When Austin-based band Wheeler Brothers rocked the Varsity on Wednesday night, it marked a return to old stomping grounds for three of the band members, who are University alumni. Brothers Nolan Wheeler, Tyler Wheeler and Patrick Wheeler   — all University alumni — along with AJ Molyneaux and Danny Matthews make up the five-piece independent folk-rock band. The Daily Reveille spoke with the band at the sound check before the show. —-
TDR: The frontman of Asleep at the Wheel, Ray Benson, has some pretty good things to say about Wheeler Brothers. Benson was quoted saying, “I was blown away by the great vocals, cool songs and fantastic musicality of these guys. They rock, they roll, they’re city, they’re country but most of all they are fun.” How do y’all feel about those comments?
Matthews: Pretty positive comments, not too many criticisms in that quote. I mean I’m all for it.
TDR: Ray Benson ended up signing Wheeler Brothers to his music label, which is the same label that Willie Nelson, Carolyn Wonderland and Asleep at the Wheel. What is it like being in the same label as those musicians?
N. Wheeler: We don’t really rub elbows with the other artists too much.
Molyneaux: We did play for Ray Benson’s birthday party, though. We got to mingle and pretend to be hotshots for the night.
TDR: Was it crazy headlining shows before Wheeler Brothers’ album released?
P. Wheeler: When people hear the music and they like it, they show up.
Matthews: You do see that more in Austin because the music scene there is so cohesive.
TDR: How would you describe the band’s sound?
N. Wheeler: Indie folk rock ‘n roll.
Matthews: We are all from Texas so that twang is undeniably there. I mean, all three of the brothers grew up in Austin. Our sound just kind of came together when we were all writing and recording.
TDR: I notice that there is a Jonas Brothers vibe going on since there are three brothers in the band. How is it having three brothers in the band?
N. Wheeler: We try and keep our Disney appearances to a minimum.
Molyneaux: It’s great. They pretty much make up the backbone of the rhythm section.
TDR: Do the band members fight like you all were brothers?
T. Wheeler: Hell yes. It keeps us sharp.
TDR: Some of the band members went to school at the University. Was it difficult adjusting to Austin and the music scene there after leaving in Baton Rouge?
Molyneaux: Yeah. When we came over here it was a lot of funk and blues. We would go to New Orleans every other weekend.
N. Wheeler: I mean, there was a scene in Baton Rouge, but it wasn’t really blossoming or anything. There were some bands. You could still catch good shows at Chelsea’s and Spanish Moon when we were down here.
TDR: Was there any particular message that the band wanted to get across in the music video for the song “Portrait”?
Matthews: That’s one of the songs that is pretty deliberate; less of a personal story and more of a story that other people can relate to.
TDR: What is the band’s favorite song on the new album?
N. Wheeler: They are all our children.
Molyneaux: I would have to say “Just Another City” because that is when we really started working with the piano, and it was exciting to use new instruments in the music. It was an exciting song in an evolution kind of way.
TDR: Has Wheeler Brothers thought about performing for the University’s Groovin’ on the Grounds Concert?
N. Wheeler: Yeah, definitely.
Matthews: At least when I was in school, it was a lot of hip-hop music and kind of like throwback groups. These spring college festivals are getting huge. I went to UT, and when I was a senior we had The Roots there. We had huge names come play there.
TDR: What is up next for Wheeler Brothers in the future?
N. Wheeler: We are working on new tunes for the new album and music videos for them. Really working on our media, getting into social networking.
TDR: How has the band’s tour been going so far?
Matthews: It’s been a bit of a cupcake. Everywhere we have gone people have been really accepting and really supportive. We are here today and are going to Dallas tomorrow.
TDR: What musicians inspire the band’s sound? Is Wheeler Brothers’ music completely original in you all’s opinion?
Molyneaux: It is actually the complete opposite.
T. Wheeler: Everything from heavy metal to country. Definitely New Orleans funk.
 
____
Contact Eastan Croson at [email protected]