The Filthy Heathens should be your new favorite band out of southern Ohio. Hands down, they are one of the best “up-and-coming” bands in the scene right now. I first found them in March of 2025 while listening to Kenny Feidler’s Live at Buck’s album. Buck Bennett came up, started talking, mentioned the band, and said, “They fucking killed it.” Which, in my mind, if Buck thinks you’re damn good, then you’re damn good. So, who better to be the 50th spotlight than the badasses themselves, The Filthy Heathens?
Now, before we get into it, this spotlight needs to be structured a little differently because, for the first time, the whole band is answering questions!
When did each of them first start playing music, and what drew them to it?
Cody said, “I was 8, and what drew me to music was boredom. My brother had a cheap acoustic, and I started playing it and fell in love with it.”
Dawson said, “I first started playing when I was 5, and started playing out when I was 13-14 at local jam nights.”
Craig said, “I started playing when I was 17. Listening to radio and hearing music on skate videos got me pumped up and feeling like I wanted to play. I soon realized that I got the same feeling that I got from skateboarding without getting hurt.”
Ryan said, “I started when I was 12 years old. What drew me to it was MTV and my dad. He’d take me to classic rock shows, and I wanted to be a part of it. Bands that looked like they had fun on stage drew me in.”
Bronson said, “I was around 10 when I started playing a guitar that my grandpa bought for my birthday. He played bluegrass, and always had me around bluegrass and country music.”
How would each describe the band’s sound to someone who’s never heard their music?
Cody describes it as “Very dynamic. We cover a lot of ground. Our sound is very diverse, and we have heavy rock songs and soft acoustic songs in our catalog.”
Dawson says it’s “Very energetic. Like a mix between rock, country, and a little of everything.”
Craig gave my favorite answer, saying, “If you took country fried rock and roll and sprinkled metal shavings on top.”
Ryan says, “That we live in the southern rock world, but we’re not limited to that. We have diverse backgrounds that all work into what we’re doing.”
Bronson said, “We cast a wide net. It’s heavily rock-influenced from Ryan and Craig. Dawson brings a lot of blues influence, and Cody and I are deeply seated in country and bluegrass. We try to convey stories in our songs.”
Who or what inspired each of them to start making music?
For Cody, he said, “When I started playing with other people, some of them had started making melodies, I thought that was cooler than learning other people’s music.”
Dawson said, “Really, just listening to songs that I love and wanting to blend them together. Getting with this band has really given me more space to be creative.”
For Craig, he said, “When I was a kid, there were always local small shows. We would skate all day and go to shows at night, mostly punk or metal, and I wanted to be a part of that!”
Ryan said for him it was “MTV and my dad. Attending live shows.”
Bronson said, “Girls. I started writing songs in high school, and girls liked it. Later on, I met Dick Etheridge, who was also learning to write songs, and worked with him to learn to write music.”
Who are some artists that have influenced each of them the most?
Cody said for him it’s “Merle Haggard, Metallica, Anything bluegrass. I had a huge palette of music growing up. There was always music on.”
For Dawson, he said, “Gary Moore, SRV, and Blackberry Smoke.”
Craig said, “Clutch, JP, the drummer for Clutch, is my most influential modern artist. Bill Ward from Black Sabbath.”
Ryan said, for him, it’s, “The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, TOOL, Whiskey Myers, Ozzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Clutch.”
For Bronson, he said, “American Aquarium. I met those guys early on, and they seemed to be a bunch of buddies packed into a van. I wanted to do that. Guy Clark. I love live performance. Anytime I see someone lost in the performance, I’m into it.”
What’s been everyone’s favorite show or venue to play so far?
Cody said, “Bucks. Every time we go there, everyone is great. The staff, the crowd.”
Dawson said, “Rock Coshocton was great! Excited to be back there this year!”
Craig also said, “Bucks. But I feel like we’ll all say that.”
Ryan said, “Bucks. The first time we played there was magic. Bucks was one of the first places “on the road” that took us in. And it’s been great every single time.”
Bronson said, “The Shed. Everyone that we’re following behind has played that stage.”
Now what’s everyone’s dream venue to play at?
Cody said, “Ryman or Red Rocks.”
