Texas Trio hit Bargeway Pub on Friday with licks from new album

Tyler and Blake Powell of the Powell Brothers, a Texas Trio with drummer Mike Bishop, will be at the Bargeway Pub on Friday.

By Tom Peterson

The Powell Brothers band is set to hit The Dalles this Friday, Aug. 14, at the Bargeway Pub, and the Kingwood Texas Trio plan on laying down some licks with their original set.  Free of charge.

“We can’t wait to see what the room is feeling, and we’ll roll with it,” said Blake Powell. He and brother Tyler, lead vocals, guitar, are joined by long-time friend Mike Bishop on drums. 

Columbia Community Connection caught up with the brothers in Ketchum, Idaho last week as they are touring through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. 

And their sound?

“If Tom Petty had Vince Giill singing lead and he joined the Eagles band… there is so much stuff we love doing,” Taylor joked with Matt Meinke on Public Radios’ Notably Texan.

The brothers have eclectic musical tastes - looking to  jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll- “Music we love doing and performing live,” Taylor said. “There is- so much great music everywhere.”

The Powell Brothers formed the band several years ago after they made the excuse of cutting an album to borrow their uncle’s vintage Martin guitars.

That and a little tip from a friend:  A buddy and producer told Blake “if  anything is going wrong surround yourself with good people who love what they’re doing every day and you can’t go wrong.”

The brothers took that message to heart. And they have found a few songs in the bars they have played. 

How It’s Done is their latest single released on June 1.

Here’s the first stanza:

It’s gonna be tough, is what he said 

You’ll be in the sun and dashed upon the rocks in the same breath

So you gotta be tough, and a little mean 

You've got a ways to go and you ain’t gonna get there clean 

Tyler said he wrote the song after running into a man at a venue they were playing in San Antonio. “A nice old fellow enjoyed the set. He told us ‘we got it and to keep killing it. Got to keep on working even if our fingers are bleeding and keep on digging,’” Tyler said. “He had kind of been drinking. He told us to keep on digging for 25 or 35 minutes, and it made this story about digging in. It was a fantastic moment - we’re still trying to find this guy. We get it and that is what this single is all about.”

The brothers have had a whirlwind tour since the release of their latest album, Leave on the Light on February 15th. 

Taylor said shortly after the release the brothers realized two of their dreams, playing two of Texas’ most famous dance halls -  Gruene Hall in Braunfel and Luckenbach. 

They launched their new CD at Gruene Hall and played a set before Ricky Skaggs and then hit the road for Luckenbach. 

The brothers were able to play with Texas legend Gary P. Nunn “We used to drive around in our truck listening to him as a little kids,” Taylor said.

The Powell Brothers are set to hit the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Bargeway Pub, 1535 Bargeway Road. Josh Malm of Redwood Son is set to open at 6:30

To take a sneak peak, go to https://www.powellbrothersmusic.com/videos.