Rocket Club is an American country music band composed of Joel Sayles (bass, vocals), Brian Kroening (guitars), Don Smithmier (vocals, keyboards), Chris Hawkey (vocals), Matt Kirkwold (guitars), and Walter Powell (drums).Gueningsman, Ryan (2012) "Bands booked, plans underway for Delano’s Fourth of July ‘12", Spartanburg Herald-Journal, February 20, 2012.
History The band's first national single, "One More Day," was written by Joel Sayles, Don Smithmier, and Twin Cities native Mark Lacek after Lacek's daughter died in the womb.Albertoni, Rich (2010) "Onetime Madison rockers Rocket Club land on the country chart", Isthmus, March 25, 2010. The song got viral exposure via Facebook and YouTube, as well as airplay on Minneapolis radio station KEEY-FM. It is also included on a multi-artist album entitled Hope Rocks Volume II, the benefits of which go to a nonprofit organization that Mark and his wife, Susan, founded. "One More Day" debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of November 21, 2009.
The band's second single, "One Thing Beautiful," written by Joel Sayles and Don Smithmier, spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts beginning July 12, 2010.
Rocket Club's debut self-titled CD was released in 2008. Their second record, American Serenade, was released in October 2010.
In 2010, the band coined the term "North Country" to describe its more guitar oriented, non-Southern form of country music. They later turned the concept into a northern anthem with the release of their 3rd single, "North Country," which debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs on June 14, 2011. An album of the same name was released in 2012.Gilbertson, Jon M. (2012) "CD Reviews: Rocket Club; Waka Flocka Flame; Joe Jackson; Maybach Music Group", Journal Sentinel, June 26, 2012.
The band released its fourth studio album on March 13, 2014, titled Lucky and produced by Joel Sayles. The album was named after the project that created it. In 2013, the band completed a project dubbed "Lucky 13" in which it wrote, recorded and released one new song each month for a year.
After a nearly 8-year hiatus, the band released the single, “Easy,” in February 2022. This collaboration led to a full reunion and the release of their fifth album, “Come On Home” in 2023.
Other information
Smithmier is a Minnesota tech entrepreneur.Bruch, Michelle (2011) "Entrepreneur Don Smithmier: They told him to 'focus,' and luckily, he didn't listen", MinnPost, February 24, 2011.
Guitarist Luke Kramer was a band member from 2011 to 2014 and performed on the “North Country” and “Lucky” albums. Billy Thommes (drums) was a founding band member and performed all every album. Founding guitarist Matt Kirkwold re-joined the band in 2022. Walter Powell (drums) joined the band in 2023.
Discography
Albums Title Details Rocket Club Release date: October 21, 2008 Label: Feather Moon American Serenade Release date: October 1, 2010 Label: Feather Moon North Country Release date: April 9, 2012 Label: Feather Moon Lucky Release date: March 13, 2014 Label: Feather Moon Come On Home Release date: February 1, 2023 Label: Feather Moon
Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US Country"Awards", Allmusic. 2009 "One More Day" 49 American Serenade 2010 "One Thing Beautiful" 51 2011 "North Country" 52 North Country
Music videos Year Video 2009 "One More Day" 2011 "North Country" 2012 "Four Letter World"
References