Rock Hearts
A Bluegrass Journey Rooted in Tradition and Innovation
After over a decade of making music together, Rock Hearts have firmly established their bluegrass presence in New England, an area not typically associated with this genre. Their latest album, Unfinished Bridges, marks a significant milestone in their journey as they continue to honor their bluegrass roots.
Founding members Alex MacLeod and Joe Deetz had played music together prior to forming the band, but it wasn’t until they brought together members from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts that Rock Hearts truly began to take shape. Their early rehearsals took place at a TA Truck stop in Willington, Connecticut, where Deetz parked his RV and the band practiced for hours. “Once winter hit, we partnered with the Roadway Inn nearby, which generously provided us a space and coffee for our marathon practice sessions,” MacLeod recalled.
The name “Rock Hearts” is inspired by a line from a Jimmy Martin song: Rock hearts will break; believe it, my dear. Deetz reflected, “We had all been pursuing music for a long time, but it was only when we found each other that we realized, ‘This the band that had the magic for all of us.’ We embrace it fully, and even when we explore new directions, we do so together.”
MacLeod observes a trend among younger bands: many talented musicians struggle to define their sound. “I’ve seen newer bands rise quickly only to fade just as fast because members diverge in their musical aspirations,” he explained. Rock Hearts, however, maintain a clear identity, understanding that even legendary bluegrass artists had their own “degrees of deviation from the roots established by Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs.” He cited such influences as Jimmy Martin and the Osborne Brothers, who managed to innovate within the tradition.
Success for Rock Hearts begins with a deep understanding of their identity. They acknowledge that even the pioneering bluegrass musicians they look up to had their own unique twists. As MacLeod noted, “Jimmy Martin deviated from Flatt and Scruggs and Bill Monroe; JD Crowe carved his path away from Jimmy Martin and the Osborne Brothers.” These artists significantly shaped Rock Hearts, who fondly remember watching the Osborne Brothers perform at festivals in the 80s, complete with an electric bass. “They made it work, even when many bands still frowned upon it,” Deetz explained, “because they were the Osborne Brothers.”
Rock Hearts aim to create “modern songs with compelling stories,” staying anchored in bluegrass tradition while allowing room for evolution. MacLeod mentioned a panel discussion about Tony Rice at the IBMA, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the essence of bluegrass. “We strive to honor that heritage while also keeping our eyes on the future,” he noted.
The band, in its current formation, has been together since just before their showcase at the 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass. “Joe has played with legends like John Herald, Frank Wakefield and Joe Val, and I’ve had the privilege of playing with other regional bands that included Southern Rhode, Back Eddy, and Northern Lights. We all agree that this is the best band we’ve ever been a part of because of the symbiotic nature and our mutual respect for each other,” said MacLeod.
All members live in neighboring states, with Deetz in Massachusetts, MacLeod and Thibodeau in Rhode Island, bass player Rick Brodsky in southern Connecticut, and fiddler Austin Scelzo in Western Connecticut.
MacLeod recalls first meeting Thibodeau during a local gig: “We clicked instantly, playing three hours of high-energy bluegrass. It felt magical, and I knew we were meant to collaborate.” Interestingly, MacLeod’s dad Sandy and Thiobodeau’s dad Sam were friends and played together in the 60s and 70s, though MacLeod and Thibodeau did not meet until 2017.
When the band’s original mandolin player had to leave, Thibodeau stepped in seamlessly. He is regarded as a master of the mandolin, playing his prized KM 1500 from Kentucky Mandolins/Saga Music, first given to him by fellow Rhode Islander and Saga Musical Instrument endorser Jimmy Gaudreau.
Brodsky, a longtime friend of MacLeod, joined the band in 2018 after their founding bassist stepped aside, making the transition feel effortless. “Rick had subbed in on a festival gig we had and was disappointed that it was a ‘one off’ because he thoroughly enjoyed the Rock Hearts groove. A year later, when the spot opened up, Rick was the first call we made.
