40 Grit formed in 2007 with brothers Tanner and Caleb Donohue and their cousin Josh Coleman. They started playing in Tennessee, though the early years were lean, with stories of sleeping in their van between gigs. Their debut album 'A Part of Me' came out in 2014, and the title track became a country radio hit. That song, along with others like 'Because Of You' and 'Last Time Around,' helped define their sound, a mix of hard country and straightforward ballads.
After that first album, they kept putting out records every couple of years: 'The Journey' in 2016, 'Rise' in 2018, and 'Unbreakable' in 2021. Tanner handles lead vocals and guitar, Caleb plays drums, and Josh is on bass, with all three singing. They've stayed a trio at the core, even when bringing in other players for tours or sessions.
Their lyrics often touch on love and getting through tough times, but they've also been known to speak their mind on social issues, which hasn't always gone over smoothly in Nashville circles. Songs like 'Bomb Bottom' and 'Ground Zero' have a rougher edge, while 'Fade Into You' leans more toward the reflective side. They haven't shied away from saying what they think, even when it meant some pushback from the industry.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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