United by friendship and driven by talent and determination, this popular local band is hitting its stride with the release of its first full-length record.
By Tanya A. Yacina
Years in the making, local band The Great North Special recently made its mark on the music scene with the release of its debut full-length vinyl record, “Callithump Parade,” over the summer along with performances at Bluebird Park and Rivian South Coast Theater to celebrate the new album.
Based in Laguna Beach, the group of passionate and talented musicians are known for sharing their love of diverse genres, from country-funk and soul-blues to psych-rock and jazz. The group of friends have been playing music together for several years, but coalesced as a band and started doing shows in 2019.
“This whole thing came from the seed that was planted many, many years ago when we were figuring out how to write songs together and keeping that little flame lit until we could get here—with the big electric band in the back of our minds the whole time,” says frontman Andrew Corradini, a Laguna resident who grew up in town along with a couple of the other band members.
The seven-piece ensemble includes Corradini and Russell Long on vocals and guitar; Ben Wagner on guitar and pedal steel; Albert Margolis on keyboard; Anson Ditt on bass; Derek Eglit on drums; and Max Vega on percussion.
Since forming, the band has steadily gained a loyal following in Laguna Beach and beyond. This first full-length album showcases the group’s unique style, powerful musicality and the chemistry the members have developed through countless rehearsals and gigs.
“Andrew and I, we’re writing the songs, but everyone in the band is writing their own part into the music—it’s fully collaborative between all the band members,” Long explains. “We’re inspired by the shared desire to play music. … We’re trying to have fun … [and find ways to] surprise ourselves or do something different.”
Getting in the Groove
The Great North Special’s live shows encompass the electrifying talents of the band’s members, drawing audiences into a euphoric blend of music and dancing. Each performance takes the crowd on a one-of-a-kind musical journey that isn’t soon forgotten.
“Ever since the beginning, there was a certain vibe and groove and chemistry that we all had playing with each other. It was evident from the very first time we got together,” Margolis shares. “That’s when we knew we had something special. But, every time you go through a project like this, as it happened in our first EP and was super evident when we were done with recording the [latest] record, we became much tighter … [as] a unit.”
In 2020, the band released its self-titled debut EP, which included four original tracks underscoring the group’s seemingly effortless collaboration and alluring song lyrics. In 2022, the band released the single, “Love Service Devotion” and cemented its foothold in the Southern California music scene.
“For sure, the band has evolved since first getting together,” Wagner says. “We’ve evolved together in almost every aspect. I think, most importantly, the original songs that Andrew and Russell have written is what propelled us to another level. As a band, arranging them and recording them together got us so tight where the band is more like a family than seven buds just jamming together.”
In just a few short years, Wagner adds, the band went from playing three-hour shows with a couple of original songs and 14 covers to now performing 14 originals and a handful of covers. The band has often performed at Skyloft in Laguna, The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa, The Mint in LA, and farther afield at SLO Brew and Fernwood Tavern on California’s Central Coast, while also participating in music festivals like June Lake Jam Fest in the Mammoth Lakes area and Docent Brewing’s Field Trip Fest in San Juan Capistrano.
Laying Down the Tracks
When The Great North Special decided to record its first full album of original music, which Long says took about two years to complete, the band was financially supporting the recording with its own funds, but then heard about the Laguna Beach Artistic Innovation Grants program, which offers annual grants between $5,000 and $20,000 to support the local art-making process and premiere of these endeavors; funding comes from the city and local lodging establishments. The Great North Special was awarded a $20,000 grant, which enabled the group to complete the demanding recording process.
“We’d spent a couple of years saving up show money and we spent all of that right up until the grant came through,” Long says. “Had the grant money not come through, we would have been playing a lot of little gigs to continue saving up. We knew it would be expensive and we’d have to budget out to build out the LP. The grant truly helped us bring it to completion.”
In July, the band debuted its new LP in dynamic style at Rivian South Coast Theater. The sold-out Laguna show not only featured the band’s live performance set to a psychedelic liquid light show, but also included a panel discussion and a viewing of Matt Costa’s short film about the band, titled “Nothin’ But Fun.”
Mostly recorded live in the studio, the album highlights the band’s lyrical and musical craftsmanship. Corradini explains that each song presents a unique musical story with lyrical themes like joy, love, nature, community, technology, spirituality, mental health, existentialism and pure celebration.
“I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive response we have received so far,” Vega says. “Each one of us brings something different to that table and we all have various influences, and yet we have managed to create something that is a joy to listen to. I would say, as a band, we work hard at keeping the vibes on stage good and that’s what really keeps this train moving.”
The Great North Special delighted local fans this summer when the band opened Laguna’s annual Music in the Park summer series. Long and Corradini agreed that, especially with the album complete, it was a great time to just perform their music surrounded by friends and fans.
“The response to the new record has been incredible,” Wagner adds. “Seeing people in the crowd getting super pumped when hearing the intro to a song they want to hear from the album is such a special feeling. [It’s] hard to describe. It’s totally new for me on this side of the stage.”
Jamming Into the Future
“The next phase for the band and the record process is now to play the songs, share the record and the live show wherever we can on the road—get back to the business of having fun,” Long says. “And then, come up with some new jams along the way.”
Corradini says to get to this point and finish the record, it meant turning down other opportunities over the past year.
“We had to write and be in the studio and all that,” Corradini says. “I think it’s exciting that that’s done and under our belt, so we can get back to doing what it is all of us want to do—being able to play a bunch of live shows and enjoy what we’ve done.”
The Great North Special’s debut LP is available on vinyl, CD and cassette tape, and can be purchased at Sound Spectrum in Laguna and Creme Tangerine Records in Costa Mesa, as well as on the band’s website, thegreatnorthspecial.com. Stay tuned for upcoming shows including “An Evening With The Great North Special” at 8 p.m Sept. 26 at Skyloft in Laguna. It’s sure to be a special night.
