Jackson Free Press

For Nashville, Tenn., indie rockers The Lower Caves, growing up in the music capital of the South played a key role in developing their alternative-rock sound. While the band formed under the moniker Eastern Block in 2007, changing their name in 2013, The Lower Caves are just getting started. The band hit the road in February for a brewery concert tour across the South to promote its debut album under the new name, "Turquoise Blues," and will perform at Jackson's Lucky Town Brewing Company, Saturday, March 14.

The Lower Caves produced the record without the help of a label. Instead, vocalist and guitarist Aaron Ahlstrom, 32, drummer Jonathan Williams, 30, guitarist and keyboardist Jon Shearer, 35, and bassist Sean Savacool, 29, turned to their fans to finance a successful Kickstarter campaign. The band raised $15,000 over 45 days, and released "Turquoise Blues" last July.

"We committed ourselves to making this album. We all had full-time jobs and a lot of unexpected variables, but we discovered a lot about ourselves. It was awesome trying to figure it out," Williams says. "All of it's just growing together. Over the years, we've just gotten more OK with new sounds, new writers, or at least open to it."

"It either works, or it doesn't," Shearer adds. "We're not focusing on the idea, but the process as a whole."

That openness toward new musical experiences is due in part to the members' musical backgrounds. Savacool's father taught him to play bass as soon as he was old enough to pick one up. Shearer recalls almost failing school because of his commitment to playing guitar when he was a young boy. Ahlstrom grew up with a songwriter father and even had a home studio, but says he wasn't interested in creating music then.

"I would try something out, and then go play video games," he says. "It took a while for me to catch onto what music could be."

Shearer played drums in his high-school marching band, but says he, like Ahlstrom, didn't want to be a musician in those days. His dream was to become a professional baseball player. Eventually, the skill of professional drummers, such as Questlove of The Roots fame, influenced him to fine tune his craft.

Ahlstrom says that being in a band is a growing process. Each musician's tastes are constantly evolving, and "Turquoise Blues" is proof that pursuing whatever musical interests may come can lead to strong results. Ahlstrom says it's a "conscious decision to be conscious" that helps The Lower Caves progress together.

"We listen to how the audiences respond, and we always try to put on the same great show wherever we go," he says. "Our music is really organic. It's a testament to what everyone brings to the table."

The Lower Caves perform 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Lucky Town Brewing Company (1710 N. Mill St.). For more information, visit thelowercaves.com.