It was a mid-week Rock fest at the Tivoli Theater this week. ZZ Top rolled into town bringing with them a Nashville-based group ‘Goodbye June’. These kids from Nashville are riding on the coat tails or tail pipes of one of the most solid surviving U.S. rock icon groups of the late 60s. The boys opened the stage for a full house who started gathering early for the ZZ Top main event.
Growing up scattered throughout the South and Midwest, cousins Landon Milbourn, Brandon Qualkenbush and Tyler Baker had longtime plans of forming a band. Then in June 2005, Baker's brother was tragically killed in a car accident while home on military leave. "It wasn't until after Shane passed away that we decided to finally make this happen, and to focus on writing music that felt really meaningful to us," notes Qualkenbush. Having chosen a name to mark the month of Shane's death, Goodbye June soon forged a heavy, soulful sound that fused Milbourn's ferocious vocals with Qualkenbush and Baker's brilliantly gritty guitar work.
In 2012, Goodbye June inked a deal with Nashville-based record label Cotton Valley Music, which eventually paved the way for their signing to Interscope Records in early 2016. Goodbye June members are now making their debut with the Danger In The Morning EP (Cotton Valley Music/Interscope Records), created in the thriving rock scene of their adopted hometown of Nashville. The band worked closely with producer Paul Moak (The Weeks, Joy Williams of Civil Wars) to carve out a selection of songs that reveal both their frenetic energy and dynamic musicality.
Since their start, playing live has been essential to the lifeblood of the band. With recent performances including dates with ZZ Top, Forecastle Festival, Live on the Green, Louder Than Life Festival, and a European swing, the band delivers a show that Milbourn describes as "sweaty and dirty, with hair flying everywhere and tambourines getting broken and me falling down every once in a while."
Now at work on a full-length debut to be released in 2017, Goodbye June is focused on channeling that raw energy into their studio output. "There's definitely a structure to the madness with this band," Qualkenbush points out. "We want to give people the kind of rock-and-roll experience that's a little harder to come by these days - and hopefully they'll come away with something that has real meaning.“
Members; Landon Milbourn, Brandon Qualkenbush, Tyler Baker, Location Nashville, TN Genre Rock/Alternative Record Label Cotton Valley Music / Interscope Records
More information at www.GoodbyeJune.com and information from Goodbye June social media www.facebook.com/GoodbyeJune/
----
Photojournalist, Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. Chattanooga Live Music, supports/promotes connecting People with Creative Arts, Music and Dance to the Chattanooga Live Music Scene by supporting local creative artists, singers, songwriters, musicians, dancers, & bands. Media affiliation www.chattanoogan.com. Check out more at www.facebook.com/chattanoogalivemusic. Email at MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com.