Reckless Kelly is an American country rock band. Formed in Idaho, the band … Read Full Bio ↴Reckless Kelly is an American country rock band. Formed in Idaho, the band moved to Austin, Texas in October 1996 and is now based there.

Led by brothers Willy (vocals/guitar) and Cody Braun (vocals/fiddle/mandolin/harmonica), the alternative country-rock outfit Reckless Kelly formed in Bend Oregon in February 1996 before moving to Austin, Texas. The Brauns had previously toured with their father in Muzzie Braun & the Boys, a Western swing band, and were joined in their own group by the lead guitarist Casey Pollock, the bass guitarist Chris Schelske and the drummer Jay Nazz.

With their younger brothers Micky and Gary, Cody and Willy were raised in central Idaho near the Sawtooth Mountains, between Clayton and Challis in Custer County, and were homeschooled by their mother. Originally they were "Muzzie Braun & the Little Braun Brothers", as Muzzie and his brothers Gary and Billy were the "Braun Brothers" from Twin Falls in the 1970s and early 1980s, sons of the musician Eustaceus "Mustie" Braun (1917–1981). From North Dakota, Mustie was a neighbor and relative of the bandleader Lawrence Welk, and was a keyboard player during the last days of legalized gambling in Idaho at Weiser in the early 1950s. He then moved to the new Club 93 in Jackpot, Nevada, on the Idaho border, and moved his family to Twin Falls, about fifty miles (80 km) north. In February 1981, Mustie and wife Marian (née Beckman) were involved in a head-on collision north of Jackpot, and both died from their injuries.

In 1989, Muzzie and his sons appeared on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show twice.

Reckless Kelly played locally on the historic Sixth Street in Austin. They turned Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar, a small bar and restaurant, into a noted music venue. From November 1996 to May 1998, they filled the venue with their Monday night show. During this period, other music venues in Austin invited them to play, including the Continental Club, the Saxon pub, Stubb's barbecue, and Antone's home of the blues.

Reckless Kelly's first album, Millican, appeared in fall 1997 and was officially released in 1998. Acoustic: Live at Stubb's and The Day followed two years later, after which David Abeyta replaced Pollock on lead guitar. Under the Table & Above the Sun in 2003 began the band's relationship with the high-profile Sugar Hill label and won the hearts of the music press and the honky tonkin' legend Joe Ely, who sang the band's praises in interviews. Wicked Twisted Road was released in 2005, and the next year the live album Reckless Kelly Was Here captured the band's stage presence. Bulletproof was released in summer 2008 on a new label, Yep Roc Records, and includes tracks critical of and reflecting on recent sociopolitical unfoldings, such as the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, Reckless released an album of songs by one of their musical heroes, Pinto Bennett. Somewhere in Time, in the band's own words, highlighted their love of "straight-up honky tonk". The band regularly returns to Austin to play before capacity crowds at venues like Nutty Brown Cafe & Amphitheatre.

Younger brothers Micky and Gary Braun front their own band, Micky & The Motorcars. Both bands play at the annual Braun Brothers Reunion in Challis, Idaho, in August.

Snowfall
Reckless Kelly Lyrics

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One hundred and ten don't mean nothin' to me
I've seen forty below when the rivers freeze
But the ground here's bare
And the skies are clear
I'm packing my gear and I'm outta here

When the snow falls down
I'll be on my way

To a western town
When winter rolls around
I'll be half way home
To a mountain town
Where the snow falls down

I'm heading up north
For some peace of mind
Leaving my baby and my worries behind
I'm gonna find my freedom
Brother you should too
And if you don't do it now
You'll be one year older when you do

Yea, when the snow falls down
I'll be on my way
To a western town
When winter rolls around
I'll be halfway home
To a mountain town

Where the snow falls down
Where the snow falls down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Reckless Kelly's song "Snowfall" are about the singer's love for winter and snowfall. The singer expresses his desire to leave his current life behind and seek peace of mind in the mountains where snow falls down. He talks about how extreme weather like 110 degrees means nothing to him because he is used to the cold and icy weather when rivers freeze at 40 degrees below zero. He's packing his gear and will be on his way when the snow falls down.

The singer seems to be addressing his friend or brother, urging him to do the same and find his freedom as well. He emphasizes the importance of taking action now because time is fleeting, and one will be one-year older when they decide to follow their dreams. The song's chorus reiterates the singer's love for snowy Western towns and how he will be halfway home when winter rolls around.

The lyrics of "Snowfall" establish a sense of adventure and discovery as the singer sets out to find his freedom and inner peace. It highlights the importance of taking risks and following your dreams to avoid regrets later in life. The song's upbeat yet reflective tone captures the spirit of the journey and the thrill of exploring unfamiliar terrain.

Line by Line Meaning

One hundred and ten don't mean nothin' to me
Extreme heat doesn't bother me

I've seen forty below when the rivers freeze
I've withstood frigid temperatures during winter

But the ground here's bare
The current place is without snow

And the skies are clear
There is an absence of clouds in the sky

I'm packing my gear and I'm outta here
I'm leaving this place with my belongings

When the snow falls down
During the winter season

I'll be on my way
I'll be traveling to my destination

To a western town
A place located in the western part of the country

When winter rolls around
During the winter season

I'll be half way home
I'll be closer to my home

To a mountain town
A town located in the mountains