By Gary Wien
originally published: 08/18/2014
Most of the country may know Scott Terry as the lead singer in the Columbus, Ohio band, Red Wanting Blue, but the friends and family members that will pack upcoming shows in the tri-state area still think of him as a Jersey Boy. Born and raised in Moorestown, Scott's band released their latest album, "Little America", on July 1.
A lot has changed since Scott left the state, but one thing that hasn't is his hopeful romantic writing style, although now with a twist...
"I've been in a relationship for a long time," said Terry in a phone interview conducted while the band was traveling to Denver for a show. "I think what a lot of people hear when they listen to songs about love or relationships is songs of young love or new love. It was interesting to me to touch down on the idea of a longer relationship. Songs like 'Hotel Oblivion' are tough ones for me because there are lines that I slide in and I wonder if people really pay attention to. Like, 'you and me / me and you / oh, I guess we're all we've got / I know that we're not / what you envisioned.'
"There's an image of people being together as they picture their lives. You look back years later and realize that we are nowhere near that image you had in your head of what we thought we would be like. And you only hope when you have these thoughts running through your mind that you're not alone. I've got to give some of that up, hoping that people also feel the same way."
Scott is a very biographical songwriter and has been since the beginning of the band back in 1996. Several albums later, he knows that the stuff he personally doesn't want to talk about is exactly what the audience wants to hear the most. With "Little America", he includes some of his most personal songs, such as "Leaving New York" which deals with the struggles of being in a long-term relationship with someone hundreds (and sometimes thousdands) of miles apart and never wanting to leave her.
"'Cause never before...was my heart as sore
as it was when I was leaving New York"
"Leaving New York"
"I remember writing that song in two parts," he recalled. "I wrote the chorus when we were driving through the night from Boston to Asbury Park. It was one of those times I knew I wasn't going to see her and I knew I wasn't going to be able to swing back through the city. We have to drive through the night because the traffic is so terrible for a bus and a trailer. As soon as you drive through the day you never know what catastrophe might happen.
"The other part was when we were touring out west and we were in Portland. We played the Crystal Ballroom and I just remember it being rainy and shitty."
Scott recalls an interview recently in which he was questioned about why a band from the mid-west would have lyrics like "tired of hearing about New York and L.A." and then put out a song called "Leaving New York."
"New York isn't just a place... for me, it's also a person" he said.
One of the most difficult aspects of being an autographical writer is knowing what should be put down on paper and what should remain a secret.
"I'm an emotional writer," he says. "It's what gets me off. I enjoy writing stuff that asks questions or could be thought provoking. To some degree, I've always felt you have to open up the medicine cabinet and see what you've got."
"You are an uncontrollable, inconsolable woman
and I'm a bullheaded, egomaniacal man"
"Keep Love Alive"
He worried about going over the line with the lyric shown above from "Keep Love Alive" but his girlfriend loved it.
Scott says choosing what to write about can be difficult. He knows you can't always write about love and can't always write about heartbreak. For him and the band, the answer is clear -- write about their other passion, traveling.
Red Wanting Blue has done their share of traveling over the years, working as a DIY band for over a decade before signing a record deal with Fanatic Records a few years ago. In fact, the latest release got its name from one of the band's memorable days on the road.
Red Wanting Blue was driving from Salt Lake City to Denver during a brutal snowstorm a year ago when the band's converted mobile home nearly hit a jackknifed tractor-trailer.
"The truck came to a halt just before getting to us," said Terry. "There was debris everywhere and we sat in awe for a moment before we maneuvered around the wreckage and slowly made our way down the mountain. We pulled off at the first truck stop we saw – it happened to be named 'Little America.'"
The title is also bit of a metaphor for the way Scott and the band have bonded with each other and their fans across the country. He's seen more of the country than he ever dreamed he would.
"As a child, America was the most enormous thing I knew, and as I got older, it became an epic and unconquerable wilderness that I thought I would spend my whole life discovering," he explained. "My relationship with America has gotten so much more intimate than I ever could have dreamed. It's 'Little America,' like the nickname you can only give to someone after you've really gotten to know them."
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
EVENT PREVIEWS
Berlin Under A presents "Roots Rock Women" on April 16th
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Berlin Under A presents "Roots Rock Women" on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The lineup includes Debra Devi, Faith NYC, Stephanie Marie & The Double-Knit Players. Doors are at 5:30pm.
The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Susan Werner
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Susan Werner on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 7:30pm. Over the course of her twenty five year career, Susan Werner has earned a reputation as "one of the most innovative songwriters working today" (Chicago Tribune).
State Theatre New Jersey presents The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is the ultimate ABBA tribute, touring through North America for the past 20 years. The audience and the press all agree that "This is the closest to ABBA you'll ever get!"
Bergen Institute for the Creative Arts at Bergen Community College presents Back to Bergen on April 16th
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Bergen Institute for the Creative Arts at Bergen Community College presents Back to Bergen, a new live music concert series featuring none other than the college's own music program graduates performing original music and classics. Held Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the college's Ciccone Theater, the inaugural installment will showcase the program's success at producing top notch musicians across a variety of genres from classical and jazz to R&B, pop and rock.
WilloLand Duo performs on April 16 as part of Westminster Conservatory Noontime Series
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 12:15pm, Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will present the WilloLand Duo. The performers, Kevin Willois, flute and Patricia Tupta Landy, piano, are members of the teaching faculty of Westminster Conservatory. The recital will take place in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church (61 Nassau Street) in Princeton. It is open to the public free of charge.
MPAC presents Patti LaBelle on April 17th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Legendary vocalist Patti LaBelle comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. Beautiful, simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. Through the years, the songbird's name has become synonymous with grace, style, and class.
Killer Queen to Perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- Killer Queen, the award-winning UK-based Queen Tribute featuring the incredible Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. The group's ambitious twelve-week 2026 US Tour runs from April 16 to October 23.
Count Basie Center for the Arts presents Melissa Etheridge: RISE TOUR
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Count Basie Center for the Arts presents Melissa Etheridge: RISE TOUR on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America's favorite female singers for more than two decades. A limited number of tickets remain for the show.
The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Simple Gifts on April 17th
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Simple Gifts on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Christ Congregation Church. Two women plus ten instruments equal one good time when the award-winning duo of Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon take the stage. Showtime is 8:00pm.
Remember Jones to present 50th Anniversary Celebration of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life"
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Remember Jones will present a 50th Anniversary Celebration of Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life - a one night only theatrical event featuring the ENTIRE album and MORE Stevie Wonder hits with a full expanded band, Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, and Very Special Guests on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Count Basie Center for the Arts.
