Great Peacock

We’ve had the luxury of catching Nashville band Great Peacock in concert a few times, including a set at our South By Southwest party this year. Now, the band returns with a music video for their track “Tennessee.”

“This was a song that came naturally for us as far as writing and performing,” said bandmember Andrew Nelson. “It’s our homage to the effect our time in Tennessee has had on us as musicians.

Nelson and the band certainly chose an apt setting for the music video, showcasing the natural beauty Tennessee has to offer.

“The video was filmed right outside of Nashville on a hill overlooking the Cumberland River,” said Nelson. “We couldn’t have picked a better setting for the song.” -

Birds of a feather flock together, and that’s definitely the case with Great Peacock’s Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd. After meeting in Nashville, the two aspiring musicians instantly became best friends and survived a couple of band breakups before forming Great Peacock.

One of their most dramatic songs, “Take Me to the Mountain” slowly builds to its crest, underscoring the lyrics about never giving up. Check out this live version from CMT’s studio. -

It’s been a busy year for Great Peacock. Armed with a stockade of easygoing, harmony-driven Americana tunes that pitch their tent somewhere between the country crooners of the ‘60s and the Southern rockers of the following decade, the guys have been strutting their plumage all over the American heartland, playing SXSW during the first quarter of 2013 before going on to open for Jason Isbell, Houndmouth, and Keller Williams. The Nashville-based group has big plans for 2014, too, including a full-length debut album. That record won’t be released until the spring, but the band is rush-releasing the first single just in time for Thanksgiving. Good timing, too, since the song — a swooning, sweeping power ballad called “Tennessee” — tips its cowboy hat to the boys’ homeland, giving thanks to the rivers, mountains, and muse-like influence of the Volunteer State.

“This was an easy song to write and finish,” says Andrew Nelson, who shares frontman duties with harmony singer and poncho-wearing partner Blount Floyd. “It just came so naturally. I think it has to do with being surrounded by all of the state’s natural beauty, as well as the music and musicians that it produces and draws. To say that living in Tennessee has had an impact on our musical development would be an understatement. It’s our homage to its effect on us as songwriters and performers.” -

You ever heard a peacock squawk? It’s awful. It’s nowhere near as invigorating or pleasant as the band Great Peacock. I could listen to them all day. We got this video last week via email from Lee Shook, producer, director, and editor over at the super cool Spectra Sonic Sound Sessions. He had this to say about the band:

“Nashville‘s Great Peacock is one of those rare birds that manages to combine true rock grit with a country croon in a way that’s both indebted to Americana while simultaneously soaring well above it. Focusing on a brand of rough and tumble harmonizing that is equal parts delicate craftsmanship and brute sonic force, the band dexterously bridges the gap between sweet backroads melodies and Crazy Horse pyrotechnics in what can only be described as a powerful display of musical counterpoint worthy of wider praise. Spearheaded by the songwriting duo of Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd, whose symbiotic relationship was born over a chance run-in at a local bar and a shotgunned 12-pack of Busch beer, the group have built up a small but dedicated following over the past few years as they’ve traversed the Southeast and beyond peddling their unique blend of sounds and sonorities to anyone who will listen. Equally adept at heartwrenching ballads and balls-out rockers, the group have distinguished themselves as one of the new leading lights in young Nashville’s rejuvenated music scene and are preparing their debut LP Making Ghosts for distribution on This Is American Music in 2015. An engaging live act known to cover everyone from The National to The Allman Brothers, the coming year could be a watershed moment for the band. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come. . . .” -

MADISON, Alabama -- Riding around in cars figures heavily into the music of Great Peacock, a Nashville duo featuring singer-songwriters Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd and their pastoral harmonies and big-sky tunes.

The longtime friends first discovered their voices blended well while driving around and making up songs about random stuff they saw. And for their upcoming LP "Making Ghosts," release date yet to be determined, they aspired to create something "that would be really easy for people to sing along with in their cars," Nelson, 30, says. "That's probably the hardest part of waiting for it to come out," he adds. "We just can't wait for people to be living with these songs."

