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Better Reverend formed in August of 2006 when fate-forged paths from Georgia, Virginia and Oklahoma met at the crossroads in Dallas, Texas. With the incorporation of four eclectic young musicians from states across Southern America, the rebirth of swamp rock began. Pulling from roots of Folk, Americana, Classic Country and all-out Rock n Roll, Better Reverend has tailored a cohesive sound that is growing their fan base across Texas and beyond.

Pulling from collective influences, Better Reverend yielded their initial six-song demo; a preview into what is to come from the band. The opening track Oklahoma hits traditional country roots that take the listener for a ride down an old dirt road full of fond memories associated with growing up in rural America. The album then steers the listener back into the city with growling guitar riffs in Punk Rock Cowboy. This Alt-Country tune is derived from experiences of band members and their struggles to find a home for their contradictory music and lifestyles. As the album continues, faint banjo accompaniment and variable 3-part harmony hint to an unexpected affinity and influence of that “old-time traditional bluegrass” sound. In the song Those Sexy Eyes, pedal steel guitar adds an interesting texture to what is primarily a Groove Rock song. Offtime closes out the disk in true Southern style, with an anthem that is a tribute to Better Reverend’s biggest musical influence: Southern Rock. This collection shows a varied sampling of the instrumental and vocal abilities of each member as individuals and as an entity. It is exemplarily of the dynamic sounds that a simple four-piece band can create when the chemistry is right.

This charismatic group of 20-somethings is bonded by more than just musical ability; they share a common love for the electricity created in live performances. Brandon Roper brings the whine of the pedal steel, a rambling banjo, mandolin and the shared duties of lead vocals to the band, drawing from influences such as The Black Crowes and Son Volt. Groups such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Wilco and Pearl Jam drew Oklahoma-native Blake Davis to music. Blake adds a strong front to the band with his tenor vocals and lead guitar licks. Drummer and backing vocalist, Josh Hall, grew up listening to groups like The Eagles and Ted Nugent and playing along with gospel music in his father’s church; while David Braddock, bass player, was learning from influences such as Led Zeppelin and Charles Mingus. And last but certainly not least, playing in similar styling to Chris Martin from the band Coldplay, or Charles Gilingham from the Counting Crows, Brian Regone acts as a strong new addition to the band with his rolling leads on the piano .

Better Reverend thrives on creative song writing and energetic performances that have started a catalyst for what is sure to be a bright future ahead of them as a band. Between live performances, the band spends time perfecting their set list to make each show as entertaining as possible. Each show is packed with a variety of songs spanning from Johnny Cash to Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers to the Stone Temple Pilots and many others in-between. Be on the lookout for this band on the rise in bars and honky tonks around the Lone Star State.