The roots of a band often spread far and wide, absorbing the proper musical nutrients as they grow and blossom into their own.
In the case of The Trongone Band, their Virginia upbringing has been as much of an influence on their music as the artists they grew up listening to. Their sound combines the earthy roots rock of The Black Crowes and My Morning Jacket to create a full-bodied Southern rock brew.
"It's very much alive in our music and our songs and even lyrics," said Andrew Trongone during a Jan. 19 phone interview. "We're all from Richmond and it definitely shows. I think people feel that and see that when they see us in other states. It's mostly subconscious, but that's just the way we write."
Trongone said the band will bring that same energy and vibe to the State Theatre. On Jan. 27, the group will headline the inaugural "Stage on Stage" concert at the historic Easton venue. "Stage on Stage" will transform the main stage of the theater into a club atmosphere, putting fans within arm's length of the act.
Easton-based Americana-rock outfit Acoustic Kitty Project will open the show. Acoustic Kitty Project is touring in support of their 2017 sophomore album, Saturday Night.
"We're pretty stoked about it. I think it's an awesome idea," Trongone said. "Everybody will be there right in it with you. I think it's going to be really cool. It'll add to the energy of the show."
Trongone said the band had steadily been performing for years before going into a studio to put their songs on tape. So when the group had the opportunity to record their debut effort, Keys to the House, Trongone said he and his bandmates were beyond ecstatic. (Keys dropped in May 2017 via Harmonized Records.)
"We'd been playing around for a couple of years, if not more, with no music and it was awesome how much we had down without a record or any of our songs recorded," Trongone said. "We really knocked it out and that's what we wanted to do, fairly quickly; capture where we were at the moment."
Keys to the House is anchored by the single "Blind," which Trongone said was the most challenging song to write in terms of coming up with lyrics. "Blind," Trongone said, wound up becoming not only the first track on Keys, but sets the mood for the rest of the album.
"I was super stoked about the music, but for the longest time, I couldn't get lyrics to it," he said. "Finally me and the keyboardist sat down and we had some ideas and it all came together. That's one of my favorite (songs), for sure."
Trongone said the making of was a learning process for the band, one that he hopes to put to use when the band returns to the studio to record their follow-up. He said new tunes have already been written for the next album, and teased a more "straight-ahead rock 'n' roll" flavor, with touches of Tom Petty and Beatles-esque pop.
"It'll be like night and day going into the next one," Trongone said. "We're definitely ready for album two. We know exactly what we're getting into this time."
Trongone also acknowledged that being in a band with a sibling -- his brother, Johnny, is the group's drummer -- comes with its own unique challenges. Being honest with each other, Andrew Trongone said, is the key to keeping the peace. "I love my brother and we've been playing music forever and it's awesome," he said. "Mixing art and business and all that stuff, and family, all in one can be tough. We're not afraid to tell each other what we're thinking. There's never any passive-aggressiveness, we're always straight up."
The Trongone Band performs Jan. 27 with Acoustic Kitty Project at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St. Show time is 8 p.m. Doors open 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door.