SOUTHERN ROCK TRADITION: The Toy Factory Project has two-night run at GLA May 18-19
- Samantha Hill
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
This is more than just a cover or tribute band, this is upholding a legacy, a remembrance and tradition of one of the many southern rock bands that have been added to our backyard cookout playlists or road trip travel tunes—The Toy Factory Project.
The Toy Factory Project, a band composed of musical talent and passion, honors Toy Caldwell, founding member, lead guitarist and songwriter for the famed 1970s Marshall Tucker Band. Paul T. Riddle, drummer and grammy winning co-founder of the original Marshall Tucker Band, has created a team of musicians to come together to honor and keep the southern rock tradition alive.
Marcus King, guitarist and frontman of The Marcus King Band, infuses his vocals into Caldwell’s classics that bring a new cutting edge to them. Oteil Burbridge—bass, vocals and member of Dead & Company, The Allman Brothers and Oteil & Friends—brings his groovy bass to anchor psychedelic jams into Toy Factory Project. Charlie Starr, guitar, vocals and member of Blackberry Smoke, brings his southern grit through his vocals and guitar. Josh Shilling, piano, organ and vocals for Mountain Heart and Wynonna Judd, adds his soulful keys to the Toy Factory Project’s bluegrass and southern rock roots. Together, these musicians bring classic southern rock rhythms to stages across America, reviving Caldwell’s musical legacy and talents.
In a recent interview with Paul T. Riddle and Josh Shilling, Riddle and Shilling share in depth of the creation of the band, bringing together various talents to Toy Factory Project. We talk everything from the origin story to new audiences made up of life-long fans and youthful 20-somethings singing “Can’t You See” to the top of their lungs—creating a community of southern rock icons, genre stewards, and lovers of the music from all different ages and backgrounds.
The Toy Factory Project has two upcoming shows at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington on May 18 and May 19. To learn more, check out The Toy Factory website and follow them on socials for future projects and shows.
Samantha Hill: What led to the creation of the Toy Factory Project? How did you choose members that compile this current band?
Paul T. Riddle: I started thinking about doing a tribute type of record to pay homage and honor to Toy Caldwell. I have thought about this for 10 to 15 years. The idea was passed around between some friends and I to get started. Well, it was no one’s fault that it took awhile, life gets in the way. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be involved as the drummer, I’ve always been in the corner. When we [Josh and I] sat down and started playing, I immediately fell in love with his playing. I knew right off the bat, I knew Josh was my guy.
Riddle: I have always loved Marcus King. Vocally, that is the biggest head turner for me. In the studio, we have recorded these amazing vocals to these band tracks, It was loosely issued about throwing in different vocals into the songs. Charlie found his perfect part, Marcus found his part, and then I filled in the gaps. Everyone has this similar vibe and tone that it all works. It is the perfect and coolest vocal sound and it all just happened, in my eyes, by accident. The music is just a given. Oteil is the first bass and he was my guy in all of the bands that he is in. This is a really special vocal sound.
Josh Shilling: The talent in this band, I feel so blessed to be a part of it. There are no egos. They have no egos. The lack of ego is because of the massive amount of respect and love for the music for not only Paul for each other. Our imaginations are in our palettes.
Riddle: I sat down with everyone and told them that it was not the purpose [in reference to using a flute in “Can’t You See”], we would just be copying. I sat down with everyone and told them that it was not the purpose. The purpose is that we do our own version. I can’t believe these guys are still in love with music. I still blush at the thought of it.
Hill: How would you describe a Toy Factory Project live show?
Shilling: Me, I think, everyone on stage is like a collaboration of a lifetime. I go to a lot of concerts myself and I love everyone individually. You can be a fan of Marcus King and you are still going to love it. You could be a massive jam band fan and still enjoy the show. You are going to get something from everyone. There are going to be moments of guitar, fiddle, electric guitar, convivial moments, and there is a little bit for everyone.
Riddle: For me, I love those songs and I think that is the key. The reason we want to honor Toy and his songwriting is because he was a good song writer. He was a straightforward person. Take “The Highway,” for example, is a simple folk song, it’s just acoustic guitar. He just let us turn it into a playing song. His songs just lend themselves to that. I think that is really appealing to the people. We like for our peers to come hear us play. I love playing those songs. I wanted everyone to bring their own touch of it. It is just so satisfying and stimulating to play this music with this band and I am hearing those songs again.
Hill: What is the future for the Toy Factory Project?
Riddle: We are wanting to start getting out in the late summer, along with an album.
Shilling: I think it was “Take the Highway,” it was the first song recorded. That morning I remembered putting my headphones on and hearing it for the first time. Most tracks on the album are first take. A lot of the lead vocals are the first tracks too. When the magic is happening, it doesn’t matter where the mic is. This group of players, it is just dripping off of them—the soul, the feel—it was happening all of the time in the studio.
