One of the best things about the Louisville music scene is that you can easily discover a new band when you’re least expecting it. For instance, I attended the Civil Twilight show earlier this month at Headliners Music Hall. I saw them a few years ago, so this show was basically a reunion for me. I was definitely ready to see Civil Twilight again, but while I was among the crowd, I noticed a band that opened up for them. The group is known as Powell, a trio of three brothers who happen to live in the city of Louisville. The band members consist of Casey (guitar and vocals), Conner (bass), and Taylor (drums). Their sound is quite interesting, and it quickly drew a large crowd to the stage at the Headliners show. I knew that I had to learn more about this band, so I asked them a few questions.
When did you form Powell?
Summer 2013
What inspired you to make music together?
We inspired each other to make music together. We all grew up playing in different bands, but then we decided to join forces and play together.
How did you learn to play music?
Conner: We taught ourselves.
Casey: I just borrowed a friend’s guitar and started playing awhile, and then my neighbor gave me some lessons.
What other bands inspire you? Or what are your favorite bands?
Pink Floyd, Portugal. The Man, CCR, Minus The Bear, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Vulfpeck, just to name several.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?
Funk rock
What venues in Louisville do you play at?
Headliners, Rudyard Kipling, Kaiju, Third Street Dive, etc.
What is your favorite venue in the city to play at?
Headliners, great place and great people.
What makes your music unique?
Casey: We consider almost every option when writing a song, and we aren’t afraid to leave our comfort zone.
Conner: Pedals. Just kidding.
What has been your favorite memory as a band so far?
Our trip to play in Asheville, NC was quite noteworthy. Just an all-around good time.
Do you have any advice for someone that aspires to be a musician in Louisville?
“Just do it.” –Nike
Do you have a CD? Music on iTunes? Downloads? Etc.?
To date, we have only released the Brothers EP. We are currently working on our first full-length entitled “Palbum” though. So hopefully we will be on iTunes soon!
That concludes my list of questions. I am certainly looking forward to the album coming soon, and now that I know the band a little better, I plan on attending their shows here in Louisville. I am truly lucky to live in such a musically diverse city. Who knows what band I will discover next? Please follow along with Powell on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ReverbNation. You can also listen to Brothers here.
