{image1}They're country. They're alt-country. No wait, they're folk. No, punk. Is that Paul Westerberg singing?
These are just a few of the many thoughts that might waft through your mind when listening to Richmond Fontaine, a quartet from Portland that teeters on the edge -- but never falls into -- a pigeon hole.
Named after a hitchhiker picked up by bassist Dave Harding, Richmond Fontaine will stop at the Bremen Café, 901 E. Clarke St., on Sunday, June 27.
Richmond Fontaine's stick-to-it-ness is the crux of their success. Harding and vocalist Willy Vlautin started the band 10 years ago, and despite the ongoing need for day jobs and growing life responsibilities, they -- as well as band members Paul Brainard and Sean Oldham -- have remained committed to the project.
"I'm grateful just to have an outlet for my songs, and especially grateful to the guys in my band for sticking with it," says Vlautin, 36, who describes RF as a frame of mind rather than a particular genre.
Just off a United Kingdom tour, the magnetic collective has five albums and has appeared on a couple of labels, including their own, El Cortez. Over the years, they've attracted a medium-sized, fanatic fan base and were able to stay committed to their true musical visions.
Although RF's style is unique, Vlautin and Hardin's love for Husker Du, Willie Nelson, X, The Blasters, and The Replacements is evident. Vlautin's knack for storytelling and poetic vocals are perhaps the band's greatest assets, but best of all, even after 10 years, Richmond Fontaine is still having a fantastic time.
"Drinking beers with the Flatlanders, opening for X. Man, those to me are just great, great things," says Vlautin.
Richmond Fontaine will play with Moonshine Sway. Show starts at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
