Americana fans in Philly have something new to be happy about: local outfit the Levee Drivers are preparing to celebrate the release of their newest EP, Speakin’ Bourbon-Coated Blues, at Kung Fu Necktie on December 6th. They’ll be joined by Ron Gallo (of Philly band Toy Soldiers) and eclectic indie group The Lawsuits, making for a great showcase of Philly music, and a perfect setting in which to get excited about a brand-new EP.
While fans can always check out (and download) the band’s recent East Coast Studio sessions recordings, I also got the chance to ask Levee Drivers guitarist/steel player Kyle Perella a few questions to help give Rock on Philly readers a taste of what to expect on December 6th. Here’s what we talked about:
Rock on Philly: What are you most excited about for the show on Friday?
Kyle Perella: I think I’m most excited to headline what already looks like an awesome night of music, and for everyone to see how much we’ve grown as a band. Our rehearsals have been sounding very tight and our confidence is high. So that makes for a very strong sense of excitement.
KP: Neil Young has always been a big influence on the band, but he’s been an even bigger influence on me ever since I’ve been playing lap steel, which has been less than a few years. August (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and I have also spent some time in Nashville and have let country and Western swing influence us more than it already had previously.
KP: I’m very proud of “Midnight in my Home Town”. I feel like it’s the best that August and Chelsea (who was a special guest singer) have ever sounded together, and every instrument was played at its best to fit the overall emotion of the track.
KP: August seems to have a thing for cheap bottles of Clan McGregger and isn’t ashamed one bit! I’ve been hooked on Jack Daniels ever since I visited the distillery in Tennessee. But we can all class it up with a bottle of Johnny Walker scotch as well.
Want to keep up with all the Levee Drivers news before the EP release? Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook! Tickets for the show are $10, and can be purchased online at Ticketweb, or at the door if the show doesn’t sell out. Kung Fu Necktie is located at 1250 N. Front Street in Philadelphia. The show is 21+ and doors open at 8PM.