Song Premiere: Great Peacock, “Tennessee”

It’s been a busy year for Great Peacock. Armed with a stockade of easygoing, harmony-driven Americana tunes that pitch their tent somewhere between the country crooners of the ‘60s and the Southern rockers of the following decade, the guys have been strutting their plumage all over the American heartland, playing SXSW during the first quarter of 2013 before going on to open for Jason Isbell, Houndmouth, and Keller Williams. The Nashville-based group has big plans for 2014, too, including a full-length debut album. That record won’t be released until the spring, but the band is rush-releasing the first single just in time for Thanksgiving. Good timing, too, since the song — a swooning, sweeping power ballad called “Tennessee” — tips its cowboy hat to the boys’ homeland, giving thanks to the rivers, mountains, and muse-like influence of the Volunteer State.

“This was an easy song to write and finish,” says Andrew Nelson, who shares frontman duties with harmony singer and poncho-wearing partner Blount Floyd. “It just came so naturally. I think it has to do with being surrounded by all of the state’s natural beauty, as well as the music and musicians that it produces and draws. To say that living in Tennessee has had an impact on our musical development would be an understatement. It’s our homage to its effect on us as songwriters and performers.”

Stream the full song, which was recorded in Birmingham and co-produced by the band, below.