Washington's Own

The Lowdown Drifters are a self-proclaimed “country folk rock band” from Washington (the state, not the city.) Washington is most well-known, at least in the musical scene, as the birthplace of the grunge era of rock and roll. In the ‘90s, groups such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden all came to national fame after starting together in Seattle. The city became a symbol for the grunge movement, which was focussed less on big money production companies/record labels, and more upon independence, and creating their own underground music scene, in which they could thrive without the support of mainstream radio/the rest of the country.

30 years later, the Pacific Northwest has a new underground scene slowly blooming in Washington. The Lowdown Drifters join Zach Bryan, as promising up-and-coming country musicians based in Washington state for much of their year. Interestingly, much like the famous grunge groups from the same region 30-ish years ago, The Lowdown Drifters, as well as Bryan, both have a sense of independence to them. Bryan is known for his “indie” influences, and his brilliant songwriting. Likewise, he started by posting videos of himself singing in a garage on YouTube, which personifies his independent nature perfectly.

Similarly, The Drifters don’t just fall into the traditional mold of “country music.” Rather, they describe themselves as a country folk rock mix and match group that makes a good sound, and does so without the pressure of a large record label pushing them one direction or another.

My favorite song from The Drifters is “Fire in Her Eyes,” which can be found on their “Last Call for Dreamers” album. It’s a smooth listen, with a catchy, but heartfelt chorus. It’s one that can be listened to over and over, and you should go do so today. It won’t be long before The Lowdown Drifters join Zach Bryan as the next generation of Pacific Northwest musicians paving their own path in a musical scene that is always in need of innovative artists. And they’ll do so with the same sense of independence that helped Seattle’s grunge rock legends pave the way for all the underground music scenes we love to follow today.