Scelzo, dubbed the “hardest working kid in bluegrass,” joined Rock Hearts after they learned of their selection for the IBMA showcase. Having quickly mastered their material, he made a memorable impression during his first practice. Although he left a teaching position to join the band, his colleagues affirm that he remains a dedicated educator, organizing music classes and jams all over the country.
Recently honored as a “Connecticut Arts Hero,” Scelzo was also nominated for the 2022 IBMA Mentor of the Year Momentum Award. When he joined Rock Hearts, he leveraged his strong work ethic to transition from a fiddler to a bluegrass fiddler.
Scelzo often refers to a pivotal experience while attending the 2021 IBMA WOB Showcase with Rock Hearts that heavily influenced his maturation as a bluegrass fiddler. Besides the band referring their youngest band member Austin to albums by Bobby Hicks, Vassar Clements, and Chubby Wise for inspiration, he recalls a night at IBMA when the band stayed in their room and, as he puts it, “listened for hours to the various musical influences that helped form Rock Hearts’ sound.”
The band’s cohesion, MacLeod explains, stems from their shared musical language. “Ego is checked at the door; we’re all equals here. We do it all out of love for the music.” This camaraderie translates into their strong connection with audiences.
MacLeod recalls valuable advice from his father about engaging with listeners. After stepping down from one of his first professional shows, Alex recalls, his dad told him, “If you and the band can’t connect with the audience, you might as well stay home.” This sentiment was shared with a young Billy Thibodeau by his dad as well. Since then, MacLeod says he has approached performances with,“the warmth and intimacy of playing in his living room.”
Deetz noted that while all the Rock Hearts are talented musicians, MacLeod excels at engaging the crowd. “People tell us our band has such a sunny vibe,” he said. “They enjoy coming to our shows because we strive to create a joyful experience. Our music balances traditional roots with fresh elements, focusing on strong songwriting and arrangements that resonate with our audience.”
Deetz described their latest album Unfinished Bridges, released on October 4, as “more mature in certain aspects, especially the material. We have fantastic original songs from band members, MacLeod and Thibodeau, as well as a notable list of writers that include, Rick Lang, Ted DeMille, Bob Amos, Jim Karns, Stan Keach, Marc Brinkman, Eric Gnezda, Monty McClanahan, as well as Billy’s father, Sam Tidwell. The album represents contemporary bluegrass while staying true to our traditional core, appealing to both younger and older audiences.” Dave McLaughlin of the Johnson Mountain Boys praised their music as “timeless and enjoyable for a wide range of bluegrass fans.”
The singles released ahead of the album showcase this diversity. “I Know It’s Wrong to Love You,” a classic cheating song by Don and Dave Parmley, resonated with MacLeod, who suggested they cover it after hearing it on the way to IBMA. They crafted the harmonies in their hotel room. The gospel-influenced “Let Me Be the Best Bible,” inspired by MacLeod’s grandmother, reflects her wisdom that “we may be the only Bible some people ever read.” The title track, “Unfinished Bridges,” reinterpreted from its original singer-songwriter style, features an upbeat Osborne Brothers-style introduction.
Before the band entered the studio, Scelzo often stayed at MacLeod’s home between gigs, allowing them ample time to refine the album’s material. MacLeod described their recording sessions as “a great burst of creativity.” They chose to collaborate with Scott Vestal, who advised them, “You know what you want; you’ve been working hard. I’ll let you know if it’s not good.”
Though he never did, they chuckled at his comments such as “Well, that’s one way to do it.” The resulting album captures the collective creativity born from their time together. The new album, Unfinished Bridges, released on October 4, showcases a maturation in their sound and material.
The recording process was a creative endeavor for the band. Working with Vestal as engineer, they crafted the album collaboratively, embodying the ideas developed over their years together. With a sold-out album release show and singles climbing the bluegrass charts, Rock Hearts continue to embrace their roots while forging ahead into new musical territories with Unfinished Bridges.
