It’s set break for the Futurebirds during the first of the band’s two sold-out hometown gigs at the Georgia Theatre in the college town of Athens, Georgia, and guitarist Daniel Womack is backstage reflecting on the camaraderie that defines the band.
“To find a crew that you can trust and stick with you to go through the wringer with,” Womack tells Rolling Stone, “it’s almost impossible in this life.”
Together for 15 years, Futurebirds are finally gaining recognition, particularly among fans of psychedelic rock and alt-country. Their unique blend of sounds inspired by iconic bands like the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, My Morning Jacket, and Drive-By Truckers is both nostalgic and fresh. At the core of their music are three talented songwriters – Womack, Thomas Johnson, and Carter King.
“Welcome to the experiment,” Johnson says. “It’s about embracing being different and unconventional. This isn’t about having a fully-formed idea, it’s about exploring the weird and embracing it.”
Recent years have seen Futurebirds exploring new musical avenues through their collaboration with My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel. This partnership started when Broemel produced the band’s 2021 EP, Bloomin’, which led to their 2022 follow-up, Bloomin’ Too.
“It goes back to the Beatles, of having a healthy competition and fostering the best music instead of having just one person in front,” Broemel says. “There’s an argument to be made for having three people showing up with their best songs. These guys are wonderful at stepping back when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead.”
Aside from their studio work, Futurebirds and Broemel have also embarked on short tours together, leading to the release of the group’s new live album …Thanks Y’all. This album captures the band’s dynamic energy on stage as they perform alongside their mentor Broemel.
“We were due for a live record,” Womack says. “A lot of these songs are older songs and naturally we’ve evolved, we’ve gotten better; the way we play them, the way we’ve seen them grow.”
Formed in 2008 while students at the nearby University of Georgia, Futurebirds were simply a group of young musicians looking for others to jam with at off-campus house parties or fraternities around Athens. Influenced by local bands like R.E.M., Widespread Panic, and Drive-By Truckers, the core members of Futurebirds – Womack, Johnson, King, and bassist Brannen Miles – have remained the same since their early days.
“Athens is a small town. But because of its music history, it’s nationally recognized,” Johnson says. “If you succeed here, you can become a big fish in a small pond. It’s a great place to learn about the music industry before the stakes are high.”
In their early years, the Futurebirds played at local venues like the Nowhere Bar, a small space where the audience had limited room. Despite the challenges, they expanded their reach beyond Athens to cities like Savannah, Atlanta, and Nashville.
“It’s more about the vibe, how you present yourself, and how you manage your band as a business,” Womack says. “It takes time for that to resonate and translate. We’re fortunate that we stuck it out through tough times and made it this far.”
Like many successful bands, the Futurebirds faced challenges such as performing to a bigger crowd on stage than in the audience, making enough to survive from one gig to the next, and dealing with setbacks like flat tires and stolen equipment. But they persisted, confident that their music would resonate with listeners.
“We always struggled to reach more people,” Johnson says. “We believed in the quality of our music, and we knew that if we could showcase it to more people, they would appreciate it.”
The band carved their own path by performing at backyard parties in new markets instead of small venues, writing songs on the road, and recording them in the studio.
Their efforts have paid off, with milestones like sold-out shows, a global recording deal, and performances at renowned venues. Currently on tour with the Nude Party, the Futurebirds are showcasing their music in some of the biggest venues of their career.
One venue that encapsulates the journey of Futurebirds is the Georgia Theatre.
“When you return to your hometown to perform and realize that the audience is almost 20 years younger than you now,” Johnson says of the Athens crowd, “that’s when you see the impact a band can have that transcends generations.”