Americanafest is an annual event organized by the Americana Music Association and held in Nashville, Tennessee. Americanafest 2019 will be held between Sept. 10 and Sept. 15 with the Americana Honors and Awards Show taking place at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 11. The five-day event will feature panels and performances at several venues in Nashville. Them Coulee Boys is one of about 300 artists scheduled to perform at this year’s Americanafest. The following questions were answered by Soren Staff of Them Coulee Boys.
When did you start singing? I started singing as a child, in the church and school choirs. I was classically trained for a few years while also singing in my high school punk band. All in all, I’ve been singing in this style for maybe the last 7 years.
How would you describe your music? I would describe our music as alt-folk with a flair for the dramatic. Highs and lows, sincere and energetic.
3 Who are your musical influences? The Avett Brothers, Dawes, Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, U2, Neutral Milk Hotel, Tom T Hall, Willie Nelson.
What is your favorite concert you have attended? 5. What made it memorable? I saw Paul McCartney at Bonnaroo in 2013, waiting in line all day to get in the second row. I didn’t realize how much his music meant to me, but it really hit me at the end of “Hey Jude” and I turned around to see 80,000 people singing along. The same year I saw Neutral Milk Hotel. There’s something special about a show where you can mosh and cry in the same song. It all felt like we were being let in on a secret, and I felt better for it.
What is your favorite place to perform? What do you like about it? We’ve played some legendary stages, including the Riverside in Milwaukee and First Avenue in Minneapolis, but I think our favorite place to play is an apple farm in western Wisconsin called Ecker’s. Ecker’s puts on the Honeycrisp Hootenanny, and it was our 2nd ever show we’ve played. We’ve been playing the Hoot (as its affectionately called) since before we were really a band, and have headlined it for the last 4 years. There’s a certain magic in that tent in the middle of an orchard in October that we will always love, and always return to.
Other than artists, who has been influential in your decision to become a singer? My parents and grandparents have always encouraged me to sing, and have given me the freedom to pursue it in whatever form I chose. I’ve had some great teachers along the way, including Kathryn Hardie and Mary Cooley. For me, singing has always been my natural form of expression. These people just encouraged it.
What was the first song you wrote? First song I wrote was a ballad for my high school punk band The Vindicated Truth, entitled “For You”. It was about marriage and commitment, and written by a kid who hadn’t kissed a girl yet. After that came “I Wrote This Song When I Was Pissed” which was a little more angsty (as you can see).
What is your favorite original song? What was the inspiration behind it? This is really an unfair question. Right now, it would be “My Anxiety & Me” off our newest release “Die Happy”. I wrote it when I was finished writing the songs for this record, and wanted something to tie it all together. This record is a meditation on self acceptance, and navigating mental illness. This song was so important for my own healing, and I hope it can be that for others.
What does it mean to you to be selected to play Americanafest? It’s an honor for sure. For 5 boys from small town western Wisconsin it means a lot to share the bill with all these incredible bands in a city like Nashville. We want to prove we belong, and can’t wait to show people what we got.
Where can people hear your music? themcouleeboys.com, Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms.