Playing together for 14 years the Eli Young Band could be one of the last of the old school.
“We were college kids in Texas,” said James Young. “We began back when there was no such thing as youtube and maybe we are better for it.”
Old school for musicians meant going from club to club playing for little money and for the joy of making music.
Sometimes not so joyful.
“It is kind of rough to be booed,” Young added. “But you learn how to hone your craft. There is really no way to describe the moment everyone is playing well and you connect with the crowd. Even in the smallest dive to a stadium it is really something special.”
Now well into their second decade the Eli Young Band is still the same foursome as it started way back in Texas with Mike Eli (vocals, guitar), James Young (guitar), Jon Jones (bass guitar), and Chris Thompson (drums).
Marking a career first for the band of brothers, Eli Young Band’s10,000 TOWNS (Republic Nashville) debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, landed them a coveted Top 5 spot on the Billboard 200 and claimed the #1 spot on the iTunes Country Albums Chart upon release. In addition to penning over half of the tracks, the talented foursome co-produced the 11-song project with Justin Niebank and Frank Liddell. Critics around the country have churned out rave reviews with the Associated Press saying the album, “gives plenty of reasons for cities across America to embrace them with open arms.” While Chicago Sun-Times boasted,“(EYB) continues to prove why they matter, why they REALLY matter to country music, with the release of 10,000 TOWNS.” USA Today raved the new album, “solidifies [the] band’s standing in country music.”
The GOLD-certified lead single “Drunk Last Night” scored EYB their third career #1 and the follow-up single “Dust” has been quickly gaining traction. The band’s previous project, the critically-acclaimed LIFE AT BEST, produced back-to-back chart-toppers with the DOUBLE PLATINUM smash “Crazy Girl” and PLATINUM hit “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” The former was also named Billboard’s 2011 #1 Country Song of the Year and won the 2012 ACM Awards Song of the Year while the latter garnered the band multiple GRAMMY and ACM Awards nominations. For the third consecutive year, EYB will vie for Vocal Group of the Year at the ACM Awards, airing April 6 on CBS. They have performed on TODAY, Conan, The Late Show With David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and FOX & Friends, in addition to the CMA and American Country Awards. EYB’s music has been featured on ABC’s “NASHVILLE” and The CW Network’s “HART OF DIXIE.” While also selling out venues as a headliner from coast to coast, EYB has shared the new music with fans while on the road with Jake Owen’s DAYS OF GOLD TOUR. and earlier this year on Darius Rucker’s TRUE BELIEVERS TOUR. They have previously tour with Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean and Dave Matthews Band, among others.
The Eli Young Band will play the Peppermill Concert Hall on Friday, May 9
