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 bands 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 Davids Pub in Dallas, TX) the same year. David Card, the owner of Poor Davids 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 weve had here, he says. Venues like Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX), Poor Davids 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 Texass 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.
With the release of their albums, Lines and Red Lights, 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 2006.
The band's upcoming release, "Wasted Day" is already getting rave reviews. Look for this ingenious mix of rock and pop in October 2006.
