Interview with The Fargo Railroad Company: ‘Barroom Band’ is about the power and the glory, those nights on those shows, the moments where you can let loose’

Sheffield-based southern rock/Americana band The Fargo Railroad Company has been busy writing over lockdown, with a view to hitting the studio to bring us some new tracks as soon as they can.

Founded in 2013, the four-piece use a strong southern influenced sound as a vehicle for their songs of barrooms, broken relationships and a little bit of gospel. 

They comprise Jody Davies (vocals and acoustic guitar), Andy P Davison (electric guitar), Andy Dye (bass) and Steven (Smack) McMurray (drums).

Their name came about because Dye always wanted Fargo in their name, according to Davies: ‘I wanted to call it ‘Railroad Company’ because it’s indicative of Americana and because my great grandfather used to work on the rails,’ he said. And while the band has been thorough a few incarnations, initially, they all used to attend the same church.

‘Barroom Band’, a track which they released earlier this year, is ‘about the grind of playing shows’, according to Davies. ‘It’s about the power and the glory, those nights on those shows, the moments where you can let loose,’ he said.

The lyrics attest to that: ‘You’ll never make it boy singing like that, you ain’t from the south and you should loose the hat, cut your hair like a hipster conform to the scene, pay to tour with Pop Idol teen. I’m real sorry this is who we are, you’ll probably only see us in your local dive bar, sorry, no cover songs despite the demands, just a dirty little barroom band.’

Recently, they have ‘snuck a couple of gigs in outdoors in Sheffield’: ‘The last one was a saving grace for me because it felt so much better doing what I should be doing,’ Davies said. In February, they did a two week tour of Spain, performing in cities such as Barcelona and Bilbao.

One track, ‘Pretty Little White Ones’ from their album last year, Under These Lights, is a bit tongue in cheek, according to Davies, but is essentially about a dysfunctional relationship ‘where it makes sense to lie to each other, when it’s easier to pretend’.

As the song goes: ‘Pretty little white ones, honey, I’m licking my lips, ’cause the kisses taste sweeter when she don’t know what I hid, we both know this is a game of Jenga, soon someone will pull the wrong piece, ’til then it’s a theatrical production and she’s the female lead.’

Davies enjoys how people interpret songs: ‘I quite like it when someone offers their vision onto the song, that’s when it comes alive.’ They’ve written ‘a whole bunch’ of songs on lockdown and would love to hit a recording studio: ‘ The issue is money,’ he said. ‘We need to hit the shows and fill up the coffers. At least we’re all gainfully employed, I know some musicians who are stacking shelves.’

He is a big fan of Sheffield deep south/blues band Lightening Threads, as well as eclectic local indie/grunge band Santiago Kings. ‘I really like Emilia Quinn out of Leeds, she’s punchy,’ he said. He’s also a huge fan of American alternative country band American Aquarium, in particular their song ‘I Hope He Breaks Your Heart’.

Springsteen is also a massive inspiration to him. ‘I love Bruce, I really do,’ he said. ‘To tour with him would be amazing. At a more sensible level [laughs], I’ll say Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Live, they’re formidable, they have so much energy. They’re Americana with a full brass section, it’s epic! Their song ‘Son Of A Bitch’ is bloody brill.’

(Photo from left to right: Andy Davison, Andy Dye, Jody and Smack)