Brian Pounds
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | SELF
Music
Press
On that note, opening the evening was Brian Pounds, who, as he was introduced before he took the stage, was a member of Team Blake from Season 5 of The Voice.
OK. That, perhaps, was only helpful to those whose musical tastes are informed by that show, a sense of allegiance to Shelton or those who’d already decided that the artist onstage, solo, with only a guitar, his songs, and his actual voice, was something that they would rather their own voices compete with, maybe drown him out with on this Friday night.
For those who actually took the time to listen, to wade through the muttering of their idiot neighbours to engage with what the performer onstage was offering, the introduction was what he did, what he said, what he sang, and his superb set.
Team Blake from Season 5 of The Voice? Or. Or a man who belted out a half-hour of some of the most authentic country this city — or this particular area of the city — has seen all week: An Amos Lee cover, the Dylan-started-rolling Wagon Wheel, a song about a girl he was chasin’ around before meeting his wife, one written on the day of the worst hangover of his life, and another about Odessa, Texas.
He was wonderful. He was country, in the Townes Van Zandtiest sense of the word.
He made an impression, a lasting one, because of his songs, his music, his voice. Not The Voice. - Calgary Herald
Leading the night, a fresh faced Brian Pounds took to the stage in what was an even gentler take on the softer side of country with a twang the likes of former Barenaked Lady lead singer Steven Page.
“Hello, there’s a lot of you, this is terrifying,” he called out jokingly alone on a stage dressed for Edmonton’s multi-piece ensemble The Dungarees.
The Voice Season 5 contestant — who made Shelton’s team, but couldn’t pull ahead in a preliminary battle that saw a more soulful contestant prevail — surprising pulled off a gritty, raspy sound to a quickly filling Dome’s applause.
Hardly a newbie to the biz, Pounds’ slogged it in Austin, Texas, for half a decade before Shelton’s star power boosted his notoriety, and went through some of his repertoire of ballads Jesus, Don’t Let Me Die (On My Feet), and Odessa, to the tune that started it all, a cover of Bob Dylan’s Wagon Wheel. - Calgary Sun
Texan singer-songwriter Brian Pounds is set to make his national debut with his new EP, Strikes and Gutters, which hits the streets on Sept. 2, 2014.
The five-song album is a roots-rock, Americana gem, featuring lyrics that are mature beyond Pounds’ 25 years and warm vocals that are reminiscent of James Taylor’s early 1970s output. “Jesus, Don’t Let Me Die (On My Feet),” which was written in a rundown motel room during a two-week gig in Nevada, is a stark, realistic look at the music industry’s less glamorous aspects, and the playful, sexy “Keep My Hands to Myself” proves that Pounds can write lighthearted material as well. Opening track “Somewhere Maybe Carolina,” which he co-wrote with fellow “The Voice” Season 5 competitor Austin Jenckes, is already a hit: the video of the song has currently accumulated more than 14,000 views on YouTube.
Pounds recently worked with director Steven Bush, known for his “Confessionals” series of music videos, to create a new video for “Somewhere Maybe Carolina.” Shot on location in Austin, the video features Pounds playing an intimate, solo acoustic version of his song. - Music News Nashville
When you listen to Brian Pounds sing, it is easy to see why he was a contestant on season four of The Voice. He has a voice that combines power with clarity. It can soar and hit the high notes and is one of those instruments that is a gift. He will release a five song EP on September 2nd titled Strikes And Gutters.
He is also developing as a songwriter as four of the five tracks are originals. They are melodic with words that fit a roots or Americana style. When combined with his rock-style vocals, it creates a nice fusion of the two styles.
As with all EP’s, or short albums if you will, they only present a taste of an artists style and sound. The five tracks have a sameness, which means if you like one song, you will probably like them all, but it will be interesting to see in what directions an entire album will take him
Snakes And Gutters is a good introduction to his music and well-worth a listen. - Record World Magazine
Brian Pounds‘ Strikes and Gutters braces breezy melodies (“Hold My Head High”) with vibrant vignettes (“Sunday Dress”). Peak points showcase the Austin resident’s focused lyrics and thoughtful song craft (“Somewhere, Maybe Carolina”).
