Southern Rock Lives

When a band's first number includes the lead singer yodeling, it's going to be an interesting night.

Billy Triplett isn't afraid to mix together a variety of influences-- the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, a little reggae, some bluegrass and a splash of Phish-- in his live performances, backed by Jason Byrd on electric guitar and percussionist Drew Beck. During one of the band's semi-regular gigs at Cowboy Cafe March 19, the band joked and strummed happily through several 10-song sets, and this is a band that knows its audience.

A few things set apart this band from others in the bar's cast of characters: Beck doesn't try to overpower the guitars or singers. Byrd, a featured player in a number of bands, seems more at ease with his electric guitar and to have a blast playing off Triplett's lead, which more often than not features the singer missing his shoes.

Kicking off the set with Blue Yodel #9 by Jimmy Rogers and then meandering in to a pair of songs by the Grateful Dead (Bertha and Althea), this is a group of guys making music together because it's fun. It's as simple as that.

The songs have a nice sunny disposition, a bounce that feeds off the relaxed atmosphere of a warm spring evening. The guys are in no rush to go from song to song, taking a few minutes between each one to figure out where to go next. But the audience doesn't mind; they're shouting suggestions from the first note which are welcomed with a smile and a nod.

Midway through the first set, there's a trio of Allman Brothers songs that demonstrates the band's comfort zone: Combine the southern rock so popular in the early 1970s with the country twang of bluegrass and the original sounds of Nashville country. It's a great combination for this band and their easy going persona.

When the songs call for a little clapping and stomping, there's clapping and stomping-- by people crammed into tables and huddled by the bar. Even the slower songs--John Prine's Paradise, Friend of the Devil-- are soulful but not mournful. The songs have depth and delicacy and rich harmonies from Triplett and Byrd.

Originally a five-piece band with a full drum kit, Triplett said the band has scaled back a bit over time, partly to fit the small space available in some venues.

The Billy Triplett Trio has only been playing together as a band for eight months, Triplett said, but the guys have known each other longer than that through other groups. Triplett went to went to McLean High but met Beck through his first band First Rays; Triplett met Byrd through Renee' McCullough, another area musician.

And the way the band came together is as laid back as their sound.

"A guy I was supposed to play with called and couldn't make it one night, so I started sending out texts to everyone I knew," Triplett said. "We played together that night and everything was cool."

The band doesn't have formal rehearsals, he said, but get together whenever they can to talk more about what they'll be recording next than what songs to play on their next set. That helps promote the made-up-on-the-spot song lists, he said.

"I've got my own style of playing. I like to do a lot of melodies, kind of in a jam band style," he said. "I'm so lucky to find people of that same mind.  I've been in other bands that are much more serious, but I find the free form flow of shows-- we're all professionals outside music, but when the three of us get together, everything's cool. There's almost nothing we can't play."

The band plays at Cowboy roughly once a month, but the venue holds a special place in Triplett's heart-- that's where he met his wife, Lori. As a result, he feels more comfortable suggesting songs that wouldn't work in other venues, and during the course of a night, he might play some more progressive rock songs from bands like Widespread Panic mingled in with a little Dylan and Uncle Tupelo.

"There's a great atmosphere there. You get crowds of all kinds of people-- business people, Deadheads, it really runs the gamut," he said.

A typical night will include anywhere from 20-30+ songs, anything that can be played with two guitars and three tiny drums that look like congas. Beck uses a variety of percussion instruments, including hand drums, congas, djembe's, shakers and chimes, Triplett explained.

In addition to their gigs at Cowboy, the band also plays at Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church and, starting this month, will be the house band every other Thursday at the Dogfish Head Brewery in Falls Church.

"We're real excited about that," Triplett said.

They've also made some friends along the way that might be familiar to some people in Arlington.

Triplett was following the Avett Brothers for three shows, checking out the new band, and after a few nights, he became friends with the drummer and bassist.

"They had drinks with us one night before a show and they were the nicest guys," he said. "We sat and talked music, and now look at them-- a few weeks ago they were playing at the Grammys with Bob Dylan."

The music that influences Triplett and his band might not be household names, but "they're worth checking out," he said. If a song's good, if it's got good rhythm or an interesting guitar line, it's good, even if it doesn't fit into a person's normal music preferences, he said.

"I like to think we put on a true live show," he said. "There's nothing in there that will prevent you from finding something you like."

More information on the Billy Triplett Trio can be found by searching for the band on Youtube, or by looking up the Billy Triplett Trio on Facebook.