Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Chancey Williams and Younger Brothers Band perform for fairgoers at the Washakie County Fair Tuesday night in Worland.
WORLAND - On the first day of a 12-day tour, Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band entertained a nice-sized crowd Tuesday night.
Chancey Williams, one of the original members of the Younger Brothers Band, said they enjoy playing all sizes of shows, both small and large.
"We always enjoy coming to places like Worland. We've got a lot of friends and fans up there. It doesn't matter where we go, we just enjoy making music for people who enjoy listening to it. Even playing in Worland, even though we've played here a few times, there will still be new people who have never seen us before.
Last week they performed at the Sublette County Fair with Restless Heart in Big Piney. Wednesday night they were playing in Brighton, Colorado, and then today they are at the Sturgis Rally for 10 days.
Williams said the band has been together for quite a few years, with the Younger Brothers Band getting its name because all of the original members had older brothers, so they were the younger brothers, Williams explained.
He said the band has been performing seriously the past 10 years and things are "going really well. Our new album that came out in May is our fourth studio album and it's really taken off." The single, "Rodeo Cold Beer" debuted at No. 7 in iTunes.
"When we started everybody in the band just enjoyed playing together and then things started taking off. We started getting hired for more high-profile events. This year is our best year by far and it keeps growing and growing."
SONGWRITER
Williams continues to grow as an artist as well. He started writing songs eight or nine years ago, he said. He wrote the group's latest single, "Rodeo Cold Beer," and also wrote "Down With That." The group has a mix of about 50-50 original songs and playing songs from other songwriters.
He said he tries to write as much as he can but he, like all artists, hate to pass up a good song.
"The more we progressed in our career. You kind of have to write, you have to have some of [your own songs]. I guess the stuff I write relates more to Wyoming type people. I enjoy writing stuff that relates to our area of the country, where we grew up and where we came from," Williams, who lives in Moorcroft said.
He added, "We really appreciate all our Wyoming and Montana support. All through the years the reason we've been successful is because our foundation of fans has come from Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana. They've really gotten behind us all these years and supported us. We couldn't do it without those types of people."
Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers band were the first of four live music acts at the Washakie County Fair this week. Westbound 40 performed Wednesday night. Hometown bands Shark Twain and Rattlesnake Ridge perform tonight and Friday, respectively. Shark Twain performs at 8 p.m. Rattlesnake Ridge begins after the rodeo.
