Valley Bar (Phoenix, AZ)
01/19/23
Indie-rock with a symphonic twist: Austin, Texas-based band Why Bonnie hit the road as a four-piece act, consisting of vocalist and songwriter Blair Howerton, Kendall Powell on keys, guitarist Sam Houdek, and bassist Chance Williams.
Why Bonnie was originally formed through a process of self-expression by young Howerton, who began the project after embarking on a trek to begin a life in New York City in 2020. Much of the thoughts and emotions provoked in her content is abstracted from her Brooklyn apartment, painting a vivid picture of blue skies, enveloping heat, and moments of her youth in Texas. Her evocative lyrical talent soon effortlessly unfolded into a full-band emotional haze encompassed with synth and string-inflected guitar-pop songs that fit a mighty, beating heart underneath all the glistening notes.
With the release of their debut album, 90 In November, in 2022, the quartet ditched their bedroom-pop sound, gritting their edges with a melodic blend of ’90s soft-rock and alternative-country. Why Bonnie sat well with a blend of artists taking on the fusion of ’90s on-and-off twang of fractured guitars and bleary vocals, but one thing that sets them apart from the mold is their cozy feel. The band engraves soft and pillowy tones through a mellow mix, with a rush of tempered intensity. The inspiration behind the songs in this release is the inevitable connection of the past. Written in the height of the pandemic and lockdown, the self-monologue is ever present. The ever consuming space in time where the only true revelation for song-writing was self-reflection, Howerton took on that role and curated a masterpiece.
The band released their first two E.P.s, , In Water and Nightgown, back in 2018. They then went on to sign with Fat Possum Records and subsequently release their third E.P., Voice Box, in 2020. As we already know, in November of 2022, the four piece indie-quartet released their debut full-length album consisting of 10 infectious and outrageous jams. Their newest single dropped in January of this year, entitled “Apple Tree.” Why Bonnie doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and we urge you to stay up to date with this band.
