Article Contributed by Kevin Negron
Published on October 8, 2025
Grateful Web spoke with the members of Good Trees River Band (GTRB) – Evan (drums/vocals), Danny Circharo (guitar), Gavin (percussion/vocals), and Ned (bass) – for an in-depth chat about their latest releases, creative journey, and what’s next. With roots in psych/progressive southern rock, the band is gearing up for a series of singles and their full album drop, blending influences from Allman Brothers to moe. and beyond.
Grateful Web (GW): First off, congrats on your continuing growth on socials! We’ve been loving your posts highlighting special moments on tour, setlists, funny skits, etc. – it really gives fans a taste of your live energy and band personality. How does it feel to see that growth?
Evan: Thanks! It’s awesome to see our community building. We’re all about keeping the vibe alive between shows.
Danny: Yeah, it’s motivating. Makes us want to keep pushing out more content and connecting with everyone.
Gavin: It’s been a fun way to engage. We’re grateful for the support.
Ned: It pumps us up for what’s coming next.
GW: Speaking of what’s next, let’s dive into your release calendar. Starting with this past July, you released the single off the upcoming record, Blowin’ Smoke, which is also the title track. Danny, we previously learned you wrote the track with Gavin. Can you tell us more about that process?
Danny: Definitely one of my favorites. It was the first song Gavin and I wrote together. He came to me with the idea, wanting to lean into that Allman Brothers-esque vibe. He had the lyrics, and we added another verse and built the musical structure one afternoon on the couch. It was fun, telling, and smooth. I joined the band in the summer of ’21. Our first tour as the current lineup in 2022 was an East Coast run from New England to Key West – we called it the Blowin’ Smoke Tour. We even played Grant’s Lounge in Macon, GA, one of the first venues the Allman Brothers played. Got to do “Southbound” with Vaylor Trucks, Butch Trucks’ son. To me, this track has that vintage blues feel.
GW: Gavin, what’s your take on Blowin’ Smoke?
Gavin: When we started writing again after COVID, it was the first song we did, and the first with Danny. It’s got a bit of moe. influence, which is fun for me. It’s the first song I’ve put out where I’m playing harmonica. The chorus with the cowbell reminds me of moe.’s “Okayalright.” Classic rock vibe all the way. We were really jazzed on moe. at the time, seeing shows when Chuck [Garvey] was out with his illness – it was a bonding experience. We’ve been playing it live for three years, so it’s exciting to finally release it.
GW: Ned, how does it fit into the band’s sound for you?
Ned: I’m juiced about Gavin on harmonica becoming a regular thing. Blowin’ Smoke is catchy and rockin’. The chorus rhythm reminds me of moe. too – simple rock at its best.
GW: You had a successful fall tour – complete with a few pre/post parties for moe. in Providence, RI – how did that go?
Evan: It was stellar and a great turnout! Being able to work with a member of moe. [Jim Loughlin] was a honor for all of us – so to extend that to playing in a sort of supporting role for them on their tour was amazing.
GW: That brings us to the second single off the album: Russian Dragon. This one features Jim Loughlin from moe. on vibes/percussion. Gavin, how was your experience working with Jim?
Gavin: Russian Dragon is a crazy surreal dream come true – putting out a song with Jim. I’ve listened to so many of moe.’s shows and records since I was a teen; I was in awe. Working with him has been validating and makes me feel like we’re on the right path. His kind words about working with us when we released the single were even more humbling and gratifying.
GW: Finally, in September, you released the third and final single The Candle. Evan, you mentioned before our chat that this was a strong single with killer production. What’s the story behind it?
Evan: Yeah, it’s one of the stronger ones on the record. I wrote it on piano and recorded the piano part – the first GTRB song with piano. I sing on it too. It was one of the first songs I wrote completely on my own.
GW: The full album release for Blowin’ Smoke is coming next week on Oct. 17th. What was Dan Horne from Circles Around The Sun’s role in the process and why did you choose him to be involved?
Evan: Dan mixed the entire album. We’re big fans of the band Mapache, and the two guys in that band live in Dan’s house – he’s their landlord. He mixed a lot of their albums and played bass on some. With the Americana vibe on this record, his signature style was a perfect fit. He’s also a very funny dude with a brilliant creative mind.
GW: Have you had any unique promo opportunities come up during the lead up to the album release?
Evan: I was personally featured on the All Jammed Up podcast in July to speak about the new album and our journey as a band. We’re working on a collab with a prominent influencer in the scene that we’re building a relationship with through the jam/psych scene – should come out next week! We couldn’t be more stoked.
GW: Let’s shift to the album’s narrative. What’s the overarching story or theme of Blowin’ Smoke? Any central concept or message?
