping each show fresh and exhilarating. On the other hand, Phish takes this element to another level. Their stage shows are epic spectacles, complete with themed events, immersive stories, and inside jokes that draw you in. Their music and group improvisations are completely next-level.
As far as more contemporary flavors: I recently stumbled upon the fresh sounds of Dopapod, Eggy, and Neighbour. Prepare to be transported to another dimension when you give these bands a listen. Their talent and creativity are off the charts and I hope to catch them live on the circuit in 2024.
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