Photo By: Kristin Barlowe

In these days, many bands leave a major record label. Few continue to successfully create music – even fewer come out with an album in which they feel they hit their stride.

Southern rockers Ingram Hill are one of the few.

Hailing from Memphis, Tenn., the band will bring their feel-good rock’n’roll show to Jammin Java in Vienna, Va. on October 22 to promote their third album, “Look Your Best.”

Guitarist Phil Bogard, who has known the lead singer and guitarist, Justin Moore, since kindergarten, began playing guitar in third grade after seeing a classmate play guitar for their class. He continued playing through middle and high school, eventually ending up in a college cover band with Moore, honing their skills as they played for schools in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) territory.

It was during this time that they found the name for their band. “To go to… any of these SEC schools, you take Highway 78,” said Bogard in an interview with the NOVA Fortnightly. The exit before their exit to return home was called “Ingram Mill,” and with a slight modification, their name was born. “When you see that exit, you know you’re home,” Bogard added.

The theme of coming home also applies to their new album. After a split with Universal Records, Bogard noted they returned to a more simplified way of writing and recording their album. Part of this process was reuniting with Rick Beato, the producer of their first album, “June’s Picture Show.”

“Cold In California was the real major label experience of a whole lot of cooks in the kitchen,” Bogard said. “With [Look Your Best] it was back to basics.”

Part of going back to basics meant entering an intense period of songwriting for Moore and Bogard. Bogard called the situation “competitive in a good way,” adding the two band mates pushed and encouraged each other to create their best work. They set goals and “drove through,” making an album of songs that offers their best for their fans.

Bogard added that their experience at Universal was not entirely negative. “We definitely learned some new tricks here and there. We had that much more to bring to the table.” Bogard said. “The magic was still there.”

For more information about Ingram Hill, visit their website www.ingramhillmusic.com.

TJB

By: NOVA Fortnightly Staff

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