Dusty Rhodes and the River Band is comprised of singer/keyboardist Dustin Apodaca, singer/guitarist Kyle Divine, violinist/singer Andrea Babinski, guitarist/singer Edson Choi and drummer Eric Chirco. Palace and Stage is an album of timeless songs ranging from the sweetly soulful “Andy,” to the up-tempo rock anthems “All One,” and “Blind Lead the Blind” – which Apodaca says “…was originally about my personal economic hardship, but now everybody’s hurting. Having money and then out of the blue having nothing. You start with respect and relevance, and then you’re forgotten and thrown away. Ultimately you’re in charge of your own destiny.” Other album highlights include the meditative “So Low” and the confessional “Sorry For Now” with Apodaca’s authentic lead vocals rising over an orchestrated wave made of lush harmonies, violin and keyboards.

“We don’t really have a theme for this record. If there is a common thread from song to song it’s the power of perception; like seeing a pair of feet shuffling behind the curtain – there’s always a hint of smoke and mirrors to what we can take so seriously. To me personally, that’s what ‘Palace and Stage’ refers to,” says Edson.

The group’s music defies easy categorization but boasts the freewheeling approach that draws natural comparisons to Arcade Fire, The Decemberists and “Exile On Main St”- era Rolling Stones. The band has toured the States with Gogol Bordello, I’m From Barcelona, Flogging Molly and Blind Melon among others, and most recently in the UK with Dirty Pretty Things. In 2008, Q Magazine dubbed the band one of the “Next Big Things” and named the single “Dear Honey” from their debut album as one of the “50 Songs To Download”.

Dusty Rhodes and the River Band have spent the past three years playing everywhere from the local dive bar to the Astoria Theatre in London, sleeping on couches, and giving their hearts and souls to every performance. Palace and Stage is the natural progression from their 2007 debut album, First You Live.