True to their name, and with their fans in Simcoe County beaming with pride, the Road Hammers hit the nail on the head Sunday night, taking home Top Duo or Group hardware from the Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMAs) in Saskatoon.
For sure, being voted tops by your peers gives out a temporary buzz, but front man Jason McCoy tells BarrieToday they’re not the be-all and end-all.
“I think awards and advertising in general let people know what’s going on, but it’s truly word of mouth that influences the entire music business.
“It’s always the ‘Hey, I saw so-and-so in concert’ or ‘Have you heard the latest? (And that’s why) true music fans are the best.”
McCoy, who had the day off Monday from helping Jack Latimer and Carey Moran roll the best in country music on KICX 106 FM in Orillia, also came in from some love from the family following the ceremony.
“I have my wife and two kids with me, and we had a great weekend…we got back to the hotel room early…and since Dad won the big award, he splurged and rented Despicable Me 3.”
Nothing against winning awards from strangers, but “cuddling up with the family for movie night, right? Pretty hard to beat!”
But Jason and mates Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne won’t have much time to celebrate. The Hammers are back on the road next week for a pair of gigs in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Friday, Sept. 22 and the following night in Port Perry. The latter show supports that town’s Big Brothers and Sisters Foundation.
However, Jason says, “Every show for us is a big one. We treat ‘em all like Carnegie Hall!”
McCoy also says he finds the gig on “The Rock” a bit intimidating because “music is so much a part of Newfoundland culture…I mean, they’ve heard and seen it all. So, how do you impress a province that delivers some of the greatest talent on the planet? Good thing they’re some of the nicest people in the world, too!”
The newest offering from The Road Hammers, Your Love is the Drug, is already the number-one most-added single in radio during its first week out, and already on some top 40 lists.
Jason McCoy can’t hide his pride at that news, “I just can’t get over how great country radio is to us, and how supportive our fans are. Simply incredible!”
