Musicians

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“One of the area’s finest and best-loved bands.” —Rick Koster, New London Day

The Rivergods are a fun, original, working band based in southeastern CT that has played its own heartfelt harmony-rich folky/rootsy/rockish music (and occasionally, some choice covers!) since 1997. The Rivergods are fronted by husband/wife songwriters, Ben and Nancy Parent, and the band includes some of the finest, most talented players in the region, and has had some pretty great ones in the past. The Rivergods make real music, our music… how and when we like and as often as we can. We’re fairly rooted in southern New England, with well-rounded lives (read: we have families!), but we definitely get out for the occasional road trip.

The Rivergods are well-known and well-respected (!) in the region and have continued to win accolades at the southeastern CT Whalie Awards (kind of like the local Grammies) over the past few years. In 2015, we won a “Best Americana Performance” Whalie Award for our song “Fall Where They Fall.” In 2014, we won a “People’s Choice: Best Country Rock” band award— a huge honor, as this was by popular vote… the people’s vote.  In 2013, we won a Whalie for ‘Best blues/country rock performance’ for our song “When Times Were Good,” which is not really blues or country rock (!), but we were/are most appreciative of the recognition. In 2011, we won a New London Whalie award for ‘Best Americana’ band (that popularity thing again… thank you, peoples!)

In 2017, the Rivergods released State of the Union, a full-length album recorded and produced by Carl Franklin at PWOP Studios in New London, CT. No Depression says “the most fun part of listening to State of the Union is the Rivergods’ themselves… [their] confidence brims over on each song. They’re not cocky, nor are they too comfortable … they just know each other’s tricks and are having a grand old time doing a good thing.” Woah! That’s nice praise… We think it’s a great album, too! Listen for yourself and download State of the Union at iTunes.

In 2014, the Rivergods released a new 4-song EP called Never Grow Old. Some of the reviews said stuff like this: “Blood on the Tracks-era Bob Dylan and Harvest Moon-era Neil Young in a poppy, less guitar centric, package … 60’s folk rock and pop influence mixed with a more modern tonality …  It’s channeling your forefathers through the lens of your own life and experience.” (Wailingcity.com) and “I haven’t been to New London. … I didn’t think it had much going for it until I encountered The Rivergods … Their most recent 4-song EP packs a punch. … Sun-faded, nostalgic, wistful… ” (Adobe and Teardrops). YOWZA! Check our Never Grow Old for yourself here.

We have several other CDs out, too… here’s our complete discography. Our previous full-length CD, Signs, was released in April 2011. The New Haven Advocate called Signs “a perfect example of (the Rivergods’) eclecticism: country, gospel, pop and funky back beats mix seamlessly.” In May of that year, the Rivergods were named ‘Artist of the Month’ by the popular roots/folk website FolkAlley.com. Before that, our album Time Has Come was hailed as “simply excellent” by Soundcheck Magazine and produced an award-winning single, “Buddha on the Road,” which won the Independent Artist Community’s Best Americana song award in 2007. 2000’s Capsule is long sold out (but is available online, as is Rivolver, a free album of demos and lost tracks we put out for our 10th anniversary… dig it!)

The Rivergods have played countless shows and festivals over the years, including playing to 15,000+ people at Summer Pops in Westerly, RI for several years running, Sailfest and Opsail in New London, CT, the Meriden Daffodil Festival, the Block Island Music Festival, the NEMO New Music Showcase in Boston, NXNE in Toronto, CA and more. We enjoy big gigs and small rooms (we do an intimate yearly holiday acoustic show that is one of our most popular gigs). We were once profiled by No Depression (the quote “bible of alternative country”) when it was a real, honest-to-goodness monthly print magazine as an up-and-coming ‘band to watch’ (Ooooh….), Connecticut Magazine has written about us, many other newspapers and arts weeklies have, too.