The material on Great Peacock's 2013 eponymous EP, such as "Take Me to the Mountain" and "Desert Lark," will likely appeal both to fans of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Laurel Canyon-rock and Fleet Foxes' 21st-century bearded-indie sensibilities.

On July 18, Great Peacock will perform at Blue Pants Brewery (500 Lanier Road, Madison). Tickets ($5 advance, $8 door) are available at Blue Pants, and Birmingham songbird India Ramey opens the 9 p.m. show. The brewery will run beer specials from 8 – 9 p.m., and if the weather holds the show will be held on Blue Pants' outdoor patio. If it rains, the concert will be moved to their warehouse stage.

Nelson was in the parking lot of a Nashville bank depositing income from recent Great Peacock concerts when called for this phone interview.

Andrew, before forming Great Peacock you and Blount were in another band playing "angsty downer rock." How angsty?

Well, it was called Shotgun Lover and it was pretty angsty. I wouldn't say it was shoegaze downer. It certainly wasn't death metal or anything. It was kind of blues-rock like the Black Keys but a little heavier, a little more (Black) Sabbath influenced.

What's does "Making Ghosts," the title of the upcoming album and a song on the LP, refer to?

There's a line out of that song that references the idea that as human beings we tend to make people ghosts that are in our lives. People come and go and situations change over time, and someone that was so much a part of our life one day is almost like a ghost another day. And it's neither negative or positive. It's just sort of an observation.

You've been quoted as saying "If I had my way in life I'd be a country singer. My dream is to be George Jones." What's your nightmare?

Oh, man. I think my nightmare would just be to be stuck in something you wanted to get out of but just couldn't. When you love playing music so much, part of you is OK to play stuff that you don't necessarily love musically because it's an opportunity to make a living doing what you love. The other side is pride and "artistic integrity" and to wanting to not do that. Could I enjoy being the guitarist for a group I'm not particularly fond of? Yeah, if it's making good money. But if I don't know. Maybe if I got out there maybe I'd hate it. [Laughs.]

What's one of the subjects of the songs you and Blount would improvise while riding around together?

You see a lot of characters around here. One time we were on the road and we saw this guy talking on an old phone booth. You never see phone booths anymore. And this guy was probably in his mid-50s with this long, sort of Oak Ridge Boys hair and beard and he was wearing nothing but denim shorts and maybe some sandals. So we started coming up with ideas of who he was talking to and what he was talking about.

In many of the photos of Great Peacock I've seen Blount is wearing a poncho. How many of those things does he have?

He was two. He has a winter poncho and a summer poncho. So strangely enough he hasn't gone onstage naked underneath a poncho yet - maybe that will one day when it's unbearably hot. He's just got a "love life" personality. I haven't met anybody that didn't like him, so the poncho is more an extension of his colorfulness, more than anything. When he puts it on it just seems so natural.

The music video you guys did for your single "Tennessee" features live audio, and not lip-synched like many videos are. Even though it was filmed in this dramatic outdoor setting, it still sounds really good.

It was exciting and scary to do something that had live audio like that. The guy that did it, his name is Josh Shoemaker; he's made a name for himself doing those. The setting was really nice for us because the song is all about the state we live in and basically, you can't see it in the music video, but we're up on a hill above the Cumberland River. I just happened to be going to another musician's party, named Derek Hoke, he'd just moved in there. And that was his backyard. "Man, we were looking for a place to (film the video) and here it is."

The last time you got thoroughly plastered what were you drinking?

Ah, the official drink of Great Peacock. Tequila and Red Bull.

What effect does that have on a person besides making them intoxicated and upbeat?

