Up Close with Blake Powers

(Interviewed on September 25, 2003)

Genre: Americana/ Country

PC: When did you begin your music career?

BP: I played my 1st show at Pato's Tacos in Austin, Tx in September of 2001. It was an acoustic show and I didn't get paid a dime. I was awful. My first show with my band was July 10, 2002, at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, and that's really where i would say that my music 'career' began. Playing with Joey (drummer), Fallon (lead/harmony singer), and Kevin (bass player) has been the driving force behind my transition from 'guy with a guitar on a stage' to 'guy with aspiring career in music'.

PC: Who are your main musical influences?

BP: As a writer, anyone who writes music that aspires to instruct, provoke, intrigue, or console is an influence to me. That list includes people like Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Patty Griffin, Nick Drake, Tori Amos, Willie Nelson, David Gray, James Taylor, Trent Resnor (Nine Inch Nails) and Neil Young.

PC: Where do you want to be in the next few years with your music career?

BP: My short and long term goal as a writer is to constantly evolve, to avoid cliches and easy metaphors, to never write the same song twice, and to say more with less (which is a huge problem for beginning writers). That is always a progression and, like any art, you never quite master it. So your goals as a writer should be the same as they are when you start, and it's PERSPECTIVE and expertise in regard to judging your progress that changes over time. On the business side, my long term goal is to get to a level where everyone in my band can pay his/her bills playing music... that's musical 'utopia' (in a business-sense, anyway), for any performer.

PC: Where can someone get a copy of your CD?

BP: Our new CD isn't out yet, but when it is, you can go to www.blakepowers.com for details on where it's available. look for a limited release date the first week of December, and an extended release sometime in early 2004

PC: What approach do you take when writing your songs? Do you have any specific routine?

BP: Not really... I usually start with words, because I really believe a well-written song should be something that stands on it's own, even if you read the lyrics without hearing the music. In my mind, it's not even worth composing the arrangement and melody if the driving force behind those things isn't rooted in quality. I do write down ideas all of the time, and if I see an idea that I think stands out on the page, I then try to imagine whether or not music could make it better, or communicate it appropriately. If I think music can augment my idea for the better, then I'll play around on the guitar and see what works, and what doesn't, in terms of the melody. Then I'll see if a vocal interpretation of the words I've written is consistent with the tone I was getting at when I wrote them. So I guess you could say there is a 'screening' process involved in the whole progression... maybe that's why I don't have a huge catalog of songs that I'd feel comfortable recording.

PC: What makes Texas music different from the stuff coming out of Nashville?

BP: I think the whole idea of 'Nashville Country' vs. 'Texas Country' is overstated, because most 'Country' music, in general, is fairly standard -- whether it comes from Texas or Nashville... The themes in Country music usually involve love lost/lamented; a clever turn of a phrase; a poignant/touching narrative about a person that communicates a moral and/or warning; traveling the highways; loneliness; or the celebration/despair that accompanies the use of alcohol. Very seldom does any writer of country tunes go outside of this sphere of material and address the political, the ephemeral, or the organic... if they do, they are considered a folk singer. Perhaps 'Texas Country' musicians localize their tunes to include specific names of towns, or people, but, really, is what they do THAT much different thematically? I don't think so. Sure, 'Nashville Country' music comes out of bigger studios, so it's more slick and produced, but I don't think, thematically, the majority of Texas or 'Red Dirt' Country Music is that much different from most other Country Music. The artists write their own material, and that is the major difference, though there are some Nashville Singers who write their own tunes, too. Texas musicians are often overly quick to criticize the 'fluff' that comes out ey do THAT much different thematically? I don't think so. Sure, 'Nashville Country' music comes out of bigger studios, so it's more slick and produced, but I don't think, thematically, the majority of Texas or 'Red Dirt' Country Music is that much different from most other Country Music. The artists write their own material, and that is the major difference, though there are some Nashville Singers who write their own tunes, too. Texas musicians are often overly quick to criticize the 'fluff' that comes out ey do THAT much different thematically? I don't think so. Sure, 'Nashville Country' music comes out of bigger studios, so it's more slick and producing absolutely nothing in return. Cory, in particular, has been stunningly generous to me and my band. 'Behind the scenes' folks like Dave Lytle (Gruene with Envy Website), Marc (at Texas Troubadours Website), and Mike Woods (Cory Morrow Management Team) have also been impressive, genuine people.

