About the Band
OPEN ROAD RITUAL
Songs for the miles behind us… and the road ahead.
Sometimes the road takes you further than you planned…
and sometimes it brings you back.
The story of Open Road Ritual started in Seattle in 2012, when songwriter and guitarist Craig Cessna connected with drummer Jeff Brandli through a mutual friend. What began as a simple jam session quickly turned into something more — a shared passion for writing real, honest rock music about life as it actually feels.
Soon after, bassist Ron Haworth joined the lineup, and the three of them formed a band called Trigger Happy. In 2013, they recorded an album of original songs — music shaped by where they were in life at the time. In 2014, those eleven songs were released.
And then… life happened.
Later that year, Jeff's company relocated him across the country to Boston. The band played a few final shows with a replacement drummer, but eventually, the project came to an end. Like so many things in life, it wasn't a dramatic ending — just a quiet shift in direction.
Years passed.
Jeff moved to Phoenix in 2018. Craig followed in 2020. They reconnected in 2021, but between careers, responsibilities, and everything else life throws your way, the timing never quite lined up.
Then in November of 2025, Craig reached out with a simple idea:
“Maybe it’s time to play again.”
That one message changed everything.
Today, the band has been reborn as Open Road Ritual, now based in Phoenix with a new lineup that includes bassist Joe Bass.
The music they wrote back in Seattle hasn't been forgotten — but it hasn't stayed the same either.
Because the truth is… neither have they.
Those songs were written by guys in a different place in life. Now, they're being revisited with years of experience, perspective, and a deeper understanding of what those lyrics really mean.
So instead of leaving those songs in the past, Open Road Ritual is bringing them forward — relaunching all eleven tracks under a new name, along with new music inspired by the miles they've traveled since.
This isn't about chasing what used to be.
It's about picking it back up… and seeing where the road goes next.
Because some songs deserve a second life.
And some roads are meant to be traveled more than once.
The Band
Craig Cessna — Guitar / Songwriter / Lead Vocals
Jeff Brandli — Drums / Backing Vocals
Joe Bass — Bass / Backing Vocals