Mason Lankford & The Folk Family Revival
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20 August 2010
I first met Mason Lankford & The Folk Family Revival at a battle of the bands contest I was judging. From the moment they started playing, it was apparent they knew what they were doing. Their sound was developed, engaging, and their set was very tight. They showed a lot of heart on stage and an honest love of music, which I wasn’t expecting from such a young band. Needless to say they were victorious, which means I’d be seeing them again in the studio. It wasn’t until months later I’d find out that it was only their second show as Mason Lankford and The Folk Family Revival.
When they came into the studio to record their EP, I was gob smacked by their talent. Youth and talent is a combination that always blows me away. Paul and I asked them to come back to play White Linen Night and were looking forward to spending more time with these guys. The show went well and as I got to know them a little better, I realized that they were all very polite, quite funny, and had lots of love for their mom. All these charming traits inspired me to invite them back again for an interview.
The band consists of Mason Lankford - singer/guitarist (19), Lincoln Lankford - drummer (22), Barrett Lankford - bassist (21), and Caleb Pace - guitarist (20). The three Lankford brothers initially grew up in Oklahoma before moving to Texas and adopting Pace. Their musical journey began when the boys were given instruments as Christmas gifts. Immediately their passion was born. Parents Rhonda and Greg are both musical as well, so they created an environment for their sons to really develop their craft. Greg, who I’ve heard sounds like Elvis, taught them a few chords, and the boys took it from there. They also cite their uncle, Jack, as one of their first musical influences. Lincoln says his parents were always supportive and seemed to know from the start that music wasn’t just a passing phase the Lankford house. They also knew music was what their sons were meant to do before the boys realized it themselves, according to Barrett. What started out as playing together because no one else was there to play with has turned into more than “just a band.” Mason considers it a family friendship, a way to bond with his brothers. Lincoln says if one of them decided to stop playing, they all might as well stop because it just wouldn’t be the same. He adds: as long as they can play music together, he doesn’t care if he has to live under a bridge.
The brothers’ first gig was March 5th, 2004. It mostly consisted of covers. They had the technical skill to play a full set, but hadn’t quite found their sound. Being so young when they started meant that there was a lot of musical experimentation in the early years. Mason had always written folk/country songs and credits Jeff Armstreet & Kent Coley at Magnolia Red for encouraging him to develop that sound with the band. So, after a few different bands and genres between them, the boys banded together, and The Folk Family Revival was born.
Of finally finding their sound, Mason says it’s more natural now, and it just feels right playing. The song “Shade” echoes to the musical soul-searching they did. Specifically, it speaks about forgetting the past, learning form past experiences, and being in the now. Barrett explains that they’ve found a place where they know what they’re doing, both songwriting-wise and technically, making creating music easier. An old friend recently heard their new EP (Live at 226) and remarked that it’s so honest, and just so “them.” Mason said comments like that mean a lot to him, hearing that their music truly reflects who they are. They’ve hit their stride, which is good, because they’re going far.
I asked Mason about the songwriting process and there doesn’t really seem to be a set method. It usually starts as a rough idea then develops organically with the band working as a team. Mason generally writes the lyrics, but also credits Barrett with helping him. Caleb says that once Mason gets going writing, he can’t be stopped, it just flows. Mason is quick to point out that he gets most of the credit for the lyrics, but also feels like each brother’s voice comes out through his own instrument. It sounds like these guys are in awe of each other’s abilities, which is endearing and very sweet.
When I ask if they have any favorite songs of theirs, almost in unison they respond with “Fallen.” Mason says it’s one of the more personal songs and it’s completely non-fiction. He appreciates lyrics that speak the truth and come from the heart in lieu of ones that are embellished to create a story. He says the best songs are the ones you wrote, even if they don’t sound the best, it’s because it’s yours and something you own. The entire band feels the same way. Lincoln says some songs are more fun to play, but he enjoys the deeper, folkier songs better too. The purist mentality goes over into their recording philosophy as well. Mason says they don’t want to release something with so many effects that they can’t recreate the sound live. They want their record to sound exactly as it would if you were seeing them in person. They used that approach when recording here, even going as far at titling their EP “Live at 226.” The EP has gotten great response and their fan base is growing exponentially.
So many great things have happened for Mason Lankford & The Folk Family Revival since the battle of the bands. They recorded an EP, opened for Rodney Atkins (as well as outsold him at his own show), and have been playing all over the Houston-area. Recording for their full-length album begins in October. In the meantime, they are perfecting their songs, writing more songs, and sticking to their guns by playing music that “just feels right.”
Check out their music HERE!
Courtesy of 226 Recordings - Houston Recording Studio