Dawson said, “Red Rocks, Cain’s Ballroom.”
Bronson said, “Red Rocks.”
Ryan said, “The Machine Shop” and also, “Red Rocks.”
What does each think has been a major turning point in their career so far?
Cody said for him it’s been, “Finding this band. This is the first thing that has felt real and gotten momentum.”
For Dawson, he said, “Finding this band. I feel like I’m a part of the process here, not just a guitar player.”
Craig said, “Hooking up with MVT. Good management has been key. And with these guys.”
For Bronson, he said, “Losing my job. It forced me to take music seriously and allowed me to focus on music solely.”
What’s something about themselves or the band that people might not expect?
Cody said, “Given the name of the band and the persona that we put on social media, we’re actually grounded, guys. We’re pretty boring. We go back to the hotel, drink 2 beers, and go to bed.”
Dawson followed up, saying, “We play rock stars on stage, but we’re all pretty mellow guys.”
Craig said for himself, “I’m a family man. I love being with the family. And I love to cut grass. It’s the one activity that I do where I drown everything else out and just be.”
Bronson said, “We work hard, and we take this very seriously. While it may look like we’re all partying, we’re dialed in and focused. We practice hard to be able to perform at this level.”
What does everyone hope people feel or take away when they hear their music?
Cody said he hopes people “Feel the same passion and energy that we put into the music. For Cyril, I hope that people connect with the message. We have a lot of high-energy songs, and we hope that connects with the audience too.”
Dawson said, “I hope they feel connected to it, and hits them in a way that makes them want to keep listening to it.”
Craig said, “I hope they have a good time. I hope they feel that we’re responsible musicians that play for the song and love to have a good time.”
Bronson said, “I just hope that everyone feels happiness and can live in the moment of that music. We’re not trying to make people think too hard, and hope that they can lose themselves for 90 minutes and just be where their feet are, so to speak.”
What does success look like for each of them in music?
Cody said for him it’s “A hot tub full of jelly beans. All the way to the top. I’m not stopping until I get there.” Hell yeah.
For Dawson, he said, “Making enough money that we can all be comfortable and sustainable.”
Craig said for him it’s, “Being able to fulfill my musical chi out there, to be able to financially sustain and only work in music.”
For Bronson, he said, “Being able to financially sustain and be comfortable from music alone.”
How does everyone balance music with the rest of their lives?
Cody said, “It helps when you have a good support network at home. When I’m gone, I know my family is safe and cared for. I stay in close contact with my wife. The band has gotten so busy so fast that we’re all still trying to learn what that balance is.”
For Dawson, he said, “Most of the time, I practice while I’m hanging out with the family. Trying to create a schedule and make sure to make time to ‘be home’ and stick to that. Being on the road is tough.”
Craig said, “Very carefully. As soon as I’m home, I switch music off. Try to be present at home. When I’m on the road, I’m 100% in the music.”
For Bronson, he said, “I don’t. I’m living in music. I wouldn’t say that I’m nailing the balance right now. My wife is a huge help.”
What’s one piece of advice each of them would give to someone just starting out in music?
Cody says, “Don’t get stuck in a rut. Don’t try to be like someone else. Be you.”
Dawson said, “Practice. Don’t let anyone tell you that you should quit. If you listen to them, you’ll never make it. Practice. Practice more.”
Craig said to, “Play to metronome when you practice. Play with others. Get to Jam nights. Just keep going. You’ll get better the more you
play.”
For Bronson, he said, “Just get good at what you do. Hone your craft. Take it seriously. Find what you enjoy, and do it.”
Now what about upcoming music?
Well, the band said, “We were recently at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, recording a new album. This project is an absolute all-star cast with Jay Tooke (The Steel Woods) producing, Studio Engineer Darren Magierowski (Three Days Grace), mastering by The Hit Lab, and Vinyl Distribution through Merch Mountain.
We are so excited to get this new music out to fans later this summer.”
Go follow The Filthy Heathens on Facebook, IG, TikTok, YouTube, and Bands In Town. https://linktr.ee/thefilthyheathens
Thank you for reading today’s artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who The Filthy Heathens are behind their music. Go check them out, and go catch them at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned!
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