Augusta’s Defunct Riff Raff Kings Making Track Star Music

The year is nineteen ninety something. It’s a Friday night and you’re standing uncomfortably close to a bunch of sweaty people bouncing in unison. Augusta band the Riff Raff Kings are on stage at the Red Lion Pub and you’re watching the show - along with those sweaty, dancing strangers - with your actual eyes, not through a phone screen. Your beer is almost empty, but you don’t dare leave to get another, for fear of missing the Riff Raff Kings favorite: “Me Gusta Mexicana.” There’s no texting or scrolling to distract you. Life is good. 

That’s a vivid memory for many local Gen X and Millennial music fans. The Riff Raff Kings roared onto the Augusta music scene in 1998 as if shot from a cannon. The music was a perfect blend of 311 and the Beastie Boys, rhyming over music that was equal parts head-banging riffs and party bop. 

With their instantly catchy songs and magnetic on-stage charisma, the Riff Raff Kings could have easily been placed alongside Sugar Ray, Smashmouth, the Offspring, Papa Roach, and other chart-topping bands of the early 2000’s. Alas, life had other plans. 

Vocalist Matt Morrison was the first to step away, shifting his focus to his growing family and career. Guitarist Jeremy Carr followed, departing to devote his life to ministry. Vocalist John Carter began traveling and performing stand-up comedy. Bassist Mike Lamond and drummer JJ Bower made a career out of music and are still performing with different bands. 

Carr still remembers the tough decisions and conversations during that transition but says, while it was a sad moment, they remained positive in their decision. 

“There was so much love in the group, we all hugged and played music,” he said. “There was nothing but respect.” 

While it is possible the original copies of the band’s 1999 album “118” are dwindling, fans can still hear those songs. Riff Raff Kings music is available on streaming services and band members still make occasional posts on the official Riff Raff Kings Facebook page.  

Recently, band members have been teasing new music, by way Olympic Track Star, a side project organized by local musician, and occasional Riff-Raff King, Edward Murray. He, Bower, and Carr met to hang and play music in Virginia Beach and decided to record. Each of them recorded their parts from their homes: Bower in Virginia Beach, Carr in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Murray in Augusta. The result – a Sabbath-meets-Parliament banger called “Get Up Get Out” - on Spotify and Apple Music.  

Carr says that they have other tracks in the works but that it is a “just for fun” project to keep music going for three old friends. 

While Riff Raff Kings fans will enjoy the new music, nothing quite beats their live shows. Carr says there is real talk of a reunion show, hopefully later this year. Meanwhile, he says, they do have more Olympic Track Star music on the way. 

“(There is also) possibly…POSSIBLY…fresh Riff Raff Kings stuff coming too,” he said with a hopeful laugh. “In the meantime, we all continue to do our part to add positive, creative things into the world between music, comedy, filmmaking and family.”