VDT VIEW

By Dean Poling
VDT View

Former Valdostan Stacia Watkins has become a member of the Atlanta-based band Broken Rhoads. Recently, Broken Rhoads competed in the CMT Music City Madness Competition, becoming one of the 64 bands selected from thousands of entries.
While the band did not make it into the competition’s next level of the top 32 bands, its spirit remains unbroken and the road continues for Watkins and Broken Rhoads.
We recently conducted an e-mail interview with Watkins. Here are excerpts.

VDT VIEW: You’re from Valdosta and moved to Atlanta about seven months ago. Which school did you graduate from? Do you still have family here?
STACIA WATKINS: “I graduated from Lowndes High School and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where I majored in Music Education. I have not completed my degree because I would like to attend Belmont to major in music business. I have a lot of family left in Valdosta. My mom, sister, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, all still live there.”

VDT VIEW: Did the pursuit of a music career take you to Atlanta?
STACIA WATKINS: “It really did. I have a lot of friends from college up here and they encouraged me to take a step and move to Atlanta to try out the music scene. I’m so glad I did. After being here a week, a friend introduced me to Charlie Gilbert, Broken Rhoads lead guitarist, and my songwriting partner. It was a musical match made in heaven I guess you could say. But what I learned about performing, and music, and writing … I really learned and honed in Valdosta. The music scene is wonderful there and it taught me a lot. I look forward to coming home to Valdosta as much as I can and cannot wait to perform for my hometown crowd again.”

VDT VIEW: How long has Broken Rhoads been together?
STACIA WATKINS: “We’ve only been together about three months but the members are seasoned musicians. They’ve been studio as well as touring musicians. We wanted to come together to really have a positive ‘group’ experience. In most bands, it tends to really be all about the lead, but in Broken Rhoads it’s about EVERYONE.”

VDT VIEW: Has the band done much touring or recording?
STACIA WATKINS: “We’re pretty booked until December and are adding dates for 2009. We’ve not recorded yet but are looking forward to possibly start an album in February and March. Songwriting is such a big part of this group and (we) really want to get our music out there.

VDT VIEW: Are you an original part of the band?
STACIA WATKINS: “I am. Charlie and I really wanted to start a group and Broken Rhoads was born.”

VDT VIEW: What do you do with the band?
STACIA WATKINS: “I am the lead singer and one of the songwriters.”

VDT VIEW: Who else is in Broken Rhoads?
STACIA WATKINS: “Charlie Gilbert is the lead guitarist and songwriter. Kyle Ross is the bass player. And Clay Mathis is the drummer and also the person who came up with the name Broken Rhoads. We’re looking to add members and are currently searching for a keyboardist and rhythm guitar player.”

VDT VIEW: What kind of country band is Broken Rhoads?
STACIA WATKINS: “We’re really a group deeply rooted in Southern rock as well as country. We perform everything from Johnny Cash and Sugarland to the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, and Journey. We are inspired by so many musicians.”

VDT VIEW: Is the band a mix of covers and originals?
STACIA WATKINS: “We do a mixture of both. People can check out www.brokenrhoads.com or www.staciawatkins.com for more information also.”