Civil Twilight: A musical journey from Cape Town to Nashville

(CBS News) Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, Steven McKellar didn't have many music options. Bands didn't pass through his hometown often, and the music scene wasn't very vibrant, he recalls.

"At the time we grew up there was nothing going on," the Civil Twilight frontman remembers. "There were maybe five bands that I knew of. None of my friends were in bands ... When you're there, it feels like the middle of nowhere."

But McKellar's parents had music on the brain.

His father, for one, had a huge record collection. "My dad was a jazz fan," McKellar told CBSNews.com. But he wasn't very musically-inclined. "He can play two chords and then he complains that his fingers get sore."

McKellar's mother, though, played piano. "I grew up with a piano in my room but I never played it," McKellar added. "My mother would play piano in the room and I think it's the most beautiful thing ever. She'd go in there once a week. She'd walk into my room and say 'Hi Steve,' and I'd be like, 'Hi Mom.' And she would just sit there and play and improvise for like 20 minutes."

McKellar and his brother Andrew ended up falling in love with music, learning to play guitar and eventually forming a band in 1996 with their childhood friend Richard Wouters.

Civil Twilight was soon born.

Since releasing its debut album in 2009, the rock trio's music has been heard all over TV shows -- from "One Tree Hill" to "Vampire Diaries."

Now out with its 2012 sophomore set, Civil Twilight has a different goal.

"We just wanted to something that will challenge us live, and challenge our audience -- challenge them to grow and adapt," McKellar said of the new album.

The group demoed 30 songs, eventually narrowing it down to the 11 tracks that make up "Holy Weather."

The group has been road testing the new tracks on tour this year and will hit the road with Mute Math this summer.

And it's no surprise that South Africa is on the itinerary. Now based in Nashville, the members of Civil Twilight look forward to returning to their roots.

But things are a bit different now.

"It's grown a lot," McKellar said about the music scene in Cape Town. "It's come a long way. There's a lot of good music happening there right now."

Music, McKellar says, Civil Twilight is proud to be a part of.

[dsmyerzee]

Civil Twilight is a gift that our younger daughter brought home on summer break from Tulane U., New Orleans in May 2008. She had seen them at an impromtu free concert that they played on the quad at Tulane, that Spring while making the trek eastward. Lyndsay told us that they were so into the new band that many had missed lunch or were a bit late for class! The fact that college students were actually buying the CD that Civil Twilight had self-produced, to the point of sold-out, is saying a lot! Students don't have money to spend on extras, especially when they could have burned copies of for all of their friends & classmates! We immediately understood why they wanted an original copy, the music was fantastic, completely different! I immediately got on our computer & searched for tickets to a show. The first & only one in our area that summer was in July in New Hope, PA., in a small bar named John & Peter's. We played the CD incessantly & to avoid arguments over who had rights to it, we had downloaded a copy from the band's website & ordered 2 additional CDs!

By the end of July & the 2 hour drive to New Hope on a steamy July evening, we were all so excited to actually be going to see the band live, that I was somewhat concerned that we might be let down. Our daughter assured us that as good as the music was on the CD, Civil Twilight was definitely a band who grooved off of the energy of playing LIVE. AND, was she ever right! We were treated to a phenomenal show of musicianship, commraderie & intimacy within the trio, as well as with their music. They were young & unassuming, but they could play like nobody's business & Steven McKellar had a beautifully unique voice that sounded even better LIVE! Andrew McKellar knocked us out with his guitar playing & bowing, creating intricate sounds that wrapped around & interwove the the truly inventive drumming of Richard Wouters. Their tour manager & friend, Kevin, introduced us to the band. They were all very nice & shy young men & I told them I thought they would be a very BIG band in the near future. They thanked me but had been on the road nightly for quite some time, so they weren't quite as cionfident about the near future, as was I. We also scored some original Civil Twilight T-shirts, as gifts, that we proudly wear to their ever growing concerts!

Now, its 2012, CT have lost manager/friend, Kevin, to a beautiful wife & family life, but have gained a new Kevin, as the fourth member of the band. He adds so much to the ability of the band in having a richer sound, both instrumentally & vocallly. Civil Twilight has released their 2nd album, "Holy Weather", which is a gorgeous crafting of sound in vocals & instrumentation. And, as usual, in my opinion was even better LIVE than on our stereo! Of course, this time there were many more people at the concert, as opposed to that 1st night in 2008 & the many times in between in which we have watched them grow as a band & popularity. CT totally rocked out & entertained us to the max! The only difference was Steven's beautifully stripped down version of "Quiet In My Town" & the people in the crowd yelling for "Fire Escape" from the new CD, rather than "Letters" or a cover of Massive Attack's, "Teardrop", which is incredible or me trying to get their cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song"...a total blast!

Thank you for all you have given us, including the CT FANmily! It has been our genuine pleasure to have been able to meet each of you & talk to you over the past few years. To watch you grow as people (you are not quite as exceedingly shy as the guys we first met in New Hope) & in popularity as a band. We do hope you are able to maintain a semblence of privacy in your lives. As U2 says..."don't let the bastards drag you down!"(Ultraviolet, Achtung, Baby). The band is a public entity, the bandmembers as people, should be allowed to maintain a PRIVATE life! No matter how much FANS want to know about every aspect of your lives, save something for yourselves!

Cheers to Andrew, Richard, Kevin & of course, Steven, the words & voice of Civil Twilight. May you find yourselves diving deeper below THE SURFACE everyday, as we are certain that in the very near future a "Fire Escape" will be necessary for the Civil Twilight Band at all times. I still hold to my original prediction of that steamy July night in 2008, that Civil Twilight is going to be MONSTROUS BIG! We hope you guys have been easing into it along the way so that it doesn't run you over!

The Myers Family as always, wishes you the ability to live in LOVE, HEALTH, HAPPINESS, PEACE, PROSPERITY & that you go with GODSPEED!

Jim, Donna, Lyndsay(Philly/S. NJ) & Jaime(Tampa)USA