Lance and Lea gave Carson City a taste of their music last March when they played as a duo, and now the couple returns with a full band to really rock the town at Saturday’s Levitt AMP Concert Series hosted by the Brewery Arts Center.
The country rock and blues duo out of Texas performed at the Maizie Theater at the BAC as part of a singer/songwriter series, and they’ve played at private house shows over the past few years in Carson City. Now they’re returning during a huge tour with a new album and new music, and they are excited to be playing on the big stage.
“We’re so thrilled, honestly, to be bringing the full band out and really just rocking everybody,” said Lance Kotara.
WRITING A LOVE STORY
Lance and Lea (LeAnna Kaufman) are firmly rooted in their singer/songwriter capabilities, with more than 1,000 songs written.
“That’s been our heart and soul,” said Kotara.
The couple met at a Country Radio Seminar in Nashville almost 11 years ago. It’s an event for musicians and songwriting. Kotara said the two noticed each other.
“We walked across the room toward each other and our first words we said to each other were ‘Do I know you?’” Kotara said.
Now more than a decade later, they’ve been a team who’ve toured thousands of miles playing music all over the United States and releasing albums together, including their fifth release in July, “Boots & Blues.” They got married in September in the small Texas town of Beevile during their tour, where friends and family joined them from 14 states. When it came to the music for the wedding, they hired a DJ and planned to stick to that. But they brought in an amp and their instruments just in case they got the itch to play at their own wedding.
“We had to,” Kotara said. “We’re just so used to it and it’s what we love.”
‘HEALING VIBES’
Kotara’s background in music is rooted in blues and rock, and Kaufman’s is country gospel.
They play rocking country music with a blues twist, and they are passionate about their songwriting. Kaufman said their live shows are full of energy, but they also have many meaningful moments where they connect with the crowd.
“For me, a live show is what it’s all about,” she said. “I love connecting with the audience, looking them in the eyes and feeling that human-to-human connection. There’s something about that that feels so fulfilling.”
They love that connection, and they love when the songs they write are relatable. Kotara said he hopes their songs translate to everyone because they write about everyday life of what is going on. They also said they often get responses from fans that their music has healing vibes, where people have an uplifting feeling at the show.
“Our goal is to spread positive vibes, love and positivity,” Kaufman said. “We focus on the good things in life.”
THE BAND
Lance and Lea’s tour includes a mixture of shows as a duo, and then they have the band fly in for bigger gigs such as festivals and the Levitt AMP show. The full band just played at the Oregon Jamboree, and Kotara said they are itching to get back together at the Carson City show.
The band includes Brian Killian on drums, Chris Kuffner on bass and Smith Curry on lap steel and rhythm guitar. Each member has played and worked with many prominent musicians and come with their own extensive résumés.
“They’re all professional guys,” Kotara said.
Kaufman plays acoustic guitar, sings and writes and Kotara plays lead guitar (electric and acoustic) and he also sings and writes.
‘A LOT OF GROWTH’
With bigger gigs and more fans, 2024 is turning out to be a big year for the couple.
“It’s felt like 2024 has been just a year of a lot of growth,” Kaufman said.
The new album made it on an Editorial Spotify Playlist (which can be difficult for an independent artist, Kaufman said) and the two were a semifinalist in an American Songwriter competition. Previously, they’ve won “New Artist Of The Year” in 2019 at the iHeart Radio Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards and their first album “There Goes My Heart” was nominated for Album Of The Year the following year.
“Boots and Blues” is a 20-song double album they said represents their musical backgrounds.
“It’s been really cool as we’ve been releasing the songs and seeing the reactions and feedback,” said Kaufman. “It’s been really connecting with people so that’s really exciting. It turned out honestly better than we imagined.”
The album is available on all streaming platforms, and they pressed it to vinyl. The vinyl is a deluxe limited edition and will be available at the show.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Lance and Lea with opening act Keith Alan Barnett & The Lonesome Polecat Band at the Brewery Art Center’s Levitt AMP Concert Series
WHERE: 449 W. King St. at the Brewery Arts Center
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17
MORE INFO: breweryarts.org; www.lanceandleamusic.com/