Think sipping cold iced-tea under the shade of a magnolia tree on a hot sweltering day at a dusty Mississippi crossroads, locusts humming as banjos and steel guitar in the background play along with a heavy bass-line. That’s what happens to me every time I hear the new CD by Austins Bridge—their bluegrass / jazz / country / soul / Rascal Flatts / contemporary Christian / “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” sound is a Rocky-Road blend of music that sweeps you up and takes you places. It appeals to younger country and rock fans, as well as older adults who like bluegrass and country. And now the Alle-Kiski area will have opportunity to be swept up and on-down this new country road as Austins Bridge brings their unique and fresh sound to Vandergrift’s historic Casino Theatre, this September 1st at 7pm.

• WATCH AN AUSTINS BRIDGE VIDEO CLIP BY CLICKING BELOW:
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/ABVideo_Small.mov

• LISTEN TO SONG CLIPS BELOW AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE

The band’s recently-released CD, Austin Bridges, has already topped the charts. Their single, "He’s In Control" has already been at the number one spot on the Radioactive Airplay Top 100 Chart and the Gospel charts. Their song “I See Daylight” was released to CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) radio in mid-June. It hit 64 by the end of June and will very likely break the CCM Top-40 by July’s end. The group also appeared on Hot List, a music video showcase on the Gospel Music Channel.

The century-old Casino Theatre, in Vandergrift, will be the stage for Austins Bridge’shigh-energy performance. It will be a very cool mix of a new sound on a historical site; the Casino Theater (also the home of the National Vaudeville Museum), where Hoagy Carmichael, the Lone Ranger, Tex Ritter, ex-President William H. Taft, Mickey Rooney and the Three Stooges played. Casino Theatre President Allan Walzak says, "This [the theater and stage] is really where it happened. People can come and stand on the same boards, and see where audiences sat all dressed up [and] actors dressed in real vintage vaudeville-era dressing rooms.” The Casino Theatre continues to present plays, bands and other groups throughout the year.

Austins Bridge is Mike Kofahl, Justin Rivers and Jason Baird. Though some compare their soaring vocals and country sound with Rascal Flatts, whatever unintentional resemblance there may be is really a result of who these men are. They each come from diverse musical backgrounds. Jason, from Austin, TX, is a graduate of Nashville’s Belmont University (closely connected to the Nashville country and gospel music scenes). Grounded in rock and jazz, he toured extensively with a group years before Austins Bridge. “I was brought up around the jazz ensemble kind of stuff,” Jason says. “I love tight harmonies.”

Mike’s musical roots were planted in country music, with singers like Bryan White. “He’s an amazing songwriting and singer. I also grew up listening to the Oak Ridge Boys,” says Mike, who was raised in Atlanta and Mobile. “My parents loved southern gospel music. They would listen to the Gaither Vocal Band, all the time.”

Before Austins Bridge, Justin led worship at a Austin, TX church pastored by Randy Phillips of CCM’s Phillips, Craig & Dean. He had sung on the road with a Southern Gospel group since he was 11 years old. But Justin grew up outside Mobile, Alabama as a part of a multicultural church, where he was exposed to a lot of black gospel music. “Black gospel was a big part of my life—anything with soul in it,” He notes, with Donnie McClurkin, J Moss and Kirk Franklin some of his favorite artists. Justin can play several different instruments such as piano, drums, guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle.

Their name, Austins Bridge, not only takes into account the bridging of different musical styles but also reflects their goal: bridging the gap between Southern Gospel, Country and CCM. Jason, noting how different ages each lean towards different musical genres, says, “We thought there should be something to bring multiple generations [together.]”

The resulting cross-generational sound of Austins Bridge is a “little R and B, soulful, electric eclectic blend,” as Jason describes it. Mike calls it “contemporary pop country bluegrass with a little bit of funk.” “All those things together kinda come up with a little bit of what we’ve got,” Jason says. “There’s not really a group already out there that sounds like who we are… It’s one of those God things where He put three people together. It’s not anything we have to work at to figure out. It just kind of happens… If you like music—country music or pop—it doesn’t matter what kind, you’ll want to come out. It will be something unique.” If nothing else, you might just wind up thinking about sippin’ cold iced-tea in the shade at a dusty crossroads.

Austins Bridge, presented by Inspired Ministries ( http://www.akinspired.com ), appears @ Vandergrift’s Casino Theatre Saturday evening, September 1st @7pm. This looks to be a hot ticket with participation open to local churches. Tickets are a very reasonable $10.00 a seat. Seating will be limited so get your tickets soon.

Get tickets or more info from Steve Myers @ 724-568-1566 or e-mail steve@akinspired.com or get tickets online at the itickets.com order form page ( https://www.itickets.com/order1/index.html?id=186497&ok=1 ) or the itickets.com band page ( http://www.itickets.com/artists/16361.html ) Also visit http://www.austinsbridge.com or http://www.akinspired.com where you can find links to song clips and a video of Austins Bridge.

• OR WATCH AN AUSTINS BRIDGE VIDEO CLIP BY CLICKING BELOW:
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/ABVideo_Small.mov
  
  

• OR HEAR AUSTINS BRIDGE SONG CLIPS BY CLICKING BELOW:

• He Will Carry You
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/carryyou.mp3
• He's In Control
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/hesincontrol.mp3
• Dry Bones
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/drybones.mp3
• His Burden's Light
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/hisburdens.mp3
• I Am Free
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/iamfree.mp3
• This Is Love
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/thisislove.mp3
• I See Daylight
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/iseedaylight.mp3
• Life's Too Short
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/lifeistoo.mp3
• History Turned The Page
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/history.mp3
• What I Still Believe
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/whatistill.mp3
• Jesus, You Are
  http://www.tanalononagency.com/austins/jesusyouare.mp3