Sons of William

By Ari Mazer

Photo by Taylor Desormeaux

Sons of William, an up-and-coming roots rock trio out of Houma, in southern Louisiana, has never bothered fussing over preconceived notions people might have about “family bands.” This is not the glittery Carters or the kitchy Partridges. But with a new album gaining momentum and an extensive fall tour at hand, brothers Joe and David Stark have taken every opportunity to display their own close-knit family pride. The group is named for their father, Bill, a former musician who gave the boys their first instruments when they were barely toddlers. An old picture of middle-brother Evan is featured on the cover of the band’s long-awaited debut album, What Hides Inside, which was released September 4 on indie label Red Lick Records.

Joined by new bassist Jen Janet’ earlier this year to complete the trio, Joe and David insist that music and family have gone hand-in-hand throughout their lives. “We had always played music together,” says Joe, the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist. “Our parents are musicians and they always encouraged that to happen.”

Now 25 years old, Joe has been playing professionally as a guitarist in a variety of different rock groups for nearly seven years. Nonetheless, he says, he was eager to team up with his younger brother two years ago for the chance to finally put together their own band. “It was always inevitable that we would do something together, but we never really set a time for it,” explains Joe. “From a selfish standpoint it just seemed like something I could take advantage of,” he jokes.

Five years younger than Joe, drummer David is sort of the Chris Partridge in the family band — supporting his older brother’s songwriting experience with his own vocal harmonies and raw enthusiasm on drums. The youngest of the Stark boys, David began learning drums on an old kit passed down to him by Joe. “It’s weird for me because sometimes I’m afraid he’s going to think my ideas are shit,” says David of his older brother. “Joe’s been performing for so long and I put a lot of pressure on myself, which I think he really respects me for.”

Indeed, Joe and David say their relationship as brothers has never been stronger, and over the last two years they have released two EPs, in addition to their debut full-length. With strong performances at rock venues from New Orleans to Nashville to Atlanta, they have slowly built a dedicated fan base and a prominent reputation as live performers. “There’s a lot of subconscious telepathy, musically speaking,” explains Joe. “Me and my brother understand where each other are going to go without saying anything. When he’s playing drums and I’m playing guitar, it really just pushes it and feels like nothing I’ve ever gotten to be a part of.”

Joe and David were about three-quarters of the way through recording the new album when they met Janet’ through friend and producer Justin Tocket after a performance last year. Although originally trained as a guitarist, Janet’ so impressed the Starks with her bass abilities that they immediately took her on as a permanent band member. “I had prayed so long for an opportunity to play bass, because I just had such a desire to try it,” says Janet’, as she also brings a softer female edge to several tracks of What Hides Inside with her vocal backing. “They’re such talented musicians at such a young age, they just blow me away,” she says.

Now in the midst of their longest tour to date in support of the new release, Sons of William are eagerly looking forward to the band’s future both on the road and in the studio. “I love this band because I feel like we still are able to keep a little danger involved,” says Joe. “My favorite shows are the ones where I’m not sure when it’s all going to fall apart — whenever we have those nights I feel like there’s something very special going on between us.”