Rope In Hand

In the winter of 2006, Kassidy began sending tracks he had recorded in his apartment to his childhood best friend. Thematically, the tracks dealt with issues about straddling life and social justice, while musically being set to a traditional country sound. Shortly after these early recordings, Kassidy played his first show at Hollywood’s world famous Rainbow Room. It was a small show attended by only a few close friends and family, but it was an integral night in establishing Kassidy as Rope in Hand and the face of Southern California Country. Following the Rainbow Room show, Kassidy immediately began taking gigs all around Southern California—open mic nights at dive bars and coffee shops, charity events for causes he believes in, and the homes of his friends. Kassidy has often said, “I’ll play anywhere and for anyone, I just want my music heard.” He spent the next two years playing as often as he could, wherever he could, just as long as there was at least one person there to hear his songs. While playing to a sparse audience at the Old Town Pub in Pasadena during the Fall of 2009, Kassidy’s best friend of almost-twenty years, Matt, approached him after his set saying, “I’m tired of watching you play by yourself. I want to play with you.” “Well, if you want to play, you have to play upright,” Kassidy responded. “Great. Where can I get an upright around here?” Matt asked enthusiastically. Neither of them was deterred by the fact that Matt didn’t know the first thing about playing the upright. The next week Matt and Kass pooled their money and purchased an upright bass. Two weeks later Kassidy was back at the Old Town Pub, but this time with Matt beside him on the upright bass. Rope in Hand was officially born. Like the punk rock legends that have inspired them all of their lives, Kass and Matt began playing at dive bars all around the Inland Empire. They began earning a reputation as the two guys in a country band that will play anywhere. Their live shows were a sight to behold for their electric, unbridled energy, onstage chemistry, and especially for their most famous antic—calling their congressman and leaving a live recording of a song on his voicemail about voting in favor of healthcare reform. Rope in Hand continued playing all over Southern California for the next two and half years, performing at Animal Rights rallies, Gay Pride festivals, and, of course, any dive bar that would book them. Meanwhile, they continued to record raw material in any place quiet enough to record. In the beginning of 2012, Matt decided that it would be his last year in Rope in Hand so that he could focus on school and planning his wedding. Matt urged Kassidy to continue, helping find him a steady line-up for the band. While searching for a fulltime upright bass player, Kassidy’s brother-in-law, Brian Beckman filled the position temporarily. Unexpectedly, a longtime friend of Kassidy’s, Vaudrey, insisted that Rope in Hand needed drums and that he was the man for the position. It was an instant connection. Kassidy, Brian, and Vaudrey, played as many shows together as possible including a tour that went as far as the Double Down Saloon in Las Vegas. It was now time for Rope in Hand to sit still for a little while and make a proper recording. Indie Record labels began contacting Rope In hand to talk about releasing the band’s first official record. Rope in Hand happily signed their first deal with Digital Justice Recordings based out of Upland, CA. The winter of 2012 saw the release of Rope in Hand’s long-awaited, politically aggressive “First World Problems EP“. Between the tour and the release of the “First World Problems EP” a lot has happened within the band. Brian left to travel across the country and play in other projects, Vaudrey stepped down from the drums to become a father, and Matt got married. Always moving forward, Rope in Hand has been proud to see the addition of Deep Sea front man, Jon Henderson on lead guitar, and Slab member, Chris Catalano on drums. Rope in Hand still needs a fulltime upright bass player, but that won’t stop them from making 2013 their most explosive year to date. "...a country rebel group in the vein of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Hank Williams." -Pasadena Weekly