Of Good Nature brings its soulful sound to town this week for an intimate show at Charleston Pour House on May 20.
The band is a collection of Charlotte musicians founded in 2011 by vocalist/guitarist Cam Brown and trombonist Brandon Hucks. The pair was later joined by drummer David Hamilton Jr., bassist Clifton Bundick and saxophonist Marcus Jones.
“We all met playing with different groups around town and in the local scene,” Brown told the Charleston City Paper.
Having a deep sense of place from which to draw influence has been key to the act’s development.
“We are definitely proud of our hometown and where we come from,” Brown said. “Four out of five members were born in Charlotte, and five out of five members were raised in Charlotte. It has become a new-age big Southern city. Many styles and cultures are mixing and forming, similar to how we write and play.”
Anthony Hamilton, K-Ci & JoJo, Simplified, The Avett Brothers, Luke Combs and Lute are a few acts Brown pointed to that emerged from his neck of the woods.
Although it was time spent on the road that really allowed Of Good Nature to hone its collective skills.
“I think a key occurrence in our development as a band was the moment we committed to a full-time touring schedule back in 2017,” Brown said. “Since then, our synergy has become strong.”
Importantly, this closeness seems to have carried over from the stage into the studio where the group has begun to stretch out freely. Perhaps most interesting are the band’s recent collaborations. These have included cool cuts with Vermont-based singer-songwriter Mihali Savoulidis of rock band Twiddle as well as with Charleston’s own Little Stranger.
“We’ve been touring the country playing shows and running into John and Kev for about six or seven years now,” Brown said of Little Stranger. “We finally put out a song together called ‘Looking For It’ at the beginning of last year.”
Additionally, Brown hinted that there is another Lowcountry connection that will resurface as part of the Pour House performance.
“Elise Testone is a Charleston legend and a good friend of ours. We initially met on a cruise performing with the band Train. Elise was singing with Robert Randolph, and we all hit it off. She is an absolutely amazing singer and knows her music. We’re so thankful to have her sing on our upcoming record as well as to be able to feature her on some live shows on the tour.”
The admiration is mutual. “When I think of how to describe the band’s sound, the first word that comes to mind is ‘positive,’ ” Testone told the City Paper.
“From the band name to the lyrics,” Testone said, “99% of the time there is a positive message and energy being delivered. Our career paths vary in many ways, but the biggest connection is an intangible feeling of knowing there’s no other choice than music for us.”
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