Main Street Stage – 7:45
As frontman of the new Nashville-based band Leagues, Thad Cockrell wants to be clear: their sound is not music for cynical ears or the pretentious.
“As music gets smaller and more fractured, we wanted to write songs that would stand over that – something big and American. My favorite music connects people and engages you to participate. Even if you look at folk music, those songs got passed down because it was something people could sing together.”
Launching with a three-song EP and seven more tunes on the way, Leagues is comprised of musicians accomplished in their own right: Thad Cockrell (lead vocals), Tyler Burkum (guitar), Jeremy Lutito (drums) and Mike Simons (bass). With a mutual appreciation for their own personal styles, the four set out to create something different than what each had done individually.
In 2010 the band began writing together and testing the songs during one-off shows. “Everything came about organically – relationally and musically,” said Thad. “We put a lot of emotion and spirit into it with influences from Dylan to Stevie Wonder to Peter Gabriel.”
The group has recorded 10 songs with the plan to release the full LP before the end of the year. “We went ahead and released these three songs to show people what we are doing and let the music speak for itself.”