PC: Where do you see yourself in five years?

BP: I rarely look into the future. I whole-heartedly subscribe to the idea that we should never expect tomorrow to come, but, rather, we should be surprised and grateful if it does. Plus, looking too far ahead makes it hard to make memories today that you can, someday, fondly look back on.

PC: Is there anybody that you would like to perform on stage with?

BP: Sure, but only if I feel that I could genuinely 'add' something to what they are already doing. Patty Griffin would be at the top of the list, followed closely by Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos, and Allison Krauss. I think it would be more exciting to perform with a female singer, because I like the dynamics of male-female harmonies. Most people's answer is 'Willie' or 'Merle', but, honestly, they are such fantastic players... what could another male who isn't on their level really 'add' to their show?

PC: In your CD player right now, what CD would that be?

BP: "Dark Side of the Moon" Pink Floyd "Flaming Red" Patty Griffin "Lost Songs" David Gray "Music From the Morning After" Pete Yorn "Little Earthquakes" Tori Amos

Blake Powers Music
"Lines" CD

1. System
2. Lines
3. Runaway
4. Sirens
5. Little Man
6. Gray
7. Dallas Bound Greyhound
8. Cactus Cafe
9. Father's Face
10. Galilee
    

Among the myriad of artists who have emerged from Austin in the last five years, few have generated more excitement among fans, critics, and industry insiders than Blake Powers & Fallon Franklin. Their live shows seamlessly blend elements of singer/songwriter, pop, rock, and blues genres. Formed in July of 2002, the band has already been recognized as a bright, creative force in Americana music with the release of their albums, Lines and Red Lights. They appear poised to assert themselves on the Pop and Rock scenes as well. The band’s unique sound results from its four diverse members. 

Guitarist and vocalist Blake Powers is an accomplished songwriter whose credits include being named a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Category in 2002 and winning the distinguished BW Stevenson songwriting award (held annually at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas, TX) the same year. David Card, the owner of Poor David’s Pub and originator of the contest, has seen popular acts like The Dixie Chicks and Radney Foster start their careers on his legendary stage. “Blake has as bright a future as any of the artists we’ve had here,” he says. Venues like Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX), Poor David’s Pub (Dallas, TX), and Stubbs (Austin, TX) and popular touring acts like Vertical Horizon, Chris Knight, Guy Forsyth, Bruce Robison, and Cory Morrow agree. Powers style evokes strong comparisons to classic singer/songwriters like Van Morrison, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and David Gray.

Joining Powers on vocal duties is Fallon Franklin. Referred to by many in Austin as, simply, “The Voice,” Franklin is a fast rising solo star in her own right, and has the proud honor of being the first solo act ever allowed to perform at the University of Texas’s annual Spring Review. Franklin is gearing up to release her own CD in 2004, and critics, fans and artists are all eagerly awaiting her debut effort. Fallon has shared the stage with Asleep at the Wheel, Vertical Horizon, Pat Green, Cory Morrow, and The Great Divide, and her strong, soulful voice invokes shades of Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow. 

Joey Campbell is an accomplished drummer who has played with groups in Dallas, Nashville and Austin. Campbell adds invaluable depth and immense rhythmic possibility to all the groups he performs with. He counts artists such as Gene Krupa, Dave Grohl, Jimmy Chamberlain, Larry Mullen Jr, Jeremy Taggart, and Blair Sinta among his influences, and that type of rock-deluged diversity can be heard in his unique style.

Rounding out the group is multi-instrumentalist bass-player, Peat Laska. He is a recent transplant to the Austin area from Johnson City, TN, where he previously gigged in the Southeastern rock scene.  In addition to his current full-time gig with Blake and Fallon, Laska spends his musical energies working on various side-projects, including forays into childrens' music and experimental sound.

With the release of their debut albums, Lines and RedLights, the band blends their acoustic rock roots with contemporary jazz production choices and folk-influenced lyricism to create an amazingly intelligent and infectious product that critics are already hailing with 4 star ratings (www.rootshighway.com) to signify it as "the coolest record you'll buy this year" (www.gruenewithenvy.com). They are currently in talks with major labels and appear poised to receive national radio exposure in 2004.

For More Information on Blake Powers visit her web site at www.blakepowers.com