That's about it. But when it wears off you go to sleep so easy. -

It’s quickly turning into fall in Nashville, which has meant for me more time on the trails of Randnor Lake and Percy Warner counting the shades of yellow and orange in the trees; more layers on walks to the 5 Spot or MD Music Loft and more time on the couch in oversize sweatshirts, drinking red wine and sifting through records and bandcamp pages. Like a fall wardrobe, I always have a habit of seeking out new music as the seasons change. Certain songs no longer feel right in the 40-degree nights, and neither do those shredded-up jean shorts.
One new discovery is Great Peacock, a duo of Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd, who make southern-tinged folk set to textural pop melodies that carry a certain plaintive moodiness, perfect for long October drives and rustling leaves. Listen to their tune “Take Me To The Mountain” here, and expect an EP out soon.
Both Nelson and Floyd are extremely inspired by their surroundings here in Nashville, as so many of us are. So we asked them to list their favorite spots and experiences that most often breed a melody, lyric or just tha fickle mistress muse. Thus, here’s Great Peacock’s Top Five Things in Nashville That Inspired Their Music :::
1.Camping the Islands on Percy Priest: We both love the outdoors, and the islands on Percy Priest are a cool place to experience nature. One of the great things about them is that you can feel shutoff from the city, yet only have to drive a bit past the airport to be there. We typically go with a group of friends and bring instruments or a boombox, get a fire going, and enjoy the night. The firelight and companionship, as well as the early morning sounds of the lake and birds, help to inspire our songs about this area of the country. To get to the island that we camp we like to take a boat from the Vivrett Creek boat ramp and float over to Cable Crossing Island right around the bend, it’s hard to miss.
2. Fishing on the Harpeth: We also both love to fish, and while we love to use Blount’s boat, a nice day of fishing on the bank of the Harpeth is much more inspiring for songwriting. We take I-40 out to Kingston Springs where there are multiple public use areas. Since these areas are owned by the great state of Tennessee, they are normally well taken care of, picturesque, and free. Just like camping, fishing the Harpeth produces a nice array of landscape and wildlife to inspire our songs about nature and such. Although unlike camping, we really get the chance to get in the “zone.” When you fish you can really hone in on ideas, if you don’t get hung up too much!
3. Blackbird Studios Rentals: Alright, Great Peacock loves nature, but we do live in Nashville, Music City, USA. Our friend and coproducer Nick Worley works here. Just visiting this place and seeing all the audio equipment available one can’t help but be inspired to do something cool in the studio. All the major studios/producers/engineers in town take advantage of this place. The sheer volume and variety of boutique, vintage, vintage-modded, modern, and modern-vintage inspired equipment, that is one “day-rate” away at this place, is sure to make any gear-nut flip their shit. A great sounding eq, compressor, microphone, or preamp can be just as inspiring as a phenomenal sounding guitar for us.
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4. Yazoo Gerst: As most Nashvillians and musicians in general, we like to throw some beers back. We also love to support local things, but have both never fell for any beer brewed in Nashville. However, all that changed one night at the Gerst Haus. We LOVE the Yazoo Gerst, and now it is showing up at a lot more places in town on draft. We typically like to enjoy this tasty brew down at The International Famous Twin Kegs, where our buddy Eddie Christy doesn’t even have to ask what we want. Sipping some cold Gerst and talking things over usually helps to get our creative juices flowing.
5. Nashville Skyline: No, we’re not talking bout the Dylan record, although we do love it, we are talking about our city’s actual skyline. I know we are teetering on sounding cheesy here, but I do remember pulling into town with my clothes and guitars for the first time, and seeing the skyline. As I looked up at the buildings, it felt as if there was going be a lot of possibilities musically for me here. While this town does kick your ass and test your patience, I still feel it when I’m getting home from out of town. This city has fostered a preposterous amount of music and history. Don’t get me wrong, it will never let you forget that, but it also lets you know that it is far from being finished. Nashville is just as exiting as ever with the talent it hosts, and I’m always just one good view away from inspiration.
- Lockeland Springsteen

Music is a very powerful entity and there is not much that beats listening to good tunes. Hitting play and having the melodic rhythms tickle your inner ears is one of the greatest joys a person can experience. When you listen to a band that leaves a lasting impression the only plausible action to take is share it with whoever will listen to you. Nashville’s Great Peacock is one of those bands.

