Indie-rock family band Eisley showcases their talents and unique songs
Story & Photos by Sarah Walters
I first discovered Eisley at a record shop in downtown Portland about seven years ago. The artwork on the cover of their EP Laughing City drew me in with its moody and eclectic design of a family sitting at a dining room table shadowed by a city looming in the foreground. After getting home and popping the CD into my Walkman, I discovered that their songs were as captivating as their album artwork. I would listen to their music every chance I got, even during my high school math class. Listening to Eisley is like taking a stroll through a magical forest. Their music is whimsical and enchanting, but it can also be dark and haunting.
Members of Eisley come from a musical family: Sisters Chauntelle, Stacy, and Sherri, brother Weston, and cousin Garron have been playing music together since the group formed in 1997 in their hometown of Tyler, Texas. Band members range in age from twenty-nine (Chauntelle) to twenty (Garron), and have been playing music nearly their entire lives. Their melodic indie pop rock sounds have awarded them a loyal fan base, tours with Mutemath and Coldplay, and an appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2007.
Eisley and touring companions Ives The Band and Christie DuPree made their first-ever visit to Eugene Sunday night at WOW Hall as part of their Over the River and Through the Wood tour. Each band’s performance was as magical and memorable as the title of the tour. The youngest members of the DuPree family, Christie and Collin, opened the show. Christie sang and played acoustic guitar while Collin played electric. Christie’s singing is reminiscent of her older sisters. The songs were light and airy, like a cool breeze.
San Diego-based Ives the Band played next. Singer Jason Tolliver switched between the guitar and keyboards for different songs, upbeat and dreamy-sounding. They played their hit song “The Joker” from their album The Incredible Story of Mr. Birch.
Headlining band Eisley made their way on stage and started off with the song “The Valley” from their most recent EP Fire Kite. Stacy and Sherri harmonized perfectly. Between two of the songs, Sherri asked for the crowd’s forgiveness because she was sick, but her singing and positive energy overshadowed this fact. Eisley played their hit songs “Invasion,” “Ten Cent Blues,” and “Telescope Eyes.” A smoke machine and moody lights enhanced the atmosphere created by their ethereal music. Between songs, the band teased their upcoming album The Valley and played two brand new songs, “Kind” and “Sad.”
The group talked about their switch from Warner Brothers to their new label Equal Vision Records, and shared a pleasant surprise: Stacy told the audience that Chauntelle will be singing more on the upcoming album, much to the crowd’s approval. The band finished playing and thanked the nearly 150-person crowd for coming. Sherri joked that since it was their first time coming to Eugene, they expected only about 15 people to show up. After the band walked off stage, the crowd began chanting their name. Two minutes later, Eisley walked back on stage for an encore of “Trolley Wood,” accompanied by two members of Ives the Band.
I, personally, am looking forward to hearing their new album. Listening to Eisley’s music is like a breath of fresh air, a refreshing swim in a lake, a frolic through a meadow. It’s hard to be sad or depressed when you hear their songs. They are far above and beyond the average mediocrity blasted on radio stations. They play indie rock, like many other bands, but they play the genre with a remarkable talent, positive spirit, and unique style that charms and captivates fans around the world. Eisley will be returning to Eugene in the spring to promote their upcoming album “The Valley,” and I definitely will not miss it.

Gallery • 4 Photos

DuPree brother Weston and sister Chauntelle.