The Triangle

Issue date: 4/16/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Anna Clay In Philly this week for their "Won't Turn Back Tour," South Carolina quartet Needtobreathe showcased their unique sound, incredible sincerity and ability to perform spectacularly live at the World Cafe Live at 3025 Walnut Street.

Needtobreathe's previous show at World Café Live attracted a small crowd but the place was packed for their return visit on Wednesday, April 7. The South Carolina rockers have been a band for ten years now, with their first major label release, "Daylight," debuting in 2006. After years of hard work and breathtaking live performances, the band is finally receiving more recognition for their talent with many sold out shows on their current "Won't Turn Back Tour."

The Southern quartet is a rock and roll band but their music is a blend of many influences. While their home state seems to imply they are a country band, they most definitely aren't.

"I think we were always a lot more attracted to rock and roll than we were to country music," explained drummer Joe Stillwell, "even though we do play banjos and mandolins and things like that every now and then."

Needtobreathe also write about some Christian themes, but they aren't really a Christian band either. There is a quality to their music that makes it much more universal and difficult to define. They have had their songs featured in various television programs and films such as "P.S. I Love You." They have toured with bands from a range of genres, and while Needtobreathe mostly appeal to an audience of those in their twenties and early thirties, their crowds are still scattered with a few fans who look like they might belong at a pop concert instead, as well as some middle-aged concert-goers. They have a coveted ability to reach out to a wide audience, spanning across different genres and obtaining a passionate, dedicated fan base along the way. According to Stillwell, the band's honesty is the strongest component to this kind of success.

"We have a lot of different influences … so we don't … write music thinking about a certain [audience]. We don't sit down and write songs thinking, 'Are people in college going to like this song?' or we don't sit down and say, 'Oh, will this appeal to soccer moms?' or whatever. We try to be as honest as possible. And I think when the audience realizes that, and it comes through, then people can connect with those emotions and with those feelings. So it becomes a lot more universal when you're talking about actual experiences and actual things that happen in your life. Those kinds of things are relatable to other people."

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