Rayo Brothers band member Jesse Reaux said the band “has a retro Americana sound with a little bit of space exploration thrown in.”
A twang does not a country artist make. In fact, the Rayo Brothers’ Jesse Reaux (“Rayo”) defines the Acadiana five-piece’s sound first and foremost against country: “It’s outlaw country and bluegrass with a touch of rock and roll.”
Think Wild West saloon with a backdrop of banjos. In a recent mini-concert held in drummer Lance Kelehan’s living room, as the band ran through tunes like “Darlin’ Cory” and “Pretty Caroline,” I thought of nothing more than “Oh! Susanna.” If you do need one genre for the Rayo Brothers, “Americana” should be broad enough.
Officially formed in 2012 at a songwriters’ competition in Lafayette, the Rayo Brothers, whose name comes from brothers and bandmates Jesse and Dan Reaux, have since played at Jazz Fest, Festival International, and Austin’s South by Southwest Music Festival, picking up devotees with an appealing Acadiana cocktail of folk roots and bluegrass.
The band’s current line-up includes Kelehan on drums and mandolin; Jordan Ardoin on bass; Sarah Jayde Williams on the fiddle; Dan on lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica; and Jesse on electric guitar and accompanying vocals.
Dan and Jesse’s musical partnership began in childhood. “When we were growing up, we would play music together in our rooms,” said Dan, who also serves as main songwriter. “Our mom is from a musical family and my dad’s side of the family has a lot of musicians.”
Mom taught the brothers guitar. Family gatherings included jam sessions alongside their cousins, Louis and Andre Michot of The Lost Bayou Ramblers. But when did the Reaux brothers become the Rayo Brothers? Jesse traces the shift to a radio broadcast he heard in 2008 of a progressive bluegrass and folk country band called Crooked Still. Inspired, Jesse picked up a banjo and began to teach himself.
Williams, the Rayo Brothers’ fiddler, has been playing Cajun music her entire life; but before joining the band, Kelehan had never played the mandolin and Ardoin and his bass had stuck mostly to metal music. “I think the fact that everyone comes from a different background helps to give us a more unique sound,” said Jesse. “We usually have an idea of what we want each instrument to do in a song, but putting songs together is an organic process so sometimes everyone starts playing and that’s the way it ends up sounding.”
The band’s forthcoming album (as yet untitled) is reflective of that ethereal, folksy vibe they are proud to call their own. “It has a retro Americana sound with a little bit of space exploration thrown in,” said Jesse. “The vibe is sort of Bakersfield, which is 1960s country music from California, with a Western, retro, sci-fi sound.”
Dan looked to his everyday experiences while writing the album’s songs. His job at a mechanic shop lead to several songs about driving; and after watching a few episodes of The Twilight Zone and a trailer for Interstellar, Dan wrote “Maps to the Moon.” “The song captures the feeling of not knowing as much as we do now about the world,” he said.
“The vibe is sort of Bakersfield, which is 1960s country music from California, with a Western, retro, sci-fi sound.”
Although the band has performed at an impressive list of both regional and out of state venues, embarking on a cross-country tour is not a top priority. But they’re open to opportunities. “In this area almost no one is a full time musician,” said Jesse. “I’m happy to play as much as possible; but since I have a family, I wouldn’t go tour the country or get into debt over it.”
“One of our goals will always be to keep making albums though,” added Dan. “I want to produce and record the best songs we possibly can.”
During the week, band members work in industries such as advertising, real estate, and security; and the presence of Kelehan’s wife at practice and his cat roaming the room made it clear that Jesse isn’t the only band member happy to stay settled in Acadiana.
But when the music starts up, one thing is obvious: The Rayo Brothers aren’t afraid to uproot their Cajun influences and explore the unknown.
