Southall — you'll want to remember that name.
The rising country-rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, has amassed 415 million total streams and 1.29 million cumulative monthly online listeners. Its 2017 single "Why" went gold.
The band's gaining even more attention thanks to its new, self-titled album. Southall's current tour in support of that album stops at the Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Road in Baton Rouge on Thursday, May 2. Tickets to the 8 p.m. general-admission show are $28.71 and can be purchased at varsitytheatre.com.
Here are four things to know about Southall before you head out to the show:
THE MEMBERS: The band was originally named Read Southall Band after its founder. The six-piece group includes Reid Barber, Jeremee Knipp, Braxton Curliss, John Tyler Perry and Ryan Wellman.
THE ALBUMS: The first, a self-released project titled "Six String Sorrow," was released in 2015. "Borrowed Time," also self-released, followed in 2017. Smoklahoma Records released the band's fourth album, "For the Birds," in 2021. "Southall," written entirely by its members, dropped on Sept. 22, 2023. Singles “When You’re Around,” “By Surprise” and “Scared Money” from the album were released last summer, getting raves from Rolling Stone, Billboard and American Songwriter.
ON THE ROAD: The band toured the U.K. and Europe with Blackberry Smoke in early 2023. This year, Southall has opened for Texas rockers Whiskey Myers, and country singer-songwriter Chase Rice.
WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT: The band "has spent the last few years building a rabid grassroots following on the road. Southall's musical influences range from country to rock to metal and more in between, making for a wholly original sound. … The guitar-driven band never loses focus on meaningful lyrics, penning tunes that speak to every aspect of life and help drive a rock 'n' roll experience for their audience, whether they're listening at home or at a packed show."