Sail - Will Hendricks ft. Love & Rescue

What’s in a band name? Well, for contemporary country quartet Love & Rescue the answer is everything. “Those words portray who we are and what we do: we write about love,” shares vocalist Ryan Irvin. He continues: “And, for us, music was an escape growing up. We hope to write from the heart and connect with people to pull them out of the monotony of daily living by offering a little love and rescue.”

Love & Rescue is Ryan Irvin, vocals; Gabe Swilling, lead guitar; Joey Sanchez, bass; and Jonathan Emery, drums. With pickup truck-sized hooks, warmly reflective balladry, sleekly modern production touches, and sharp musicianship, the Greenville, South Carolina-based group delivers on its band name’s promise. 

Members of what would become Love & Rescue met while performing at church. The burgeoning band became sacred ground for a bunch of young musicians weaned on rock, metal, pop, Southern rock, indie rock, and pop-punk. As the band’s sound and lineup began to stabilize, the four-piece group found themselves gravitating toward modern country. It was a natural fit because of its eclectic musical pedigree mirrored by contemporary country’s melting pot sensibility. Cementing the band’s direction was Ryan’s country music upbringing and the soulful twang that is signature to his singing. 

Love & Rescue became an official band in 2015, and, since then, has issued two singles, and the EP There & Back. The band’s low-key visual vibe, offset by its world-class musicianship, has wowed audiences regionally. Currently, Love & Rescue is planning more comprehensive tours while putting the finishing touches on its second EP to be released late March 2019. The four-piece band’s original sound fits snuggly alongside tracks by Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, and Brothers Osbourne, among others. In fact, the group shows its devotion to the genre by often slipping in many contemporary country hits alongside its own finely crafted songs.

Fan favorites in the Love & Rescue catalog include “Addiction” and “See You Again” from the EP There & Back, and the standalone single “Right Back At It.” The irresistible “Addiction” is a rousing romantic anthem brimming with pop-rock hooks, tasteful atmospheric textures, and feel-good romanticism. The track has proven to be the gateway to putting fans under the Love & Rescue spell. 

The laidback “See You Again” is the type of song you would hear strummed on a back porch on a beautiful country day. The story goes that the song came out organically one day when the guys got together at lead guitarist Gabe’s house to begin their journey writing jointly. These chill and bucolic origins are perfectly reflected by the tune’s rich acoustic guitars, touches of mandolin, and emotive vocals. “See You Again” also showcases Ryan’s gifts with symbolism and storyteller narration. Love & Rescue’s 2018 single “Right Back At It” is a potent slice of heartland rock n’ roll driven by propulsive acoustic guitars, and featuring a soaring guitar solo. 

It’s an exciting time to be Love & Rescue and it shows in the band’s upcoming EP which bursts with peppy pop-punky tempos, and engaging lyrics that intriguingly contrast the upbeat and fun musicality inherent in the songs. Reflecting on the road ahead, Ryan says: “Our love for what we do has been our guide, and we pour that into our music. We’re excited to share our purpose and passion with others.”