Rock band NeedtoBreathe will perform at San Luis Obispo’s Downtown Brewing Co. tonight.
NeedtoBreathe was formed in 1999 in Possum Kingdom, South Carolina by two brothers, Bo and Bear Rinehart and their childhood friends Joe Stillwell and Seth Bolt. Their music combines conventional rock with a bit of Southern soul, country and blues.
The Rinehart brothers grew up with music as a constant in their lives — their father played the trumpet and their mother gave piano lessons.
The band started out playing through the Southeastern U.S. until 2006 when they released their first album “Daylight.” The album sent the band on a national tour supporting groups like Train and Collective Soul. The next year the band released “The Heat” and had their single “More Time” featured in the film “P.S. I Love You.”
NeedtoBreathe’s latest album, “The Outsiders” was released last year and this year’s “Won’t Turn Back” tour has taken the band all over the country. Rinehart said the band’s newest album “The Outsiders” is especially easy for people to appreciate because at one time or another, everyone feels like an outsider.
Bear Rinehart, the band’s frontman and co-writer said the group’s style is a combination of each member’s favorites.
“I’m a big fan of soul music, and Bo likes Brit pop, like U2. Then there’s Joe who’s a loyal rock fan and Seth is more into country and blues,” Rinehart said. “We really try to stay independent from these styles but integrate them into our music at the same time.”
NeedtoBreathe’s music has ranked in the top ten list on Triple-A radio and in the top 20 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums, but the band members don’t feel their fame is as overwhelming as that of other groups. In fact, Rinehart said NeedtoBreathe’s music is devalued when put into popular entertainment.
“When our music gets put into movies or TV it sounds more fake. The coolest part of being well-known is when you meet people who have lived with the songs,” Rinehart said. “When you write a song in your bedroom and then six months later people are singing it, it really blows you away.”
Rinehart said the band has not quite gotten used to being so popular with total strangers.
“It’s still a little weird to have people you don’t know screaming your name, but it’s fun too,” Rinehart said. “We’ve become known in a more gradual way than other bands, so I don’t think we’ve had a chance to take it for granted.”
NeedtoBreathe’s genre is generally considered rock or alternative, but the band has also been labeled as gospel and Christian rock. The group resents the stigma that comes with the Christian label because they never intended to be tied to that image, Rinehart said, and a lot of the group’s fans aren’t Christian.
However, the message the band sends with their music is an uplifting and hopeful one. Rinehart said the band’s inspiration for writing songs comes from a wide range of sources.
“It’s the music that really drives the lyrics. When we wrote ‘More Time,’ we were focused on how it was taking us a while to get off the ground as a band,” Rinehart said. “People really respond when they feel emotion in your music. I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘Your song saved my marriage.'”
Just like a marriage, the members of NeedtoBreathe take the ups and downs of being musicians in stride. While they enjoy traveling to new cities, meeting new people and the overall job of being a band, Rinehart said that sometimes it’s nice to slow down. Even with the excitement their days bring, Rinehart said the group has some experiences that stand out more than others.
“When we heard we had gotten a record deal, that was pretty amazing. And the venues we get to play at have been some of the same places where legends like Johnny Cash have played,” Rinehart said.
This year the band chose to add San Luis Obispo to their national touring schedule. Rinehart said performing in large cities is great, but that the band feels playing for crowds in small towns can be more fun.
Korie Newman, Downtown Brew’s booking and venue coordinator, is excited to have NeedtoBreathe.
In an e-mail Newman said “their new album showcases their musical abilities and their range in style … I hear it’s a memorable experience. These Southern boys have got talent, and we’re fortunate to have them.”
Cal Poly students are also looking forward to the show.
Art and design freshman Allie Cole recently discovered NeedtoBreathe after hearing “More Time” in “P.S. I Love You.” After looking them up online and watching music videos, Cole became a fan.
“I watched some of their music videos, and I thought they were great. I heard about the concert from a friend and I’m really excited to go,” Cole said.
Doors open for all ages at 7 p.m. with openers Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers and Seabird. Tickets are available at Boo Boo Records for $16.50 and on ticketweb.com for $15. They will also be sold at the door for $15.