Biography

The new collection contains 11 songs all of which Gaudet wrote with the exception of the band’s arrangement of Gillian Welch’s gospel “By The Mark.” Clearly Jim Gaudet set out to showcase his band on this album and he wisely positioned “Born To Be Lonesome” as its opener. The song starts out like a vintage film that’s been shot at the slowest possible speed, shutter barely capturing a “train ain’t got no tracks, with no conductor and no ticket to be punched.” Gradually the Railroad Boys come in to focus - kick up the tempo and you feel as though you’re riding on a ghost train to nowhere. In the liner notes Gaudet describes how he got the spark for the song last summer while the Railroad Boys were up in the Adirondack Mountains performing at the “Otis Mountain Music Festival.”

Songs like “Get Up John” and “Railroad Bill” would suggest the band had been busy cooking up their own versions of several beloved traditionals’ when in fact the band borrowed titles that came to mind during the crafting of original songs. In the title track “So Far, So Good” (the group’s token “shout along”) the protagonist takes a romp through a used car lot to a drive-in movie and ends up “stumbling on the real thing” under the stars. The song is infectious and you can’t help but tap your toes and feel good at the end. “Jealous Heart” has one of those hauntingly familiar melodies that allows for the harmony parts to stretch out a bit. Additional tracks include a moody storied song called “This Time,” a companion piece for any long distance venture behind the wheel titled “Drive,” and an accidental composition “Callin’ My Name.”

Jim Gaudet is the kind of man who’s not concerned with cateogory or trend, he’s a man who’s made his life out of following his own compass. This would explain why he chose to keep the project in-house and dedicated to the true live essence of the Railroad Boys sound.

“So Far, So Good” may the band’s first venture on the rails together but the result is a collection of memorable, hard driving, original compositions, featuring authentic three-part harmony and stellar musicianship. The CD captures the spirit of the Railroad Boys while positioning the listener at the starting point of what will surely be a promising journey.

The foursome that make up the Railroad Boys are Jim Gaudet on guitar and vocals, Bobby Ristau on harmony vocals and bass, Sten Isachsen on mandolin and electric guitar and Tim Wechgelaer on harmony vocals and fiddle.

”So Far, So Good” was engineered and produced by Sten Isachesen and mastered by Scott Pettito at NRS Recording Studio.

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From the start of this project, I held the vision that I wanted this release to highlight the outstanding talents of the Railroad Boys. I made a personal decision to not bring in any musician friends from outside the band.
The goal is to reflect the actual sound and presence of what the listener would be hearing from a “live performance”. For this reason, many of the songs are live studio recordings.
It has been something very special for me to have the opportunity to perform and present my songs with all the support that these guys have provided. I have the ultimate respect for each one individually as musicians and friends.
Thanks goes out to them.

Hard-driving, up-tempo acoustic Americana Roots music from the traditions of country, folk, and bluegrass. Jim's creative original story songs (anywhere from food to murder) are the main focus of the band.
Can be heard regionally in the Northeast on all NPR stations.
The Railroad Boy’s sound is steeped in the tradition of “Acoustic Americana Roots Music.” They deliver a dynamic blend of traditional mountain music fused with Gaudet’s diverse contemporary songwriting. Gaudet’s unique percussive rhythms become the perfect springboard for his voice to follow and his melodies are downright infectious. It’s typical during any live performance to see the band’s fans shouting right along on favorites like “So Far So Good.”
Gaudet has assembled a strong cast of characters in the Railroad Boys. Individually the Railroad Boys are Jim Gaudet on guitar and vocals, Bobby Ristau on bass and vocals, Sten Isachsen on mandolin, and Tim Wechelaer on fiddle.