Band Members: JT Woodruff, vocals and guitar; Matt Ridenour, bass and vocals; Mark McMillon, guitar, backing vocals, and Chris Popadak, drums
The Storyteller: JT Woodruff
The Song: “Shoulder to the Wheel” by Saves the Day
With its earnest, get-in-the-car-and-go sing-along chorus and propulsive, hook-laced rhythm, Saves the Day’s “Shoulder to the Wheel” captured the house-show spirit of the late ‘90s New Brunswick underground. The track — a melodic punk snapshot of believe-in-yourself ambition — awakened bands to an escapist state of mind, pushing them beyond basement parties and onto the open road.
The Background:
Always leaning toward movement, Hawthorne Heights — an anchor of the Midwest emo-core punk scene since the early aughts — have continued to evolve, expanding their harmonious choruses and surges of cathartic screams across seven studio albums with threads of alt-rock textures. That restless evolution of sound, combined with touring, has galvanized the band as one of the defining acts of the hardcore scene.
For frontman JT Woodruff, his aversion to daily norms — coupled with a Jack Kerouac On the Road “nowhere to go but everywhere” mindset — first flickered to life growing up in his hometown of St. Mary’s, West Virginia. He recalls, specifically January 1999, the moment when he first connected with “Shoulder to the Wheel” — its melodic alacrity and rhythmic drive hitting him immediately. Moreover, the song’s believe-in-yourself, hit-the-road chant became a directive: he sought out a copy of BYOFL (Book Your Own F*cking Life) as a manual for his wanderlust. The pairing — song plus DIY guide — established JT’s mantra: seize every opportunity and never hold back; just go.
That early mix of song plus guide set the tone for decades of music and life on the road. Now — as Hawthorne Heights celebrates the 20th anniversary of If Only You Were Lonely with an international Lonely World Tour — the experience has come full circle, a reminder that the open road can still lead anywhere.
The Story:
For JT, the energy of the road and the restless, wandering spirit embedded in “Shoulder to the Wheel” quickly became his compass for navigating the rugged terrain of early indie-rock touring. What began as a dream didn’t stay abstract for long — the song triggered a transformational shift. It wasn’t just about having fun or discovering newfound freedom; it revealed the physical grit and mental fortitude required for emerging acts to survive and thrive in the pre-ultrafast broadband Internet era.
“This song specifically made me want to buy a van, grab my band and friends, and just hit the open road. And that’s what I did.”
Knowing enthusiasm alone wouldn’t be enough, JT leaned on his fresh hardbound edition of BYOFL, Book Your Own Fucking Life, a DIY touring guide before everything was readily available online. With it, he had both the practical roadmap and the musical conviction to chase something bigger.
By the summer of 1999, JT bought a van and booked an entire tour. Long drives, nights on the road, and a steady flow of local shows forged resilience, cohesion, and deep friendships — the kind that help carry the mental weight of touring. He elaborates, “Saves The Day introduced me to the New Jersey music scene in general. Back then, the bills on shows were so diverse. Through them, I found bands like Lifetime, New Found Glory, and Reggie and The Full Effect. It made me scour the entire Equal Vision roster.”
That dreamy, out-of-the-window state watching the world pass by eventually morphed into more than a touring philosophy — it influenced songwriting. JT moved toward internal, personal themes that reflected Quixotic philosophies. One lyric in particular struck him: "Get us as far as far can be, get us away from tonight.”
During these long stretches of travel, buried dreams often rise under an open sky. JT explains, “The interstate can take you anywhere in the United States, which is why it is so beautiful. I've lost myself out there and found myself at the same time.” The underlying On the Road “keep rolling under the stars” mindset — restless and expansive — became his motto for both touring and life: “The world is out there to chase your dreams — you have to go after them; they won’t chase you.”
Even now, decades later, JT returns to the song. “A few days ago, I listened to it on a cruise ship with my wife of 20 years. I still feel everything I felt the first time I heard it — which is why it is so magical.” For JT, dreams rarely come easy; they demand initiative, courage, and persistence — all stemming from within.
He concludes: “Chase every dream you have ever had. It will help you tear down all the walls and set aside excuses. Just get in the van, so to speak. Let it rip — gun it to 70 mph on the interstate.”
Photo credit: Sarai Kelley
