Tennessee band The Kingston Springs recently brought their righteous rock show through Indianapolis, blowing the paint off the walls at the Hoosier Dome. It was the band’s first trip to the Circle City but certainly won’t be their last. The group was just booked to come back later this month and open for Houndmouth March 23 at Radio Radio. Following the Hoosier Dome show, the band was kind enough to answer a few questions from IndyRockLive.
IRL: You’ve been playing together for about 4 years now, correct? How did you land on your sound – maybe call it ragged glory mixed with elements of decades past?
KS: Yes, 4 years. The sound developed from listening to old and new records. Our friendship outside of the band helped us accept each others creative differences, which help to make up our sound. We just try to keep it real and not force anything.
IRL: Nashville is well known for its vibrant music scene. Would you say your proximity to the city has informed your songwriting?
KS: Nashville new and old has influenced our music. Since we’ve started touring we’ve been able to be influenced from other towns and their scenes. But we do agree you can hear “Nashville” in our music. It’s not just country music. It’s all kinds.
IRL: I’ve seen a few references to the Black Keys as it relates to the band’s sound, but my feeling is you have your eye on greater themes, similar to the Drive-By Truckers. Where do you see the band’s progression going forward?
KS: We don’t try to sound like anyone. We’ve been compared to a lot of different bands. Some of them we’ve never heard of before. We just try to do our own style. But as far as moving forward we’d like to tour more and record more albums.
IRL: I love how the album was produced to include that rough-around-the-edges feel. Would you polish it up more on the next record if you had a bigger budget or do you intend to maintain the current aesthetic?
KS: We just give the songs the feel they need to have. Whether it’s a rougher feel or a more polished feel doesn’t depend on our budget as much as it does what feels right from song to song or album to album.
IRL: How has your live show developed since you began and how do you see it evolving?
KS: It has changed. It tends to change from night to night, and I’m sure it will continue to. There’s never really any telling what’s going to happen on stage, so we just tend to go with it where feels right.
The Kingston Springs hits Austin this week for the SXSW Music Festival. Find out where they’re playing and check them out.
, so it was at the peak of their three-guitar attack featuring Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and 
, comes out in few weeks. If you’re not familiar with them already, it’s the perfect place to start.