Evan: It’s us taking our first stride as independent and collaborative songwriters with this lineup. The last album (Culture Shock Therapy) was heavier, mostly songs by me, Gavin, and Ned during COVID. This one has more individual contributions, including from Danny. It’s GTRB stepping up in songwriting and showcasing our capabilities.
Danny: It’s the first album we’ve worked on completely collaboratively. I was part of Culture Shock Therapy but only arranged a few songs minorly. I wrote “Moss Cow Mule” on this one.
Gavin: We’re maturing a lot. It’s our most instrumental record. It carries a theme of developing our lives as traveling musicians – we became a stronger band on the road and I think it shows in the development of our studio sound.
Ned: The Candle and “Skiff’s Song” are more introspective than anything we’ve done – Evan wrote those fully. It’s about the road life dynamic. We have to really love this to make the effort to travel, especially as a “long-distance” band. We get together to tour and record, but Gavin and I are based in New England while Danny and Evan are based in Key West, FL.
GW: How does this album reflect your personal or collective journey as a band?
Evan: The themes tie directly to traveling post-COVID with this lineup. We’ve hit new places – Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Ohio. Some songs were inspired on the road, like a line from “Obvious Fool” about “Asheville to Harmony, Maine” – a 16-hour drive we had 18 hours to complete to make it to our next gig. We’re immortalizing those moments while pointing to the raw inspiration and energy road-life can provide to a touring band. We’re honoring and enrapturing “the grind.”
Danny: It greatly reflects our journey. Songs carved from the path we’ve been on. “Skiff’s Song” shows evolved writing and chemistry. We’ve all grown as people. That Asheville trip was a huge bonding experience. Our travel logistics mean we have to write and get up to speed with each other quickly. But that’s not reflected in how we sound – if anything we’re becoming much more polished and patient with our songs and jams. Trial by fire.
Gavin: Pre-COVID, Evan, Ned, and I lived in a band house with our old guitarists, who moved to Texas. In 2021, we weren’t sure about continuing GTRB – considering other plans. Then we met Danny, wrote two albums’ worth of material, and started touring. Releasing Blowin’ Smoke feels important. We thrive live and recording like that plays to our strengths.
Ned: The grind has made us tighter, better writers with more dynamic songs as we learn and experience more.
GW: How did the songwriting and recording process differ from previous work?
Evan: Recording-wise, past albums were made with the help of amazing friends on limited budgets – scratch tracks, instruments one by one. This time, we had a budget, shopped studios, picked Mojo Studio in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. We recorded everything mostly live over two full days for two albums of material, with some overdubs. Anthony Cimino, the engineer, is incredible – easygoing, fed us. Five stars.
Danny: Insanely different. Previous one took a year and a half in a semi-home studio/rehearsal space. For this one, we aimed for a “live” feel – playing top-to-bottom. Fought through a February snowstorm to get there and hunkered down in a converted cabin. Winter wonderland vibe.
Gavin: Anthony curated an environment where we weren’t self-critical – just pumped stuff out easily.
Ned: Live-tracking is huge. Scratch-tracking was fine before, but live is preferable; we hope to use it exclusively going forward.
GW: Is there a specific audience or community this album speaks to? How do you want fans to feel?
Evan: Psych progressive southern rock, emphasizing southern rock here – our Allman Brothers influences shine. I want fans to enjoy traveling America. Despite the turmoil going on around us; it’s still beautiful.
Danny: We’re diverse: I like blues/southern rock (ABB), Gavin punk/post-punk, Ned ska/punk, Evan prog metal/hard rock. We want a feel-good experience and for fans to resonate with the feeling of: “You might not like cream cheese, but you may like cheesecake.” Be open to the diversity of our sound and influences.
Gavin: We started out as a jam band and are re-asserting ourselves in the scene. This album brings a softer, introspective vibe; but with elements of numerous forms of rock and funk — like “Russian Dragon” and “Moss Cow Mule.” Fans of softer psych like The Murlocs or Babe Rainbow will dig it.
GW: What track are you most excited for fans to hear? What makes it special?
Evan: “Obvious Fool” – the last song on the album. It’s our most collaborative track; all four of us wrote it. It’s about road times.
Danny: “Obvious Fool.” Very deliberate arrangement and chords. It’s such a delicate psychedelic jam vehicle that explodes live. Excited for “Skiff’s Song.” The inspiration for it is our friend John Skiff. He’s unfortunately in poor health, but got to see us play it live in Maine this summer. Evan wrote it from inspiring words Skiff shared that resonated with him.
Gavin: “Russian Dragon” – again, surreal working with Jim!
Ned: “Obvious Fool.” Danny’s immense skill in slide-guitar shines and we wrote it that way to showcase it. I lost my dad last year – he shaped my musical tastes and I feel the track is a subconscious nod to him. It’s very special.
Blowin’ Smoke is available to pre-save ahead of its digital release on Oct. 17. The album artwork was completed by frequent band contributor Matt Minott.
