Sam is the lead singer of River City Gang.
Gangs are groups of individuals who share a common identity. Take Richmond, Virginia’s River City Gang, for example. Formed not far from the banks of the capital city’s James River, this talented trio of musicians realized early on that their individual talents fused together on stage to create something much bigger and infinitely more meaningful.
Anchored by Virginia natives Sam Hayes (lead vocals) and Brian Friedman (guitars/vocals), River City Gang came together in many ways through a mutual admiration for the music and culture they were exposed to in the rural towns around Richmond, known to locals as “River City.” Hayes grew up toiling as a teenager in the lumberyards of Yorktown, while Friedman recalls a childhood spent helping out in the family general store in historic Short Pump. The two musicians would cross paths years later through the local music scene, but it wasn’t until meeting bassist David “Phoenix” Karns that the current RCG lineup officially formed in 2011.
“Sam and I grew up not too far from the James River in the towns around Richmond, and something about the small town values and history of that area really helped shape us as performers and musicians, I think,” says Friedman. “And even though David’s not from Virginia, he clicked right away with what we were doing in the band. Once we found out that he was actually raised in small town near the Mississippi River in St. Louis off of Virginia Avenue, it all kind of made sense. RCG just seems like the natural place for all of us to be.”
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Artist info obtained from public profile, artist website or social media
Sam is the lead singer of River City Gang.
Gangs are groups of individuals who share a common identity. Take Richmond, Virginia’s River City Gang, for example. Formed not far from the banks of the capital city’s James River, this talented trio of musicians realized early on that their individual talents fused together on stage to create something much bigger and infinitely more meaningful.
Anchored by Virginia natives Sam Hayes (lead vocals) and Brian Friedman (guitars/vocals), River City Gang came together in many ways through a mutual admiration for the music and culture they were exposed to in the rural towns around Richmond, known to locals as “River City.” Hayes grew up toiling as a teenager in the lumberyards of Yorktown, while Friedman recalls a childhood spent helping out in the family general store in historic Short Pump. The two musicians would cross paths years later through the local music scene, but it wasn’t until meeting bassist David “Phoenix” Karns that the current RCG lineup officially formed in 2011.
“Sam and I grew up not too far from the James River in the towns around Richmond, and something about the small town values and history of that area really helped shape us as performers and musicians, I think,” says Friedman. “And even though David’s not from Virginia, he clicked right away with what we were doing in the band. Once we found out that he was actually raised in small town near the Mississippi River in St. Louis off of Virginia Avenue, it all kind of made sense. RCG just seems like the natural place for all of us to be.”
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Artist info obtained from public profile, artist website or social media
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