Photo by Rachel Moore (Joel King, far right)

I grew up loving Country Rock bands. It seems though that for a while, they had become a thing of the past, with Americana-labelled singer-songwriters getting most of the attention. That is until 2013 when The Wild Feathers dropped their killer debut LP on us. They have since stayed with us with two fine follow-up LPs and the Record Store Day special “Live at the Ryman.” LP. It was sure exciting to see them ascend from the Nashville clubs to the stage of the Mother Church.

Founding member and bassist, Joel King, stopped by the 11 Questions desk to announce and celebrate the release of “Medium Rarities.”  It’s a collection of rare cuts and covers that King as the band’s “archive master” took the lead in assembling. The Feathers have always excelled with their four-part harmonies and sound simply heavenly on their Dave Cobb produced cover of The Jayhawks’ “Blue.” Give it a listen here.

Hopefully you caught their recent local livestream for the new record. There will be more live-streaming concerts and private events, including some public dates with Blackberry Smoke, as well as a handful of headline shows of their own. The Feathers are currently at work on a new album that they plan to release in early 2021. Thanks, Joel, for stopping by!

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

I am originally from Tulsa, OK. I started touring through Nashville around 2005 and made the official move in 2008. After touring with some bands from here in 2006, making a lot of friends and acquiring an agent and management from here, it was an easy move.  

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

The very first CD I ever bought was Green Day’s Dookie. I have an older brother that took care of the Nirvana and Pearl Jam, so me and my buddies were into Green Day, Weezer and Foo Fighters. The last record I bought was our own, Medium Rarities by The Wild Feathers. I bought the digital version just because I’m lame and I would hate to be one record sale away from going platinum. 

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

The first real concert I ever saw was 1964 the Tribute when I was ten or eleven. A Beatles tribute band that might as well have been the real thing to me. The last live concert I saw (that I didn’t play at) before the shutdown was Chris and Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes acoustic at the Basement East (before the tornado too). Just amazing.  

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame?

Roy Acuff

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

Being on the East Side it would be blasphemous not to say Sip Café and Five Points Pizza. 

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan. There’s nothing I could say about this album that hasn’t been said a million times before. Anyone who doesn’t own it, I feel sorry for. 

Where’s the best place to eat late night after a show?

Dino’s!

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you.

Jack White, Jamie Johnson and Aaron Lee Tasjan. That’s a hard question. 

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

I gotta say the Ryman but Exit/In is right up there. Mercy Lounge is where we really got our start, but the Brooklyn Bowl is super swank. 

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here.

Paul McCartney. Just because. 

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

The Wild Feathers just got a bunch of new recording toys and we’re going to hole up in a cabin for a week or two and see what we come up with.