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.
Wild Western Windblown Band
Reckless Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wild western windblown band
Life's waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
Well I don't fly no aeroplanes
And I don't ride railroad trains
I just drive my truck down the blacktop lane to the next town
Next week we'll be in Jackson Hole
Got some good friends there to soothe our souls
Lord, don't you know
It's a good town
So roll on
You wild western windblown band
Life's waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
I don't live for borrowing
Lord and I don't love just one thing
I believe in all that life brings down our highway
So if you hear our words and songs
Take what you need to be strong
Don't be afraid to love us
We won't do you no wrong
So roll on
You wild western windblown band
Life' waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
Yeah, life's waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
The lyrics to Reckless Kelly's song "Wild Western Windblown Band" celebrate the ethos and lifestyle of a band on the road, embracing the freedom and unpredictability of life as traveling musicians. The opening lines, "Roll on, you wild western windblown band," sets the tone for the song, encouraging the band to keep moving forward and embracing the opportunities that lie ahead.
The lyrics convey a sense of independence and a rejection of conventional norms. The singer asserts that they don't fly airplanes or ride trains but instead drives their truck down the blacktop lane to the next town. This reflects their unconventional and self-reliant way of life.
The mention of Jackson Hole as a destination captures the excitement of visiting a place where they have good friends who can provide solace for their souls. It symbolizes the importance of camaraderie and the support they receive from their community along their journey.
The singer emphasizes their belief in embracing all that life brings down the highway, rejecting a narrow perspective on life. They also express their desire for listeners to take what they need from their music, to find strength in their words and songs. The band shares a message of love and reassurance, promising not to harm or betray those who connect with their music.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll on
Keep moving forward and don't look back
You wild western windblown band
You adventurous and free-spirited group of musicians
Life's waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
Opportunities and possibilities are ahead of you, and you have the power to shape your own destiny
Well I don't fly no aeroplanes
I don't need fancy means of transportation
And I don't ride railroad trains
I prefer a simpler way of getting around
I just drive my truck down the blacktop lane to the next town
I enjoy the freedom of driving my truck on the open road to the next destination
Next week we'll be in Jackson Hole
In the near future, we will be performing in Jackson Hole
Got some good friends there to soothe our souls
We have supportive friends in Jackson Hole who bring us comfort and joy
Lord, don't you know
Expressing a sense of awe or admiration
It's a good town
Jackson Hole is a great place
I don't live for borrowing
I don't depend on others for financial support
Lord and I don't love just one thing
I have diverse interests and passions
I believe in all that life brings down our highway
I have faith in the experiences and opportunities that come my way in life's journey
So if you hear our words and songs
If you listen to our lyrics and music
Take what you need to be strong
Extract the inspiration and strength you require
Don't be afraid to love us
Don't hesitate to embrace and appreciate our music
We won't do you no wrong
We won't harm or deceive you in any way
Yeah, life's waitin' up the road for you and the future's in your hands
Indeed, there are limitless opportunities ahead, and you have the power to shape your own future
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-sf3xl4nv6q
Good band, never seen them before. Great to see a crowd having a really good time.
@randall-king
One of the best!!