By TOM GERROW
BG Independent News
Silverada is coming to the Black Swamp Arts Festival and will be the closer on the main stage opening night, Friday, Sept. 11, at 10 p.m. It’s the Austin-based band’s first show in BG and an early date on their latest tour. Their music blends country and Americana, but with their own distinctive Texas-style: a little more down-to-earth, real and authentic. And a little more rockin’.
This tour is timed with the release of the band’s new album, “Living Proof,” which dropped on Aug. 7. The album features 10 new songs and is the first record with keyboard player Parker Twomey, the latest addition to the band.
“We cut it all pretty much live at Sonic Ranch outside of El Paso last year,” said Silverada frontman Mike Harmeier. “It’s a little less of a country record and more of a country rock, southern soul record kind of thing.”
Harmeier wrote the songs, with a co-write credit to bass player Omar Oyoque on one track. The album was produced by the band with a little help from longtime friend, John Evans. “He came in kind of last minute to help us be the eyes and the ears on the other side of the glass, so to speak,” Harmeier said.
“We’re just super stoked about it,” Harmeier said. “It’s kind of everything we wanted. It was very collaborative. I mean, it was probably the most collaborative record I think that we’ve done. Just cut it all in five days.”
Now with a bag full of new songs, they’ve got an itch waiting to be scratched.
“Especially with a new record, you want to play it,” Harmeier said. “We’ve been playing a lot of new things and probably earlier on than I think I ever have in an album cycle. It’s been working really well. And so right now we’re working on just how to transition those songs into our set with the ones that everybody wants to hear and knows from the old catalogue.”
“We kind of experiment with it a little bit more,” he added. “I think there’s a little bit more jams happening and, it’s still about the song, but I think we let the band kind of play with each other a little bit more in this set than we have in the past.”
So while there should be opportunities for a little boot-scooting, look for a vibe that is going to be energetic and upbeat.
“We’re going to be rocking,” Harmeier said. “We like the pit shows – we want the energy right there in front of us. And you know, the best way for us to do a show is reciprocated energy from the audience. Just get up right in front of us and let’s all sing and do it together.”
The band backing Harmeier has evolved from the original lineup in the band’s early days, when they were known as Mike and the Moonpies. Original band member Catlin Rutherford is still on guitar, with bass player Omar Oyoque laying down the low end for almost a decade, and long-time drummer Taylor Englert keeping the machine running on time. Now their latest member, Parker Twomey on keyboards, rounds out their sound.
“I’ve been thinking about adding keys – we’ve had keys on every record, but not necessarily on every tour,” Harmeier said. “And I kept missing that. You know, there’s so much sonically that you can do with that and fill so much space. I think the whole band missed it.”
But now, with Twomey on board, they won’t be missing it on this tour.
“Parker is like this brilliant savant of a keyboard player and songwriter and singer,” Harmeier added. “He brings a lot of things to the table, so it’s really kind of expanded the show.”
With the band hitting on all cylinders, they’re ready to hit the main stage at the BSAF. So how do they bring the mojo, night after night, show after show?
“I think it’s the positive energy of everybody here,” Harmeier said. “We finally got it to a place where it’s like, everybody is just really having a good time doing it and is excited about it.”
Get ready to share their excitement when Silverada takes the stage opening night.
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Friday’s Main Stage schedule:
- Austin & the Syd Experience, 5 p.m.
- Debutants, 6:30 p.m.
- Magoo, 8 p.m.
- Silverada, 10 p.m.
