Levees

Levees’ music begs that dark part of the listener’s soul to come out and play… in the best way possible. With ties to Louisiana blues and South Texas psychedelic, Levees new, self-titled EP is a rock ‘n roll journey of spiritual cleansing and redemption; a sigh of relief our music scene has been patiently waiting for.

One of the most noticeable aspects of brothers Kody and Kyle Anderson’s music is their respect for the variety of New Orleans’ soundscape, where they grew up. There is a beautiful darkness here -- both enchanting and damned, like the blues. It drives the meticulous guitar arrangements, vulnerable vocals, strong bassline (Jeff Palacios), and sleek drums (Skyler Ellis) that simultaneously honor the Andersons’ roots and their new Texas home.

“Low” (track 3) opens on slide guitar, perfectly illustrating a quintessential swampy afternoon. Long sways weave in and out of heavy riffs that lead us to a declarative breakdown. “I’ve got a whole lot of magic hidden up my sleeve,” Anderson pleads. “Just wait for me.”

The EP is powerful and greasy, infused with a unique voodoo. The final track, “I’m Not Holy,” is a favorite -- both live and recorded. The irresistible track lures you in with a slow crescendo that becomes a high-powered chant. An audible tug of war between good and bad (“You don’t know me, so why don’t you just give up on me”), the song is on constant verge of deliverance and, eventually, fate accepted.

The band exudes an impressive confidence throughout the album. Innovative yet familiar, the EP integrates and executes a variety of styles with power and poise. You can preorder the 'Levees' EP on iTunes (available for download Jan. 23). Find social-media links and more info about Levees on their Do210 artist page. - Do210

Diabolically saccharine due Donny and Marie Osmond unleashed a little bit more than a shitty ditty when they oomphed out, "I'm a Little Bit Country, I'm a Little Bit Rock 'N' Roll," they established a philosophy. In fact, what's considered country and rock 'n' roll has grown and diversified since the single from the Mormon moptops.

This is the general malleability that Levees utilize on the four-song EP; this aught-spawned vocal indulgence and tunes clipped at 80 beats per minute. The meeting ground of cracker blues, emo-opera and arena rock maintained by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Dave Grohl before him, is where Levees set up camp.

Levees is certainly a well-executed, professional-sounding record. It's also an exceptional live band. Tight and dramatic. The good news for the San Antonio quartet: If it keeps on raining introspective, bluesy emo-rock, Leveees are going to break.

Side note: Isn't it just wild that we live in a time where I can write "introspective, bluesy emo-rock?" - San Antonio Current

Transported from the swamps of New Orleans to the deserts of San Antonio, brothers Kyle and Kody Anderson have been creating geographically inspired sounds since their childhood. Their most recent band, Levees, combines the celebrated blues of Louisiana with the southwestern spirit of Texas, leaving listeners with music that calls to mind a mix between the White Stripes and The Doors.

Although the Anderson brothers did not set out to write blues inspired sounds, the profound culture of the Big Easy found its way into their art through an inherent osmosis. The two spent most of their lives surrounded by vibrant and festive musicians, and their influence certainly surfaces in the few Levees tracks released thus far.

"Speaking to geography in general, where you are in a place and space and time has some kind of effect on your psyche and unconscious mind," Kody tells BTR. "I think that's where our New Orleans influence is. We didn't intend on playing this kind of bluesy sound, but I think it has worked its way into our bones."

With that being said, the Andersons also managed to pull insights from the heritage of their most recent San Antonio residence.

"The culture of San Antonio isn't one that slaps you in the face when you first arrive here, but as you get more and more immersed in it, it gets more and more intense," Kody shares. "I definitely think that the San Antonio culture and Southwest desert feel is really starting to manifest in our writing."

Kyle substantiates his brother's assertion, adding that they have introduced slide and baritone guitar into their writing more now than ever before. Kyle also admits that they found a muse in the diabolical customs of the South, culling material from the transcendent tradition of Dia de los Muertos, a holiday of remembrance for friends and relatives who have died.

The somber rituals in Texas appear reminiscent of the Louisiana Voodoo that the Anderson brothers experienced in their childhood. Although the cities of New Orleans and San Antonio offer unique perspectives, their commonalities have energized Kyle and Kody.

