Nothing But Heros

Twin Falls transplants Nothing But Heros pulled a reverse Built to Spill when bassist and Burley native Michael Beauchemin moved from Boise to Twin Falls to spend more time with the bluesy, soulful rockers.

Built to Spill’s founding members met at Twin Falls’ Robert Stuart Junior High, then left the Magic Valley in the 1980s to form bands in Boise and Seattle.

Nothing But Heros is made up of four friends in their mid-20s, three of whom grew up together in Burley. Their music walks the line between mellow, acoustic jams inspired by their camping trips with friends in Idaho, and loose, head-nodding stomp-and-fuzz rock on songs like “Why Won’t You Love Me.”

They’re heavy on the harmonies and draw on influences like Motown, Neil Young and Hall and Oates. - The Times News

The guys in Nothing But Heros call themselves a Twin Falls band, but it all started in Burley.

On a Monday night at the Twin Falls Sandwich company, just days before Treefort began, singer and guitarist Aaron Golay and guitarist/bassist Michael Beauchemin slammed down two dark ales in the dimly lit restaurant as closing time approached.

“There really aren’t any decent venues,” Golay said. “Our success has come from getting out.”

The twenty-somethings, originally from Burley, count among their friends the Thomas family, owners of the Chadwick Grille & Asylum in the city’s downtown area. It’s one of the few places the band could book shows in the Magic Valley. Otherwise, it’s been coffee houses and bars all over the valley. Their bigger shows have been in Ketchum and Boise.

The band, which established themselves in Twin Falls, added local bassist Jordan Thornquest. Their drummer, Shaun Povlsen, grew up with Golay and Beauchemin.

Their sound is mellow and acoustic on one song, but loose and bluesy the next, in part inspired by camping trips they’ve taken with friends in Idaho. Their influences are diverse. For Golay, it’s the Black Keys, Tame Impala, My Morning Jacket and others. For Beauchemin, it’s City and Colour and Julien Baker.

Treefort 2016 is Nothing but Heros’ first time playing the festival. The band, friends with Oliver and others in the Sun Valley music scene, asked around about playing Treefort. The name Eric Gilbert came up, and then they were told they’d have to submit a song to the promoters.

Waiting on word from the festival promoters was nerve wracking.

“The waiting process for us was hell,” Golay said. “We were so nervous.”

Their music went through three rounds of listens before they were told they were booked at Humpin’ Hannah’s this year. When they found out the news on Super Bowl Sunday, Golay screamed.

“I took off running through the house,” Golay said. “Cussing profanities but in a positive way.”

For the two-year-old band, Treefort is a milestone. Golay admitted they’ve been in an “in-between” stage where they play gigs of 40 minutes of original material and three-hour bar sets of covers where “you have to play everything you know.”

Golay put together the band’s CD and label while Beauchemin took care of the casing and merchandise. They sold out T-shirts before even taking off for the festival.

There’s a nervousness that comes with playing this milestone, both admitted.

“You get the nervous pees,” Beauchemin said.

But that nervousness is a positive for the band. The thrill of it, they said, is like a drug.

“We’re the most mild adrenaline junkies you’ll meet,” Golay said.

Both bands see Treefort as a reinforcement that they are doing something right. It’ll be a chance for them to experience a huge festival with hundreds of bands and thousands of fans, and will give them the chance to network with creative minds outside of their hometown.

“This is by far the biggest thing that we’ve played,” Beauchemin said. - The Times News