AUSTIN — Listen to the vocal harmonies, folky guitars and sweet, airy sound of the Wild Feathers, and you might think that you’ve stepped back to a different musical era. At a time when contemporary acts tend toward electronic beats or punk-influenced rock, this band of young 30-somethings harkens to a ‘70s AOR vibe.
“It’s probably our parents,” bassist Joel King told USA TODAY during a recent interview at the South By Southwest music festival. “They had great record collections and … we didn’t have a chance to rebel from it very much; I think it was because it was so good.”
This month, the Wild Feathers released their second album, Lonely is a Lifetime, on Warner Bros. Records. With three singers, it’s easy to draw comparisons to Crosby, Stills & Nash, while the electric guitar work reminds one of Neil Young and the band itself has admitted a Pink Floyd jones.
“You don’t set out to try to sound a certain way, but if it’s something you like, something you dig, as soon as you start writing songs of your own, it just happens,” King said. “I think it’s all from our parents’ record collections and classic rock radio in the suburbs.”
Members of this Nashville quartet say they aren’t stuck in the past — the latest albums by the War on Drugs and Beck get frequent play on the tour bus — but their sound has brought exposure to a wide range of listeners. Among the acts who have put the Wild Feathers in opening slots: Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Willie Nelson.
“It’s young and it’s older,” [name] said of the Wild Feathers’ fans. “And I think that kind of has something to do with maybe them understanding and getting where we’re coming from musically. We’re obviously influenced by records of the past, but we’re also trying to move it forward too … We want to grow as musicians.”
“If you go to those things, it’s a mixed, diverse thing. It’s not just gray-haired people go see Willie Nelson,” King said.
The Wild Feathers formed in 2010 in Nashville, a city they credit for their drive. Their self-titled debut was released in 2013, followed by touring that took them across the USA and to Europe. Time on the road inspired the songs and sound, and even title of Lonely is a Lifetime, which they are now supporting with a U.S. club tour and then more dates in Europe.
“You’re surrounded by such great musicians and songwriters all the time,” guitarist Taylor Burns said of Nashville. “It makes you elevate your musicianship, your songwriting, everything, just because you go out on a random night and you see something that will blow you away.”
One aspect of the Wild Feathers that tends to blow audiences away is their vocal blend. This comes from the fact that three members had been lead singers in previous bands (only drummer Ben Dumas stays away from the mic).
Sharing the vocal duties “could be a little daunting and difficult, but I think we all really ended up enjoying it,” guitarist Ricky Young said. “I know sometimes I really prefer not to sing, and that’s something I never thought I would say, but it’s fun to just kind of be in the band and just kind of play guitar and be into the music. And it’s way less work, which we’re all into.”
Said King: “It’s refreshing to be on a team.”
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