Harry and the Hootenannies take folk music to a new level with their genre-bending electric mandolin and psychedelic rock 'n’ folk sound.
Harry Braswell, Ben Wescott and Nick Woehrle, all University of South Carolina graduates, have been jamming together for about three years as a band. Woehrle and Wescott met in a bagel shop in Columbia, and their friendship grew as they took classes together, soon meeting Braswell to become a trio.
At the time, Braswell was working on a solo project — a concept album inspired by a car accident he had survived. Wescott helped to record a few of Braswell’s demos, and Woehlre moved in with Braswell around the same time. Thus, Harry and the Hootenannies were born.
All three would become roommates. Their time in Columbia, and specifically the time the group spent living together, is the source for many of the songs in their debut album, "Farewelcome Home." One song, “Raid,” is inspired by South Carolina’s infamous palmetto bugs.
“I had written this kind of metal riff, and was like, we need to figure out something to sing along with it,” Braswell said. “I was stepping all on my distortion pedal, and there was a cockroach crawling all over it.”
Braswell grabbed a bottle of Raid, and the lyrics are a reimagined version of the side of the can.
The group also explores their romantic experiences in their music. The song "Salt or Pepper" was inspired by a girlfriend who had been living with them.
“When we had to inevitably kick her out, her dad came to help unload her stuff ... [he] decided to cast a spell on our house by sprinkling salt all across the floor,” Braswell said. “There’s a whole section about dealing with emotions and dealing with them gently, without leaving salt on the floor.”
While their lyrics have been affected by their personal experiences in Columbia and beyond, their musical style is influenced by much more. Braswell cites Flight of the Conchords, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thundercat and Nirvana as influences. The group also has a deep respect for Lady Gaga, often performing covers of her songs. With elements of folk, jazz, rock ‘n' roll and rhythm and blues, Harry and the Hootenannies ensures that no two of their songs will sound the same.
As the semester begins, the band encourages everyone to take their own “vacation," and to take a deep breath.
“A lot of the messages in this album and in the songs we play are about how everybody needs to take a little bit of time off,” said Braswell. “You will go crazy if you don’t take it easy.”
Harry and the Hootenannies will debut their new album, “Farewelcome Home,” at New Brookland Tavern on Friday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.