Consisting of Blount Floyd and Andrew Nelson, Great Peacock has been building steam since playing their first shows earlier this year. While showcasing their musical attributes anywhere that will let them play the duo has not only amassed a devout following but have made time to write and record some songs that will hopefully be released sometime in the near future. Over top of their Southern infused mellow rock instrumentations Floyd & Nelson use soulful vocals to paint a vivid picture of life & times in the South. They have created fresh new music with a familiar sound containing sonic familiarities to the laid back sound of Gram Parsons and the intricate harmonies of the Band.

Currently laying out a plan to unleash their tunes they have graciously offered up a taste of what is to come with the opportunity to listen to “Take Me To The Mountain”. Singing about missing, wanting and needing someone, this track is a shining example of what the duo offers both musically and lyrically. The musical arrangement is powerful with the perfect collection of guitar, fiddle, piano and pedal steel over top a steady flow of percussion supplied by a killer collection of musicians. Vocally is where the song shines as they utilize a ‘gang vocal’ strategy and harmonize with fellow musicians Harrison Hudson, Nick Worley and Sam West. Then the icing on the cake is the lyrics as they utilize southern imagery to establish the story of a man who is full of sorrow and longing towards a loved one. As a whole the music, vocals and lyrics successfully work together to create a mental video that runs simultaneously with the song in the listener’s head.

From what I have listened to thus far the future sounds really bright for Great Peacock. For now if you want to hear everything they have to offer then you need to look up their tour schedule and hope they are playing somewhere near you. Until then enjoy the appetizer and wait patiently for the main course. Trust me; it is well worth the wait.

.. - Atlanta Music Examiner

Flying down the great American highway arrive Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd who, under the moniker of Great Peacock, have produced an Americana classic which covers all bases.


OK, there is nothing new here and the music will take you to places you may have been before, but not in as much style and panache. To put it simply, it doesn't really get any better than this. It all starts so ostentatiously with a drum tattoo ushering in first song 'Take Me To The Mountain'. Sounding like a long lost Arcade Fire, the song gathers momentum to come to an almost spiritual conclusion. 'Desert Lark' follows in what could have been a near slip up as it risks falling into a pastiche of The Killers. Not a bad thing as this is early Killers but still, you start to wonder have Great Peacock got the chops? This is all laid to rest with the following three tracks which are as good a triptych as anything you may find elsewhere. The beautiful harmonies of 'Sailing' seep through what becomes an epic country ballad which is both stately and unhurried. It would take you breath away if it wasn't for the way it gently slopes into 'Family Home' and before you realise it you are there with them.

Great Peacock have such a fantastic understanding of each other that this radiates out from the music and brings you into the fold. You can almost hear the wind rustle across the prairie as the home fires burn. Bluebird leads us out with its simple melody ushering in a new day. It also has the satisfying (and rather annoying) effect of making us wait in impatience for a highly promising first full album. Absolutely superb -

Like many of today’s musicians, Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd have taken a break from the heavier side of rock music. Their new project, Great Peacock, draws from American folk music, aiming to create a more peaceful, pleasant sound. Their debut EP, Great Peacock, harkens back to simpler times, though not by stripping down the music. Lush instrumentation and bright harmonies abound on the album, giving it a shimmering ‘70s folk-rock feel. Fans of the poppier side of folk-rock will enjoy the EP, while those preferring a more austere sound might shy away. In the bio on Great Peacock’s bandcamp page, Nelson points out that the loudness wasn’t the only thing that turned him away from his former band’s style. It was also the isolation of writing music that didn’t connect with listeners. “I don’t want to alienate people any more,” he says. Thus, Great Peacock’s sound is largely informed by this desire to create music that regular people will like. In that endeavor, they succeed, channeling the vibes of mellow rockers like Fleetwood Mac, as well as popular country-rock acts like The Eagles. Nelson and Floyd both have strong, clean voices, and they sing well together. Their lyrics are essentially short, peaceful reflections filled with rural imagery: “Take me to the mountain / wash me by the riverside,” they sing on the album’s first track. A later song, “Sailing,” features an image of “the cornfields of Iowa / where the grain forms the Midwestern sea.” This kind of serene imagery pervades Great Peacock, and it certainly invites more mainstream listeners to take part in the band’s folky revival. That said, the more jaded among us might grow a little weary of Great Peacock’s sound. Under the album’s bountiful steel guitars and sweeping fiddles, there is a vacuum of real emotion. The lyrics have some nice imagery, but often feel more idyllic than revelatory, and the stories here lack the detail and sincerity required to make them really viable. Of course, Nelson did admit up front that this is part of Great Peacock’s purpose — not to make the songs too heavy, or too hard, or too weird — and that’s fine for writing simple pop songs. However, if their music is going to rise above mere pleasantry, they need a little more oomph, depth, honesty, or something. As it stands, Great Peacock is a sonorous EP with five well-crafted, catchy songs. You certainly can’t fault these two Southern gentlemen for just wanting to make enjoyable music, but more vigor and some fuller stories would have made this EP much more impressive. More like a stroll in the country than an actual life spent there, Great Peacock breathes pleasant fresh air, without delivering real meditations on hardship and sorrow, nor an optimistic vision that’s actually convincing. Track List: 1. Take Me to the Mountain 2. Desert Lark 3. Sailing 4. Family Home 5. Bluebird - See more at: http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/211-great-peacock-great-peacock-04092013#sthash.ZccgvjHZ.dpuf -