The Voice enthusiasts might recall Pounds’ buoyant cover of “Wagon Wheel,” which got the attention of the judges Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green in 2013. Strikes and Gutters follows his bare-bones album Live at the Cactus Café from earlier this year. - CMT Edge
Brian Pounds is a kick-ass singer-songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve and is in a genre onto himself. Check out this EXCLUSIVE 5Q Spotlight interview with the folk-rocker. - OUTlander Magazine
When a particular artist grabs me, sometimes literally, I like to draw some attention to them in my exclusively awesome on-again off-again feature Get to Know. And so it is that I am introducing you kind folks to Brian Pounds.
The singer/songwriter is all about the honesty on his debut record. After You’re Gone features songs that run the gauntlet between country, folk, jazz, and blues. Brian Pounds is a talented songwriter and knows the difference between an “honest” song and an honest song.
The title track for After You’re Gone reflects the lies we tell ourselves to get over someone. It reads like a bitter letter to an ex-lover, ripe with rawness and intensity.
For Brian Pounds, the honesty with which he conducts himself is going to be the key to his success as a singer/songwriter. Comparisons to the likes of John Mayer and Amos Lee might abound, but he is his own unique animal in many respects.
Find out more about Brian Pounds on his MySpace page and be sure to take a listen to his music. I especially like the rising majesty of “Up for Air.”
http://canadianaudiophile.com/2010/05/05/get-to-know-brian-pounds/ - Canadian Audiophile
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
It’s a classic Austin story. Every night, unsuspecting tourists stumble onto the Saxon Pub on North Lamar in the “Live Music Capitol of the World.” Some have heard about the venue’s reputation for showcasing the best local talent for almost three decades. Some are just thirsty. But any that come on a Monday night, maybe for the big weekly Bob Schneider show, will find themselves treated to one of the best up and coming singer-songwriters in town, Brian Pounds. “This is my favorite song I’ve ever written,” Brian says ruefully, leaning into the mic.
As the night progresses, you’ll hear that phrase several more times. It’s an inside joke. The truth is that any one of Brian’s songs could be his favorite, and yours too. Those outside the world of Austin songwriters may know of Brian from his appearance on Season 5 of NBC’s “The Voice,” where the young artist was handpicked by Blake Shelton. Brian’s voice is unmistakably strong; landing somewhere between the stylings of James Taylor and Chris Stapleton. It’s the kind of voice that gets strangers to perk up from behind their drinks at the bar. But his secret weapon is his songwriting. After the initial impact of hearing that voice for the first time, it starts to dawn on you that the songs themselves are really, really good.
That secret weapon may not stay so secret for long. In addition to being an official selection for the 2016 Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival, Brian was just named as a finalist for this year’s Kerrville New Folk contest, one of the longest-running and most prestigious songwriting contests in the world. Hundreds of songwriters from multiple continents submit their best work every year in the hopes of being chosen. Only a few join the ranks of Steve Earle, James McMurtry, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, and other storied songwriters. Brian’s being singled out is a clear hallmark of his future.
A new father and already an industry veteran, Brian is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of the life a touring songwriter. He’s spent years on the road, playing countless venues across the country, occasionally opening for the likes of Blake Shelton, Sam Hunt, Bob Schneider, Hayes Carll, and John Fullbright. With a debut release and EP already under his belt (2010’s “After You’re Gone” and 2014’s “Strikes and Gutters,” produced by Brian Douglas Phillips), Brian will soon be releasing a full-length album showcasing his depth as an artist.
Self-produced and tracked to tape in Nashville, the album is titled “Southern Writer” in honor of Brian’s Texas upbringing. Acoustic guitars and vocals are at the forefront on songs like “Odessa,” which tells of a complicated love affair with a West Texas town and “Death of Me,” a stark and unsuspecting gem, wrestling with coming of age and the loss of a close friend. The production of “Southern Writer” marks a musical as well as a geographic return to roots. Like a classic Ryan Adams or James Taylor record, the spotlight never veers away from the singer and the song. Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, fueled by scores of devout fans from Brian’s near decade of touring, and hard on the heels of this summer’s Kerrville New Folk graduating class, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
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