+ By Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge + Photos by The Grilled Lincolns
We are not going to try to describe our music. We write and play music we like, period. That’s it. There are no other parameters. If we like it, we play it, no matter the genre or style.
– Rob Goszkowski
For over two decades The Grilled Lincolns, also known as The G-Linx, have been rocking stages throughout the DMV and across the world. The band formed in 2000 at Salisbury State University (now Salisbury University), playing basement and field parties around town. If one were to ask the members what style of music they play, they’d be hard-pressed to find a definitive answer because they’re not bound by categorizations. They blend rock, rap, R & B, blues, funk, and pop seamlessly into their recordings and performances. Their live energy makes you jump, dance, laugh, wave your hands, and nod your head. Musically, they are jacks-of-all-trades. If “good time” were a genre, then that would probably be the best one for them.
Riddie Becker is the band’s lead guitar player and singer and is one of the founding members, along with Erick “Egg” Berlin, (now the world-renowned Chef Egg) and Robert Dubois, aka Robbie D or Raw B. Berlin and Dubois are no longer with the band, but their importance during its formative years is undeniable. Mike “Tron” Bakke plays bass and rhythm guitar and was brought in shortly after the band’s inception. He also rhymes and provides backing vocals. Andy “Big Slop” Hall is the emcee, percussionist, and front man. He also runs the band’s social media and books most of the shows. Katie G. (Gardner) is the First Lady and newest official member, singing lead and backing vocals. She also organizes and sells merchandise. Ben Gilbert plays bass and rhythm guitar, and Kevin Shook plays drums, helps with booking, and updates the website.
The band has tweaked its lineup over the years, but the members’ close connection as friends and their mutual love of music have kept them together through all the changes for nearly a quarter of a century. Other former members include singer and pianist Jeremy Ragsdale, drummers Marty Bouchard of Higher Hands and Michael McHenry Tribe, and Cory Streett of Pasadena.
They’re long-standing members of the family of Annapolis bands that includes Bumpin Uglies, Bond & Bentley, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, and Joey Harkum of Pasadena (who also happens to be Becker’s brother-in-law).“The Maryland music scene is special, and we feel lucky to be a part of it,” says Becker. The connection is more familiar than competitive—they’re not driven by ego or jealousy. However, they’re not completely without controversy.
Hall tells a story about a contest he was in with his group Written Prisms prior to his joining The Grilled Lincolns. (Written Prisms featured Hall and Jason Crawford, aka Jay Crawdads, on rhymes and vocals and later included Ben Gilbert on bass, Jordan Caufield on guitar, Larry Byrne on keys, and Bouchard on drums.) The university hosted a Battle of the Bands, and despite that Hall felt his band clearly gave a winning performance, The Grilled Lincolns took the win. Hall was always skeptical of the real reason for the loss, and years later, he’s still fairly certain that favoritism with some of the judges sealed The G-Linx’s victory. However, when Written Prisms disbanded, Hall began sitting in with The G-Linx and eventually joined them full time.
The band has recorded four full-length original projects: Raised By Wolves, The Roaring Twenties, How The Fuck Are We Not Famous??!?!?, and Wake Up Awesome. Producer and engineer Frank Marchand, owner of Waterford Digital Studio, was integral to many of those recordings. He also assists in some song arrangements. The band usually goes into the studio with 75 to 80 percent of a song finished. With Marchand’s suggestions, they all iron out the rest during the recording. It’s a process that Shook had to get used to, as the creative process was different in his former bands The Cheaters and Dublin 5 (Marchand has also been a mentor and support for him throughout his career). With six members, the band’s creative process sometimes needs an objective voice, and that’s where Marchand comes in—he’s been a guiding figure for their sound and direction as a band.
In March 2024, The Grilled Lincolns released its first new single in years, called “The Interview.” Streaming and short-form content has changed the group’s approach to recording and sharing new music. Choosing to record and release one song at a time has helped alleviate the pressure of having an entire album written before hitting the studio. It’s also helpful for scheduling, as sometimes it’s difficult to coordinate practices and studio sessions between everyone’s schedules.
With four full-length projects, everyone’s favorite song and album are different, but one song seems to resonate with them all. “Greenlight,” from their Raised By Wolves album, is a heartfelt ballad that Becker wrote in honor of his deceased mother. It’s a brief departure from the rowdiness of a show, a moment of vulnerability that exposes the nerve. They play it with special care, support, and attention to detail. It’s a reminder that their friendship transcends notes and chords: “Well it’s a cold night in the shadows, coming from my heart to the early morning, feeling uptight when the car was coming to a green light that was made for running through.”
The Grilled Lincolns have come a long way from partying at college. They’ve gotten married, started families, work full-time jobs. Members have left; some have returned. They’ve suffered loss. They’ve grown up and learned lessons. Through it all, friendship and music have kept them going for 24 years.
This year, the band headlined Annapolis’ premier music festival, Eastport a Rockin’ (EAR). In true EAR fashion, the performance was a jam, featuring members from some of the area’s top bands, including Honey Sol Band, Sweet Leda, Honest Lee Soul, and Michael McHenry Tribe. It was a fitting end to the day, perfectly highlighting what The Grilled Lincolns are all about: good music and good people having a real good time!
