Jackson Free Press

If there is a single word to describe Nashville-based The Wild Feathers' music, it might be “authentic.” The music comes from a place deep within the soul and speaks volumes on life and matters of the heart. It's just imperfect enough to give it a sense of genuine emotion. It also is catchy as hell.

“Our sound is different than any other band,” guitarist Taylor Burns says. “We're described as rock 'n' roll with a splash of country. Not intentionally sounding retro, we back away from it only because it would make us similar to other bands.”

This description makes perfect sense when listening to the band's eponymous debut. Eagles influences are instantly apparent, and hints of The Black Crowes creep in as well. The end result is a perfect hodgepodge of genuine American music: tight vocal harmonies and layers of guitars.

The Wild Feathers came together in Nashville in 2010 with Burns, guitarist Ricky Young, bassist Joel King and steel guitarist Preston Wimberly. The group added drummer Ben Dumas in 2011 and began crafting a unique sound. For King, The Wild Feathers’ music sounds like “if Led Zeppelin and The Band had a baby in Joshua Tree.”

For the album, released in August, the band enlisted producer Jay Joyce—who has worked with numerous bands, including The Wallflowers and Cage The Elephant—to bring its rootsy sound to tape. The result is a perfect blend of The Wild Feathers’ obvious and many influences wrapped in fantastic songs about love, loss and life in general.

“The band fuses the essentials of rock, country, folk and blues into an intriguing new approach,” John D. Luerssen of Rolling Stone wrote in his review of “The Wild Feathers.”

The band's real strength lies in the vocals. The approach is similar to that of Rick Danko of The Band in which his harmony vocals almost felt like a lead. The vocals are presented in a soulful interpretation of old-school country music, but the guitars betray that style with burning electric leads and strummed acoustic rhythms.

Catch The Wild Feathers perform with NEEDTOBREATHE at 8 p.m. tonight at Rick’s Café (319 Highway 82 E., Starkville, 662-323-7425). Admission is $31, and $1 per ticket will be donated to the Palmetto Medical Initiative. Visit thewildfeathers.com.