Water Tower was formed in 2005 by frontman Kenny Feinstein and his neighbor Josh Rabie, in Portland, Oregon. The band went through a few changes in the years following its conception and came back in 2020 with a more solid line-up but still keeping that unique sound that they are known for today.
I got a chance to speak with Kenny, and talk about everything from the band performing on highway exits during busy L.A. rush hour to how rappers like too short and rockers like Blink 182 inspire the sound of Water Tower.
What was the inspiration behind creating Water Tower?
As a kid in Portland, OR Kenny enjoyed skateboarding and was surrounded by a pretty big square dancing scene. He went to a bluegrass concert with major fiddle influence, that sparked his interest to not only play and create this type of music but form a band where the creative minds of each member would expand what the bluegrass and folk sound is.
If you had to name your sound? What would it be?
When you think of Bluegrass, Fiddle and Banjo, Punk, Rap, and Old Time it may take you a minute to dissect what that sound may be. However, Kenny says these are all the things that influence the Water Tower sound. Of course, off the bat we hear that Bluegrass and folk design with songs like Pig in a Pen but then the band really captures that punk influence in songs like Lose Everything. I can feel the rap persuasion in Take Me Back. That’s why it’s not hard to believe when the frontman mentioned Playboi Carti and Too Short and others alike when mentioning how hip-hop/rap plays a part in the band’s music.
For new listeners, the mention of mosh-pit may not be what you expect when coming to a Water Tower show but it was told to me that that’s not a far off possibility, lol! If the mood is right and the crowd is feeling good you may catch a crowd surf here and there. Kenny makes
