Surprise, surprise! Alternative country rockers Reckless Kelly didnt have much of a following when they first formed in Bend, Ore., just hours outside of crushingly hip Portland. Its not that the guys didnt have the talent; the grunge-happy Pacific Northwest just didnt have enough avenues to showcase them.
We didnt have a lot of gigs, said lead singer and songwriter Willy Braun. Not too many country music fans up there at the time.
He and the other members sought safe haven in the still weird, but more twang-friendly oasis of Austin, Texas. It didnt take Reckless Kelly long at all to confirm it could be successful, if only for the right audience.
My brother (bandmate Cody) and I grew up in Idaho listening to our dads country records, and we always knew about country music down in Texas and Austin. Thats kind of what led us there, he said. Eventually, we could play every night if we wanted to a lot more opportunities down here as a country rock band.
Reckless Kelly soon found itself playing its rootsy, rock-influenced country tunes in landmark venues like Stubbs BBQ and Antones. The guys have found that repping their adoptive hometown and the label of being an Austin band commands all sorts of other opportunities and a more receptive, unfamiliar crowds outside of Austin city limits.
Its almost automatic respect, for a lack of a better word, Braun said. People assume you are going to be at least a certain caliber. They are a lot more ready to give you a shot.
Thats helped fuel a long and fruitful career. In nearly 15 years together, Reckless Kelly has released six studio albums, all markedly similar.
Weve always tried to keep things relatively the same, Braun said. I think the fans appreciate that we dont stray too far from what weve always done as long as they dont get bored with it.
Reckless Kelly did switch things up with its latest disc, Somewhere in Time, a tribute to country legend Pinto Bennett, long a major inspiration for Braun.
We didnt want to let anyone down, and we didnt want to half-ass it, Braun said. Fortunately, his songs are so good, its really hard to mess them up unless you are trying to.
The band expects to head into the studio soon to record a new album for a possible fall release. First, however, comes Saturdays gig at Wormy Dog, and a May 1 date at the groups third annual celebrity softball game and concert in Austin. The event raises money for local Little League teams, and provides an opportunity to see some of the best country rockers around make fools of themselves stepping off the stage and onto the diamond.
Cody Canada isnt much of a baseball player, Braun said, laughing. Actually, not many of us are any good. Its kind of a spectacle.