They are running for three Grammys this year, following last year’s Best New Artist nomination.
Photo: Brochure / Inaugural Committee Biden via Getty Images
Move (slightly) to the Spoon side, Austin has a new rock girlfriend – and they performed for the president last night. Last night at the post-opening event Celebrating America, nestled between rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and pop stars Katy Perry and Demi Lovato, came from Austin’s psychedelic soul band Black Pumas with a performance of their song “Colors” from their 2019 album of the same name. The duo performed virtually straight from the heart of Texas at ACL Live in Austin. For many viewers, this was the first time they had heard of Black Pumas, unlike their familiar name escalating counterparts. The Grammy-nominated band has been loved in their hometown since their inception a little over three years ago, but for those who are now looking for more information about Lone Star musicians, here is the summary.
Black Pumas are formed by vocalist Eric Burton, 31, and guitarist / producer Adrian Quesada, who met and formed the band in 2018. Quesada, in his early forties, worked with names like Prince and Daniel Johnston, as well as Austin Latin funk band Grupo Fantasma before starting their own project in 2017. The magic started when a mutual friend connected Quesada to Burton, who at the time was playing in downtown Austin. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2019, and “Colors” topped Billboard’s adult alternative chart in February 2020.
Black Pumas’ sound encompasses the blues and bold rock for which Austin is known, along with soul and psychological tones that bring new life and underline Burton’s soft vocals. It’s the sweet balance of modern and retro at the same time, similar to the Grammy nominee Coming home by fellow Texan Leon Bridges or Grammy winner Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes. In 2019, they were quickly nominated for Best New Artist, losing to Billie Eilish, but come on, almost everyone else too.
The deluxe edition of his eponymous album was nominated for two Grammys, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Colors”. They were also nominated for Best Performance by American Roots for “Colors”. Quesada and Burton recently broke the hit track from the Quesada Electric Deluxe Recorders studio, giving an idea of the songwriting process behind the track that emerged when Burton woke up from a midday nap and admired the sky from his uncle’s roof.
The Black Pumas’ popularity stemmed from their energizing and engaging live performances. They heated up to Celebrating America on January 19 at The Late Show with Colbert, offering a technicolor view of “Colors”. This was the second time in Colbert this year, after covering Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” in June. Another fascinating cover in their repertoire is “Eleanor Rigby”, by The Beatles, an experimental version that they discussed in the “Sweet Conversations” series on Youtube. Last month, the group recorded a Tiny Desk Concert (Home), with a setlist that shows more of his debut work, including “Red Rover”, “Fire”, “OCT 33” and “Colors”. Start viewing!