Backstory:

Ready Ref was formed in the small Midwestern town of Worthington, Ohio in 2008. The three original members; Ethan Black (vocals/guitar), Olivia Grant (bass), and Jacob Hughes (drums), were all friends from high school who shared a passion for music. Ethan, Olivia and Jacob started jamming in Ethan’s parent’s garage after school and eventually began producing their own unique sound. They decided to call their band ‘Ready Ref’, a name inspired by a joke between the friends about always being ready for a game of pick up basketball and the ‘ref’ part symbolizing their desire to maintain order and precision in their music.

In 2010, the band had a breakthrough when their self-produced album got noticed by a local radio station. Their unique sound quickly garnered a large following, and in 2013, they were signed by a major record label. Since then, Ready Ref has grown from a small garage band to a household name, with their songs continuously topping charts across the country.

Genre:

Indie Rock

Title:

“Pick Up & Play”

Full Song Lyrics:

(Verse 1: G-Em-C-D)
G
Underneath the Midwestern sky,
Em
Three friends with a dream not shy.
C
Strumming strings and beating drums,
D
Creating music that hums.

(Chorus: G-D-Em-C)
G
Pick up and play, let your soul sway,
D
In the rhythm of life, come what may.
Em
Like a ref, we’re ready, steady,
C
In this game of life, always heady.

(Verse 2: G-Em-C-D)
G
In a garage, dreams were spun,
Em
Underneath the setting sun.
C
Notes and chords, a harmony,
D
Born was Ready Ref, in pure honesty.

(Chorus: G-D-Em-C)
G
Pick up and play, let your heart say,
D
All the words that the melodies convey.
Em
Like a ref, we’re ready, steady,
C
In this game of life, always heady.

Chord Progression for Bridge: C-Am-G-D
C
Can you hear our rhythm, can you feel our beat?
Am
In the echoes of the cornfields, down the silent street.
G
With each strum, with each drum,
D
We are Ready Ref, we’ve only just begun.

Favorite Fan:

The band’s favorite fan is a young woman named Lisa from their hometown of Worthington, Ohio. Lisa has been there since the beginning, attending every local show, and was the first to buy their self-produced album. Lisa’s testimonial about the band is, “Ready Ref’s music resonates with me deeply. Their lyrics mirror my own experiences growing up in a small town, dreaming big dreams. They’ve shown me that dreams can come true with dedication and hard work. Their music is a constant source of strength and inspiration for me. They’re more than just a band; they’re my heroes.”