One Bad Son album and breakthrough: 2012-2013
The band’s self-titled third album was released by 604 Records on Sept. 25, 2012.[7] The album was recorded in Vancouver and produced by Danny Craig, drummer for Canadian band Default. Frustrated with the lack of response from radio stations across Canada, the band decided to show up at various rock stations in Western Canada to play their song ‘Scarecrows’ in person. To the band’s surprise, the tactic worked and ended up taking them from Vancouver to Ottawa, and resulted in a surprise hit with ‘Scarecrows’, which went to #5 across the country.[8] The band returned home to Saskatoon to shoot the ‘Scarecrows’ video, which featured local fans and friends as extras.[9][10]
The band embarked on a cross-country tour with Buckcherry in 2013,[11] as well as dates with Monster Truck, Three Days Grace, and Crash Karma in support of the new album. The single ‘It Ain’t Right’ was released in 2013, and went to #11 at Canadian radio. In October 2013, the band won a nationwide contest hosted by Sirius XM Radio to play the Grey Cup festivities in Regina, opening for fellow Saskatoon band The Sheepdogs.[12] The single ‘Retribution Blues’ was released in 2013 and became the second top 10 single of the band’s career, staying in the Canadian top 10 for 15 weeks.[13] One Bad Son has been listed as one of the top 10 Canadian bands of 2013 [14] and 2012.[15]