River City Extension at Jammin' Java

River City Extension lead singer guitarist Joe Michelini worked hard to get to this point in his career, working on a second full length album with high possibilities on the horizon for the eight-member band he formed in his hometown of Toms River, New Jersey in 2007.

Joe and River City will take the stage at next Saturday, Sept. 10.

Faces have come and gone from the band, but coming off a 2011 summer touring schedule that included The Vans Warped Tour, Newport Music Festival, Bonnaroo and SXSW has only made them hungrier for more. The group is a mashup of artists from different backgrounds with unique sounds that have blended into one collectively Americana punk-infused blend of genuine folk music.

Michelini and River City will headline Jammin' Java Sunday night.

"It's been a very special summer, we've been blessed in so many ways," Michelini said. "It's special. It's unusual. It feels natural but it's like you've been put in these situations like you have these emotions and you don't know if you can do it, but the moment you are there its like you've been waiting hundreds of years to do this."

Six guys and two girls combine to produce their genre-less sound. In 2010 they signed with XOXO Records and released their debut album The Unmistakable Man, which earned them attention from national media outlets and really opened up touring options for them. It also made them work harder, as Michelini puts it, working harder is the best way to show thanks.

"Every time something good happens with our band, I discover how much more work this is going to be than I thought it would," Michelini said. "The best way that you to accept a compliment is to keep working, and show people that you mean business, that you are there to create something that was forward thinking and inspirational to the artists around you."

They've come a long way from self-releasing their Nautical Sabbatical EP in January of 2009, but Michelini still sees room for growth and he knows that his fellow bandmates do too. Although New Jersey is their home, their bluegrass- and folk-influenced sound knows no boundaries, as they prove with songs like "South for the Winter," one of their more popular singles. Songs from The Unmistakable Man make it seem as if the octet could not decide what to play individually, so they decided to play a little bit of everything—banjo, guitar, trumpet, cello, percussion and more.

Currently RCE is working on their second album, which they've chosen to record in Chicago, and they are excited to come to Vienna and get more fan feedback.

"We're here for them," said Michelini referring to the band's fans. "If they want another dance song, if they want to talk about it, please tell everyone. We are very friendly. Tell them not to be afraid, and to ask us questions on Facebook and Twitter, and to come say hi to us. We're going to hang out and have some beers and play music. I think it will be good."