Posted 1:04 am Saturday, October 06, 2012
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Frestival on the Square: East Texas Rising Stars Play in Tyler
BY STEWART SMITH
ssmith@tylerpaper.com
One of East Texas' rising stars is returning home for a big show in downtown Tyler with Festival on the Square next week.
ssmith@tylerpaper.com
One of East Texas' rising stars is returning home for a big show in downtown Tyler with Festival on the Square next week.
The boys of Whiskey Myers began making a splash with their 2008 album “Road of Life.” Their sophomore release last year, “Firewater,” has since produced several singles, including their first No. 1 hit, “Anna Marie,” which reached the top of the Texas Music Chart. Since the release of that album the band has hit new highs as well, completing their first European tour (playing shows with crowds of more than 35,000 in attendance) and even having the opportunity to play alongside the likes of ZZ Top, Molly Hatchett, The Marshal Tucker Band and other rock and roll legends.
Frontman and guitarist Cody Cannon spoke with the Tyler Morning Telegraph about the band's recent successes, as well as what's on deck for them in the near future.
The band's European tour took them to locations around France and Italy, playing with the Rendezvous Festival. The language barrier may have been in full effect, but it seems not to have mattered much.
“A lot of those people didn't even speak English, but they still knew our music. It was surprising to see how many actual fans we have over there and how they dug the music. It transcended language. They got the gist of what was going on, even if they didn't know what I was talking about,” he said.
Many bands often find a somewhat unexpected wave of fandom from overseas, whether it's hitting big in Japan or elsewhere in Europe. Cannon attributed some of this to the notion that music fans are exposed to music differently, perhaps in a somewhat “purer” fashion that what is possible in North America due to the prevalence of Top 40 radio and the American record industry.
“They don't have that commercial (industry) that we do around here where (music) is just shoved down your throat,” Cannon said. “It seems like they're more open over there.”
Cannon said he and the rest of the band are happy to be home and to have a bit of a break, especially as they prepare to begin work on their third record.
The band's European tour took them to locations around France and Italy, playing with the Rendezvous Festival. The language barrier may have been in full effect, but it seems not to have mattered much.
“A lot of those people didn't even speak English, but they still knew our music. It was surprising to see how many actual fans we have over there and how they dug the music. It transcended language. They got the gist of what was going on, even if they didn't know what I was talking about,” he said.
Many bands often find a somewhat unexpected wave of fandom from overseas, whether it's hitting big in Japan or elsewhere in Europe. Cannon attributed some of this to the notion that music fans are exposed to music differently, perhaps in a somewhat “purer” fashion that what is possible in North America due to the prevalence of Top 40 radio and the American record industry.
“They don't have that commercial (industry) that we do around here where (music) is just shoved down your throat,” Cannon said. “It seems like they're more open over there.”
Cannon said he and the rest of the band are happy to be home and to have a bit of a break, especially as they prepare to begin work on their third record.
“We don't really get a chance to get together and play that much anymore, unless we're on stage or touring, so this will be one of the first times in a long time that we'll get to jam while we're not on the road,” he said. “I think we'll have a lot of really good stuff come out of that that'll go into this new album we're working on.”
“Firewater” was a definite success for the band, but Cannon said they're not out specifically to try and replicate precisely what has come before.
“We've never been big on envisioning or trying to capture a certain sound,” he said. “We just kind of let it grow organically. Whatever comes out comes out when we're in the moment. We just let the music happen. Maybe we'll be a mariachi band, you never know, though I'm sure it'll have a lot of the same feel.”
Whiskey Myers will be joined at Festival on the Square by Charlie Robinson, The Bigsbys and Jon Wolfe in downtown Tyler on Saturday, Oct. 13. Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Gallery Main Street or Cavender's Boot City, both in Tyler or at www.festivalonthesquare.com.
“Firewater” was a definite success for the band, but Cannon said they're not out specifically to try and replicate precisely what has come before.
“We've never been big on envisioning or trying to capture a certain sound,” he said. “We just kind of let it grow organically. Whatever comes out comes out when we're in the moment. We just let the music happen. Maybe we'll be a mariachi band, you never know, though I'm sure it'll have a lot of the same feel.”
Whiskey Myers will be joined at Festival on the Square by Charlie Robinson, The Bigsbys and Jon Wolfe in downtown Tyler on Saturday, Oct. 13. Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Gallery Main Street or Cavender's Boot City, both in Tyler or at www.festivalonthesquare.com.