"I think on the surface, San Antonio and New Orleans seem like very different places," Kyle tells BTR. "I think the undertone of each city is this dark, spiritual thing rising from the surface. It's really cool for us to be from these two different worlds, and I think our music is in some way finding the median between these two."

Thankfully, the people of San Antonio welcomed Levees with open arms and they have been celebrated by the very community that motivates and electrifies them.

"The music scene in San Antonio is quite amazing. We've been welcomed in the community right off the bat and people have been so collaborative and supportive," says Kody. "The scene has a very family-like feel, which I think breeds a lot of creativity."

Aside from a geography that drives the band's sound, Levees find creative influence for their music in a variety of places. Whether it's film, literature, or human connection, the Andersons discover subject matter in all of their interactions; absorbing techniques and sentiments through their days and rearranging them in ways that distinctly shout Levees.

"I've always kind of viewed a musician as a filter for all the experiences that we go through on a day to day basis, and I think that is what we are trying to accomplish and convey," explains Kody.

Levees recently released their debut self-titled EP, a collection of four songs written over an extended period to time. The band fully came together one year ago when the brothers found a bassist and drummer to round out their sound, but Kyle and Kody set out to work on these songs nearly two years prior. For the first time in their experience as musicians, these premiere tracks represent a wholeness lacking in their other projects.

"In previous bands, different sections would end up being a one-person job or mission," Kyle tells BTR. "Now, it's so equally distributed. Even the lyric writing process has been both of us coming together, working through ideas, and talking about them out loud. It's been such a fruitful process."

With all that time spent collaborating, Kyle and Kody wrote a dozen songs, reconfiguring them as they went along until they made the final call. Ultimately, they scrapped most of their material--which didn't fit with the themes and sounds they had meticulously worked to design.

"We have the mentality that if something is not up to snuff we will work it to the bone, but if it doesn't pan out the way we want it to, we let it go," Kody explains. "We are our own worst critics."

The four tracks Levees chose to release truly emphasize their diligence and persistence to keep at their craft. These songs initially developed in a spontaneous way and then grew from thoughtfulness and precision. To nobody's surprise, the Andersons called upon their musical mentor to get their bearings in order.

"I heard something a long time ago that Jim Morrison and The Doors would riff on a part or a verse until Jim would just kind of spout out these lyrics," says Kody. "Whatever came to his mind, they'd take what was usable and create a coherent verse out if it. So we took that and ran with it."

After a long affair, Levees have finally finished running and reached the finish line with a batch of songs that take hold of your heart and inspire it to ecstasy, just as they hoped they would. - Breakthru Radio

After seeing these guys play at Sam’s Burger Joint for their third live performance, I knew I had to introduce myself. Soft-spoken Kody and Kyle Anderson (brothers) seem very unassuming and mellow at first glance, almost shy at times. However, soon as they’re on stage, they erupt into a frenzy of howling vocals, and driving and relentless guitar. This band is one you can add to the “they sound as awesome live as they do recorded” list. Tonight at Limelight, in San Antonio Texas, the Anderson brothers, joined by drummer Skyler Ellis and new addition Jeff Palacios on bass (replacing Matt Stieb), will release their eponymous EP Levees.

Luckily, San Antonio can claim this band, even though Kody (vocals) and Kyle (guitar) are transplants from Louisiana, Skyler and Jeff (hey Jeff!) are San Antonio musicians through and through. Overall, Levees does an amazing job of melding multiple genres; blues, hard rock, swamp-fusion, and desert-soul (well, they exist now), and yet bring it together cohesively into a powerful potion.

“I’m Not Holy” is a perfect introduction to Levees and does a great job of urging you into the rest of the album. “Holy” gives you a sense that they know how to hold back when the vibe calls for it while the next track, “In White”, teases the power they’ve got lurking inside of them. Not only is “In White” a bit more powerful, but you get a slightly different flavor of the swampy blues that by now, you’ve come to know and love.

“Low”, by far the mellowest track on the EP, is also the most stylistically interesting. “I’ve got everything to say, but no body to believe,” is easily the most heart wrenching lyric for those who’ve used up their faith from others. It screams to fellow musicians not to give up, even when the world has shut you out and it seems like nobody is listening. In the end though, there is strength in the proclamation, “no I won’t say goodbye.” If Kody and Kyle write from their life experiences, one can’t help but feel triumphant for them at this point of the album.

