A tumbleweed will be blowing into Auburn from the West Saturday, but it won't be the lazy, meandering patch of weeds typically associated with the word.
Tumbleweed Wanderers, a band from Oakland, Calif., will be playing Saturday at The Hound in Auburn.
"We're an indie rock take on folk music," said Jeremy Lyon, singer and guitarist for Tumbleweed Wanderers.
While Lyon is the lead guitarist he said all members of the band take turns soloing and singing creating a dynamic sound.
Tumbleweed Wanderers, whose other members are Zak Mandel-Romann, Patrick Glynn, Daniel Blum, Rob Fidel, can trace their roots back to Lyon's and Mandel-Roman's mutual appreciation for the "O Brother Where Art Though" soundtrack.
Lyon said Tumbleweed Wanderers also consider My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Pink Floyd and The Band to be among some of their primary influences with guitarists George Harrison, David Gilmore and Jack White particularly affecting Lyon's style of play.
These influences show through in a sound which not only emulates classic folk and rock, but puts a modern sheen on the sound.
The band is not currently signed to a label, but has sold as many as 600 copies of their album in three weeks.
The band is currently touring the South and Southwest, but has traveled as far as Montreal and Toronto.
"We're an international touring band now," Lyon said with a laugh.
The goal of the quintet's tour is to test out and hone material for a new EP.
"We're trying to push our sound a little further," Lyon said.
Lyon also said despite the band's recent Southern tour it has yet to hear an actual "Freebird" request. "We are working an Allman Brother's Band song though," Lyon said.
Tumbleweed Wanderers' Saturday show at The Hound will be open to all ages despite its 10 p.m. start time according to Matthew Poirier, co-owner of The Hound.
Admission is paid at the door and is priced at $5 for those 21 and older and $10 for those younger than 21.
All of the money collected at the door will go to the band according to Poirier.
"We want to support local music, support regional music," Poirier said. "I hope a lot of people show up."
Poirier said he envisioned The Hound as an establishment with the goal of being a local watering hole with emphasis on a fun atmosphere.
Tumbleweed Wanderers also are hoping to provide the sort of good vibrations Poirier had envisioned.
"We want to provide escapism," said Lyon. "We're trying to give the audience an experience."
The Tumbleweed Wanderers are, however, just blowing through town, and they will be at The Green Room in Athens, Ga., March 5 and The Glass Cactus in Grapevine, Texas March 7.
But while the band is travelling through the area they want to take everyone along for a less literal travel.
"We want to take people on a journey," Lyon said.
Saturday Tumbleweed Wanderers will genre bending and going on a sonic adventure according to Lyon, and they would like the audience to join along.
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