By ASHLEY CENTERS
For Inland 360
While country musicians Colton and Zach Swon have spent recent years touring and playing with the likes of Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, they first captured people’s attention on the 2013 season of TV’s “The Voice.” But that wasn’t the beginning of their musical story.
“We’ve been involved in music our entire lives. We were born into it. Our parents traveled on a bus and sang gospel music, and they let us sing songs with them as soon as we could make noise,” said Zach Swon, who performs with his brother Friday night at the Clearwater River Casino outside Lewiston.
Originally from Muskogee, Okla., the brothers began performing in their family’s gospel group and shared the stage with Underwood as children. After the Swon family stopped touring churches across the South, they formed a variety show, and the young brothers’ audience grew.
Eventually, they became contestants on “The Voice,” where their mentor was superstar Blake Shelton. They ended their run on the show in the top three and followed up in 2014 with their self-titled, major-label debut album. Its single, “Later On,” ranked in the Top 15 on country music charts. They earned a Country Music Award nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year in 2014 and the same nomination from CMT in 2015.
“We’ve never had a backup plan, we’ve known since we were kids that (music) is what we wanted to do in some shape, form or fashion,” Zach said. “It’s how we express ourselves, it’s therapy and it’s just who we are.”
Colton said his favorite part of touring is meeting fans and seeing how music can literally change someone’s day or week and put them in a good mood.
“There’s gonna be a lot of energy,” Zach said. “We have new music. Actually, since we’ve been around that area, we’ve upped our game. The stage show’s different, the lighting is different, the band members are different. ... We want (the audience) to get involved, and it’s going to be a good time.”
IF YOU GO
WHO: The Swon Brothers
WHEN: Friday, Josh Gracin opens the show at 7:30 p.m., Swon Brothers play at 8
WHERE: Clearwater River Casino, outside Lewiston
COST: $20 to $40, ticketswest.com, (800) 325-SEAT
