BACKSTAGE WITH HUDSON POWDER COMPANY
BOISE’S COWBOYS WHO KICKFLIP
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Cooper Lowry on stage at Treefort Music Hall.
Backstage at Hudson Powder Company’s second performance at Treefort Music Hall, I sat down with lead singer, Cooper Lowry and his band mates, Doug, Ricky, and Lex to get to know the new Boise boy band that everyone’s talking about. With rock-folk songs that blend the Pacific Northwest’s timeless musical traditions for a new generation, they’re carving out a loyal fanbase and reputation that’s set to make waves. So, amid the pre-show pushups, team huddles, and constant banter, they dished on their best experiences together as a band, the writing process, and the time an audience member tried to swipe their bassist’s spot.
About Cooper Lowry.
Frontman Cooper Lowry, along with the band, made quite the impression on BNDRY as the results poured in from the BNDRY Boise’s Best campaign.
Lowry, an Idaho native, got his introduction to music while attending college in Montana, frequenting karaoke nights and open mics. But, it wasn’t until he made his way back to Boise after graduating when the pieces came together to bring us Hudson Powder Company.
The first time we spoke to Lowry, he explained that he sees colors when he sings: the coolness of nights in the Idaho wilderness or the warm hues of sunsets that paint a late summer sky. It’s a phenomenon called synesthesia. Collaborating together, the band captures the authentic ‘sound of Boise’, drawing listeners in with lyrics that transport you to familiar moments of growing up, getting rowdy with friends, heart break, and all the moments worth getting nostalgic about.
Easier to Write. Harder to Share.
Beneath the layers of storytelling, the band’s music hits with emotional melodies that catch you off guard. I wanted to learn more about the band’s songwriting process. Listeners resonate with the covert or overt meanings behind songs, an intimate connection with the audience derived through the practice of authentic songwriting. Honest writing offers relatability in addition to the dancing, live performances, and car singalong’s you get with a completed product. I imagine it’s intimidating, as if your own journal was published for anyone to read. “It’s easier to write. Harder to share,” Lowry confirmed.
“It's just so vulnerable in those moments. And whatever the situation is, if you wrote it about someone, you always think, ‘how would they feel if they heard these words?’”
Cooper Lowry on stage at the Treefort Music Hall.
Despite the complexities of writing and sharing music, Cooper made it clear that he wouldn’t give up the experience for anything.
“Writing a song is so beautiful and creating something out of nothing is just gorgeous.”
When I asked bluntly, “Is it worth it?,” without pause, Lowry responded, “Absolutely.” His favorite song off the album, ‘Distant Love,’ came out of this vulnerable process he described. Cooper calls it the ‘sleeper song’ of the album and disclosed the real emotions and experiences that steered the writing process.
Hudson Power Company’s guitarist and fellow songwriter, Doug Marsh, explained that most of the band’s songwriting is individually driven before being brought to the team to be flushed out and elevated with "little one-off, decorative contributions" from the bandmates. However, notably, some songs like their number #1 hit and a real crowd pleaser, ‘Barleycorn,’ have been some of the most rewarding collaborative efforts.
REMINISCING (AND LAUGHING) ABOUT THE START.
My favorite part of the night was the air of playfulness during the interview from start to end. It seems that the camaraderie and occasional chaos only strengthens their bond and is ever present wherever they go.
For the ladder part of the interview, the band took us down memory lane. Nights around campfires, mishaps on the road, and pit stops for exotic snacks from questionable gas stations.
During the story of their first performance as a band at Willi B’s Saloon open mic, we took pause every sentence to embrace the laughter that filled the room. They covered songs like Chris Stapleton’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey,’ which Doug, while laughing, described as “probably one of the most embarrassing things.”
Hudson Powder Company in the Treefort Music Hall dressing room after the show.
“It was like a bunch of fifth graders,” Cooper added. “I think we were on the wrong key, there was no beat. It was so fucking bad.”
But the band persisted with the support of their #1 fan in the crowd, Ricky’s mom, Sherry, and an elderly woman on the dance floor who kept spirits high, dancing along with her walker. The funny part came after they got off stage and the band settled in at a table with Sherry. It was then that a gentleman approached the team handing them his business card and offering to play bass for the band.
Ricky, the current bassist, who was sitting at the table with his mom at the time recalls the moment with humor saying noting that he said, “If you guys need a bassist, I see your talent. I know you guys are great. But if you need someone to fill in for base…’”
While talking about the evolution of their sound, Cooper jokingly responds, "I hope that's a good thing," before attributing it earnestly to relentless practice.
"We're in the lab, we're cooking in the studio constantly. We're in that dungeon and practicing three days a week. We're just getting closer as a band."
Hudson Powder Company backstage at Treefort Music Hall before the show.
Their collaborative spirit shines through during band rehearsals. "Whoever writes the song or starts the song gets the ultimate say," says Cooper, emphasizing the respect and artistic support within the group. The integrity of this creative process translates to the stage.
And that’s why I make a point to go to any Hudson Power Company show I can. While enjoying their set and the boot stompin’, I overheard people remarking how much they enjoyed themselves. There are probably million reasons why the whole room was lit up. Talk about undeniably infectious energy. It’s impossible to sit still when you catch a band doing what they love. Ricky, kicking into the air with his boots. Cooper, with a cool showmanship that shines with the occasional whip of the guitar or, when he melts a crowd with a harmonica solo. Doug, has a knack for ballads that could make a grown man weep. And Lex, brings it all home with the beats that make you need to stomp your feet.
Wherever they perform, their presence fills the room. From highs to lows, rowdy rock crowdpleasers to folk cool-downs that invite reflection, you’re with them for the whole ride.
Since their stint on the good olde Willi B’s stage, Hudson Powder Company has hit some of Idaho’s biggest venues: the Egyptian Theater, Treefort Music Hall, Snowfort, and just recently, Yellowpine Harmonica Festival.
The community's passionate support fuels the band’s trajectory. Cooper and the band are continually moved by their hometown’s reception, and recognitions garnered through BNDRY’s Boise’s Best campaign.
"I had no idea that we had that kind of support." says Cooper, “This is by far the best thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t wanna stop anytime soon.”