A Match Made in Something
What started as Matt Mullins’ simple desire to record a solo album quickly evolved into a brotherhood that has lasted ten years. After pulling together musicians he had known for years from the Mercer and Wyoming County areas, Matt realized that the group they formed at the Kid in the Background studio was something special. They have watched their beards turn gray together while navigating the ups and downs of the music scene. The name “The Bringdowns” actually came from a moment of collective relief after listening back to their first recordings, where the band felt they had truly “brought the room down”. For these men, being “weekend warriors” isn’t just about the gig; it is a vital form of therapy that keeps them sane.
“It started out as a solo project that I thought was just going to be a one-time thing and we’ve been at it for 10 years and it’s been awesome.”
The Wildest Gig in Virginia
Every band that survives a decade has at least one story that sounds like a movie script, and for The Bringdowns, it involves a trip to Floyd, Virginia. After being booked for a high-paying set at an ATV rally, the band arrived to find a custom-built western town and a stage that was still receiving its “finishing touches”. Those touches turned out to be a dancing pole right next to the lead microphone. As they played a set that included Al Green and Uncle Tupelo covers, a sea of four-wheelers descended upon them, a stripper joined them on stage, and a bearded man eventually jumped on a hay bale to propose to a woman named Teresa. It was a “Mad Max” style experience that remains the weirdest show in their history.
“The guy who’s setting up sound says, ‘No man, this is for tonight’s entertainment.’ And I was like, ‘What’s that?’ And he’s like, ‘That’s a dancing pole.'”
Honoring the Raleigh County Royalty
As they celebrate their tenth anniversary, the band is releasing their fifth studio project titled Raleigh County Royalty. This album is a tribute to the diverse musical legends from their home turf, featuring covers of Hall of Famers like Bill Withers, Little Jimmy Dickens, the Everly Brothers, and Calvin Simon. From the country style of Little Jimmy Dickens to the funk of Parliament Funkadelic, the band wanted to showcase the incredible musical richness of southern West Virginia. Matt Mullins remains a fierce advocate for the talent found in the hills, often telling his students that being from Appalachia makes them unique and talented rather than just “hillbillies”.
“Don’t ever let anybody tell you you aren’t special because you’re from southern West Virginia because we’re the most special. We might be hillbillies but we’re some talented hillbillies.”
Ready to hear the “Bringdown sound” for yourself?
If you want to hear the full story of the stripper who never missed a beat, or if you just want to listen to some incredible live performances of “Maryanne Cotton” and “Elastic,” you need to see the guys in action. Grab a cold one and settle in for the full conversation with Matt, Stew, and Dylan.