The final act “Your Spell”, also their first single to have been released earlier last year, is the true powerhouse of the album. The extreme emotion of being helpless while under someone’s “spell” is juxtaposed with, what seems to be in reality, someone’s battle with watching television or films. “Your Spell,” is dualism at its best. Admission of a lack of control and simultaneous submission to what has control over you. No matter how you could interpret it, it’s the perfect way to close out the EP and leaves the listeners helplessly wanting more. Did you guys do that on purpose? Don’t miss Levees tonight at Limelight! If you see me playing photographer, feel free to say hello. - 210 Local Media

On Saturday Jan. 23, San Antonio band Levees, debuts their first self titled E.P. at Limelight. Though only around for less than a year, the four piece group has had no trouble making way through the local music scene.

Their self titled EP is reminiscent of cowboy blues meet synth pop, much if a major rock n roll contender gave up the 'lifestyle' for a ranch life and a synth; or to paint a picture- like twilight on a prairie. Your Spell has a bewitching blusey pop sound that correlates with its religious undertones lyrically.

In White has an angstier mood than Your Spell and has a sultry guitar solo that compliments the raspy vocals. Low is where the synth undertones meet the desert rock aspect with the low heavy guitar strums. The fear/emptiness of losing someone (subject of the song) transcends well with the sound. I'm not Holy is my favorite song off of the album because of the amount of soul in it. The lush anguish flows well throughout the song and really resonates within one and I cannot wait to hear it live. - Sobre Sound

SAN ANTONIO BAND LEVEES TO RELEASE THEIR DEBUT EP

San Antonio rock band Levees will release their debut EP this weekend, January 23rd, at a Limelight show with Femina-X, Crown, and Fair Coyote. Levees has been around for a little less than a year and has a sound that feels somewhere between The Doors and the White Stripes. We caught up with Levees guitarist Kyle Anderson and got a quick interview.

How did your band come together?

Going to our roots, Kody and I are brothers and have been playing music together since we were teenagers. Ever since we first picked up our guitars, we’ve been crafting and exploring ideas. We’ve been in multiple projects all based in New Orleans. After moving to San Antonio to go to college, we began writing new material and making connections with local musicians. We met our drummer, Skyler Ellis, through our friend Marcus Rubio, and our bassist, Jeff Palacios, through mutual friends on the local music scene.

What sort of artists would you say have influenced your sound?

We are inspired by a range of artists spanning many genres and mediums. From Blind Willie Johnson to Bjork, from Johnny Cash to St. Vincent, we absorb and appreciate whatever is made with passion and brilliance. We describe ourselves as somewhere between The Doors and The White Stripes, because we create blues rock that shines deeply in the moonlight and is flavored with a dash of the diabolical. We also draw insights from surrealist poetry, inventive films, and whatever will spark a fire in our hearts and our hands.

As a fairly new band how did you go about getting involved in the local music scene?

We feel fortunate to be a part of the San Antonio scene. From the beginning, all the bands and venues we have worked with have been so welcoming and accommodating. As far as logistics, it was simple—we reached out to a friend who booked shows, said we had a band and were ready to play, and that was that. We got our first show last February, and we have been working diligently to get our first release out ever since. I think the lineup for our EP Release show this Saturday—Fair Coyote, Crown, and Femina-X—will showcase the immense talent present in the San Antonio music scene and we are so excited to be a part of such a strong bill. - Creative Socialite

Levees, an indie rock band from San Antonio, has released the music video for their new single “Broken Cup,” a perfect addition to your indie music playlist and an asset to the growing Hill Country music scene. Because they want to build a consistent presence in Austin, Levees performs monthly shows at local venues such as The Mohawk and Hotel Vegas alongside popular acts such as Lowin and Otis The Destroyer in hopes of gaining a dedicated local fan base. With a strong back beat and mesmerizing guitar licks from brothers Kody and Kyle Anderson, Levees are on a mission to be a groundbreaking band. Pulling from every influence they can to make music that stands out among the often-crowded local scene, “Broken Cup” is the perfect introduction to this fairly unknown quartet.

The band’s new EP Another Medicine will drop on November 29 and the group will be hosting an EP release show at Mohawk sister venue Paper Tiger in San Antonio on December 3, followed by a show with Otis The Destroyer at Hotel Vegas in Austin on December 9. - Austin.com