BIRTHDATE:
Andrew - 8/8/83
Blount - 6/26/84

BIRTHPLACE:
Andrew – Floetown, MS
Blount – Dothan, AL

AMBITIONS:
Andrew - To make a decent living playing music and giving people songs that help their life. Become a good father and husband one day.
Blount – To be a good southern gentleman like my father and his father

TURN-OFFS:
Andrew – The absence of empathy.
Blount – Thievery, one-upping.

TURN-ONS:
Andrew - There are too many to mention.
Blount – Warm caring conversation and vintage gear

DREAM GIG:
Andrew - SNL
Blount - being a corny host of the Grand Ole Opry ala Little Jimmy Dickens

TV ADDICTIONS:
Andrew - King of the Hill, any Ken Burns documentary
Blount – I’m married. . . so I’m a junkie, I have to say that Friday Night Lights was top to bottom the absolute best TV show of all time. As far as whats on now, I would say Parks and Rec, the characters are just awesome.

CELEBRITY CRUSH:
Andrew – Corey Flegel
Blount – Oh jeez, Amanda Seyfried, but before she got too skinny……BURN!! I’m just kidding I’d love to still buy her a steak dinner.

MY FAVORITE FORM OF EXERCISE:
Andrew - Swimming
Blount – Fishing is exercise right?

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE:
Andrew – On The Road (So cliche)
Blount - The first book I ever read, or maybe my brother read it to me…….Pat Dye – In The Arena.

5 PEOPLE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH:
Andrew - My Grandfather I never met, My father, Jesus, Mark Twain, Levon Helm
Blount – Rufus Blount – My Mom’s Father, who I am named after, Shug Jordan- Auburn Football Coach, my uncle Thomas Larry Smith – I have family dinner with him all the time, but he is the Historian of Henry County Alabama, an author, a real estate guru, and the best dang story teller! Tom Dowd- Recording Engineer, Mark Kozelek – My favorite modern songwriter, but only if he wanted too and in San Fran.

I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT:
Andrew - wallet
Blount - my poncho

WE WROTE THIS SONG:
Andrew - about getting something more out of life than what is currently happening.
Blount – about the joy of life, beginning middle and end. - American Songwriter

Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd comprise the duo known as Great Peacock. With one EP under their belts, they've got big plans for 2014 with radio and live shows and the release of their first full-length album.

