NEW SINGLE: Fox Royale

The Joplin Toad presents: brand new single/music video from Joplin Missouri band, FOX ROYALE.

images by Jeren Kent

This very very brand new band, coincidentally formed solely of former members of that boring old band “Guys on a bus”, releases a new single today. We think it’s gonna be pretty big- and damn is it catchy. Take a look-and-listen below, and also read up to find out more about this dynamic quadro!

Music video: directed by Kollin Williford, written by Nathan Hurley and Jeren Kent, produced by Waro Road Inc

Before they were in a rock band, the respective members of the Joplin, Missouri-based Fox Royale were moving parts in a different kind of musical machine: a traveling orchestra. “The orchestra was pretty straight-laced, not very cool,” laughs primary lyricist and guitarist Nathan Hurley. 

Hurley met Davis Drake (a classically-trained bassist) and drummer Evan Todd through the orchestra while in high school. The three hit it off immediately, and Hurley invited them to jam at his parents’ house.  The basement quickly became the official band practice location and HQ, which also happened to be the shared home of Nathan’s younger brother, Caleb. 

After hanging around the guys at practice and selling merch at their shows, Caleb was basically a permanent fixture, and was asked to join the band on keys and vocals.

With the lineup solidified, the guys played one of their first shows at a local pizza parlor. When they sound-checked their tongue-in-cheek cover of The Everly Brothers’ “???”,  a pleased diner gave them a $40 tip.  The band had a tank full of gas and bellies full of pizza that night, but their main inspiration would come shortly after while on vacation in NYC, when they attended a NEEDTOBREATHE (who, along with The Killers, Nathan says is “collectively probably the favorite band of our whole band”) concert.

It was then that it occurred to them that their purpose as musicians could be more than just jamming and making random tips. 

“We were like, ‘Okay so playing shows can be really cool, too,’” Nathan says. “Not really as a way to make money, but as a vehicle to create an experience for people you don't know at all. Everyone who was at that concert that night were total strangers, but we felt super connected to them. This is more than just a way to make $40 at a pizza joint in Joplin.”

It was after that when the band began touring extensively for three years. “We had a lot of vans break down and a lot of financial burdens that sucked. Playing a show with The Wrecks, then having them play us for War Road, really was our first break.”

Hard work, intentionality and consistency are qualities that the band is proud of.  Nathan says, “In the early days, we signed a contract with each other, the four of us, that basically said, ‘I will commit to this through May of 2020, before giving up,’” then  adds with a laugh, “I guess it’s time to renew the contract.”

Nathan Hurley – Vocals, Guitar

Caleb Hurley – Keys, Vocals

Davis Drake – Bass, Vocals

Evan Todd – Drums, Vocals