The Vegabonds, a Nashville, Tenn. based rock band that started in Auburn, has started a ripple in the Southeast that's traveled all the way to New York.
Nicole Klein, The Vegabonds' agent, started working with the band in June 2013.
"I started noticing more of my friends back home were talking about the band on social media, which is unusual for a band to stand out in that way, so I called a few clubs in the Southeast to gauge what the buzz was," Klein said. "The reports I got back (said) the band was the real deal and they're selling more tickets than other artists on their level."
A few weeks later, Klein said she read that the New Music Seminar in New York had named The Vegabonds as one of the top-100 "Artists on the Verge."
Klein listened to their music and said she realized they were special.
"[I was] reading their bio, and seeing they had all met at Auburn was the cherry on top," Klein said. "The Auburn Family exists even in rock 'n' roll."
The Vegabonds are a rock band consisting of six musicians.
Lead vocalist Daniel Allen joins vocalists and guitarists Alex Cannon and Richard Forehand, bassist Paul Bruens, drummer Bryan Harris and Jamie Hallen on the keys.
Harris said Skybar was the first place the band played together, and Auburn is where a lot of their inspiration comes from.
"Just being in Auburn and meeting in Auburn, I think that helped," Harris said. "That's where we started, that's where a lot of our inspiration came from: everyday life in Auburn."
Bruens said The Vegabonds play 120 shows per year, and they are currently performing sporadically every week in the fall.
The group opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd earlier this summer, and has toured in Europe, with visits in Spain, Austria, Sweden and France.
The group has had their fair share of embarrassing moments on the road.
"The most embarrassing thing would have to be falling over on stage," Bruens said. "It's happened to almost all of us at some point."
Bruens also said they have possible tours they will be opening up for, but he couldn't name which ones because they aren't official yet.
"We're writing for a new album," Bruens said. "When we'll be able to put it out, we're not sure. As of right now, we have three albums out and we're planning on going on tour as a supporting act for other larger bands for the future."
Klein said she thinks The Vegabonds could be a breakout band in Alabama.
"I think everybody in the world will know who they are," Klein said. "I think they'll be one of the biggest rock bands in the world and if I didn't believe that, I wouldn't work with them."
The band will be coming back to where it all began, playing at Bourbon Street Bar Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