Reporter Kevin Walters recently talked to Andrew and Blount in a funny, insightful podcast about how they became friends, about recording their EP on equipment they "borrowed," about Andrew's early days in Nashville paying rent to sleep in a closet, and the best way to describe their sound: are they The National if George Strait sang lead? -

Great Peacock made their Chattanooga debut at spark earlier this year and received great feedback for their performance. After half a decade spinning wheels on the Great American Highway, Great Peacock’s Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd have finally eased up on the throttle. Like rock & roll as it transitioned from the erratic abandon of the late ’60s to the country-tinged storytelling of the early ’70s—donning cowboy boots and dipping its bucket in the well of American folk music—they’ve put their electric guitars back in the case and let a serene hush wash over them. Now performing as a full band, Great Peacock’s harmony-driven acoustic pop appeals to fans of indie-folk, but the group is different from contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and The Head and the Heart in that their music is modern, but inextricably linked with the South. -

If it feels like it's been a minute since Great Peacock has played Nashville, well, that's because it has. The folk players trapped in a rock band's body seems to have been giving love to all other points of the dirty South BUT Music City this summer, playing Hangout Fest in Florida and spending more time in Alabama than... George C. Wallace. But that just means fans will be good and frothy for this long overdue show at The Stone Fox this Saturday. Not only does absence make the heart grow fonder, but time on the road has likely heightened their already air-tight and heartfelt live show into temporary blackout territory. Don't bring your grandma to this one. You'll probably slap her. -Terra James-Jura -

Last October I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek into the upcoming EP from Nashville's Great Peacock (GP) and what I heard I liked. With the release date, March 5th, fast approaching the rest of the music loving public will get to partake in what few have already had the pleasure of experiencing.

The duo has developed a devout following through non-stop touring, creating a massive buzz around their first album. Loaded with the tunes that are familiar to their live audiences, GP creates a big soundscape utilizing Southern infused rock with soulful vocals that paint a vivid picture of life & times in the South. They have created fresh new music with a familiar sound containing sonic similarities to the laid back sound of Gram Parsons and the intricate harmonies of the Band.

Months ago they teased folks with "Take Me To The Mountain", a song about missing, wanting and needing someone. It hooked listeners and created an open void in their music collections that could only be filled by more GP music. While the aural attributes of the record are outstanding it is the lyrical output that makes this EP so good. Take time to listen to the words in "Family Home", a song about growing old and missing family or the beautiful lyrics of "Sailing". Rounding out the five song EP are "Bluebird" and "Desert Lark" which make the album complete.

Only one more week of waiting until the Great Peacock EP is available for consumption. This record is about quality not quantity and yes there are only five tracks, but there is more good music on this EP than most full length albums out there today. Like I always said, give me five or six great songs vs two with a bunch of filler any day. If you dig good music then I highly suggest you check this record out because if you don't you are missing out. -

i climbed to the top of your mountains
and i swam to the bottom of your creeks
and i drank all the whiskey that you've been pouring into me

and i ran from the ghosts of the soldiers
walking cross the ancient field
and i prayed in the church that all the music helped to build

"Tennessee", the first single from Great Peacock's upcoming full-length debut, opens with a swell of slide guitars and drums in harmony as close as those of vocalists Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd; it's a melancholy love song to a place and to a feeling that you get from a place. The solo guitar of Dan Fernandez in the break at the four minute mark is as sorrowful as a dark night in a strange place, and it resolves back into Nelson and Floyd's voices, pleading that Tennessee just won't let them be.

A song that feels the sharp ache and shiver of geography that you can't escape, "Tennessee" is full of guitars and lyrics that fans of Jason Isbell's will fall for hard. It's a fantastic introduction to Nelson, Floyd, and Great Peacock, highlighting all of the strengths of their partnership and the band.

The video captures a live version recorded last year in Nashville; check it out below.

The debut LP will be out 5/16/2014 on This Is American Music, and is one of my most anticipated records of this year. -

Their band, Great Peacock, will perform Friday, Nov. 15, at The Overall Company, and they advise those in attendance to expect a good time.

The band answered a few questions to give a little insight into their lives and their music, which are one in the same. If you’re interested in the band, tickets are $10, and the concert begins at 8 p.m.

How did you both get started in the music industry?

Nelson: “We both got into music on a whim, and we’ve been performing and playing for so long. We have both played in bands together, and we’ve been through a lot. We first started out in our twenties, and we didn’t know what we were doing. We did the whole playing-the-bar scene. It was really loud, and there was a lot of rock ‘n’ roll. Now that we’re a little older, we decided we wanted to do something a little different, and that’s just how Great Peacock kind of happened.”

Floyd: “Well, I grew up playing in high school with a couple of bands, then I went to Auburn and played on my own. I left Auburn and went to an engineering school which led me to Nashville, and that’s about it.”

It’s an interesting and striking name, where did you two come up with Great Peacock?

Nelson: “Well, it started off as joke sort of thing. We noticed a bunch of bands with animals in their names, and we thought that would be pretty funny. I have to admit, we were a little inebriated at the time and thought it would be a great idea. We were in a band that just ended and decided that if we were going to keep playing music, then let’s just do it for fun. After that night, we started calling ourselves Great Peacock, wrote a song for our indie/folk/joke band, and that’s how it all happened. After that, we wrote one song and our friends loved it and people kept wanting to hear it and it went on from there.”

You’ve been in different bands and have seen bandmates come and go, what keeps you two together and still chasing the dream?

Nelson: “Blount and I pair very well together, in personality and musically. We’ve been best friends for a while, and we tend to know how to argue with each other. Whenever you’re in a band and you’re making music, it usually ends up in arguments. We tend to resolve conflicts really quick.

Musically, we both like and listen to the same types of music. Blount is a little more adventurous in the bands he listens to, and I’m more pop-minded. It creates a nice balance, and we get that artistic merit and commercial appeal that we want.

We also sing very well together. I can’t sing harmony; I’m terrible at it. And Blount doesn’t have a strong lead voice. When we’re riding around listening to music, he never sings the melody; he naturally sings the harmony. So we’re a perfect fit.”

What’s a typical day like for Great Peacock when you’re on the road

performing?

Nelson: “These days, we tour off and on. At this stage, we don’t have the ability to just tour all the time, so we just mainly hit the road on the weekends. We’re going to be taking it easy after this weekend until around February. We’ll be starting to record our first full length album during that time. We have not decided on a name yet.

In general, it’s a lot of going back and forth, and it’s not very exciting. It’s hours in the car, a bunch of dude jokes and a lot of listening to music. We show up, do our thing, have a lot of waiting then get to play some music. We always stay up way too late and party way too much. “

How would you describe your sound?

Nelson: “It’s more like a pop music/Americana vein. Very southern sounding though. For us, it’s just trying to write and play a really catchy song. Like a lot of indie/folk bands, we use a lot more natural sounding instruments.”

Where do you draw inspiration for your music?

Nelson: “I would have to say growing up in the South has a big impact on our music. We are also inspired by rhythm and sounds that we hear throughout our day.

Hearing these sounds leads to the beat in our songs, which leads to writing chords, and then there are the lyrics. It feels like a progression through life,

We also love nature and that factors in. It comes from fishing, being outdoors and traveling; it’s all we ever do.”

Floyd: “Well, it can be found in a lot of things. We’re connected with the South. I grew up in Dothan, and Andrew grew up in Mississippi, Birmingham and Georgia; so he’s all over the South. We try to incorporate the music we love, like old country, and have it be a little more modern and catchy. It’s weird, a lot of our songs are about birds or death.

What’s your favorite song that Great Peacock performs?

Nelson: “My favorite song we do changes night to night. Most likely it’s what we play best that night or whatever the crowd responds most to. A crowd favorite is “Of the Mountain Crowd.”

What can we expect from Great Peacock at the Overall Company on

Friday?

Nelson: “They can expect lots of fun. You’re gonna want to sing along even if you’ve never heard it before. We want you to get your money’s worth and have a different musical experience. You might not know what’s going on, but you’ll feel a part of it.”

Read more: The Auburn Plainsman - Meet and Greet with Great Peacock -

I‘m really enjoying this tune from Great Peacock, a Nashville band that seems to be grabbing interest these days. “Take Me to the Mountain,” has a classic southern folk feel, steeped in the 70’s country tinged pastiche that’s been modernized, cleaned up and recorded with beautiful string assortments, slide guitars, and soaring harmonies. They’re releasing a brand new ep with “Take Me…” on it tomorrow and making some SXSW stops later this month.

If the single is anything like the EP, these guys have a wonderful future waiting for them. -