Coming in hot to the perform at 185 King Street in Brevard last Thursday evening, Magnolia Boulevard had barely enough time before its gig to set up gear, run through a quick soundcheck and change into stage outfits in the back of the band van. It’s a hustle. And they know it. 

“There’s just so much work that goes into this,” said keyboardist Ryan Allen. “It’s such a constant state of pursuit of the next thing. You really have to step back and take a breath every now and then. It’s so easy to forget how far you’ve come and why you even started doing this in the first place.”

Formed in Lexington, Kentucky, Magnolia Boulevard is a rapidly rising ensemble in the same vein as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bonnie Raitt or Grace Potter. It’s southern rock and the Delta blues, all with a hearty helping of Americana and Appalachian soul. The act is fronted by Maggie Noelle, an absolutely mesmerizing singer, whose stage presence and vocal prowess immediately draws comparisons to Susan Tedeschi.

“Playing live is what we all crave,” Noelle said. “[Onstage], we escape to a place where we can all be free, leaving fears and anxieties at the door, forgetting yesterday’s troubles. It’s a form of therapy at this point.”

“The first time I heard Maggie sing, I knew we had a chance to reach a lot of people,” Allen noted. “We’ve come a long way since that first rehearsal. Different band members. Broken down vans. Empty dive bars. We’re both happier now with this band than we’ve ever been.”

Alongside Noelle and Allen, the outfit includes Roddy Puckett (bass), Austin Lewis (guitar) and Brandon Johnson. To note, Magnolia Boulevard recently released its latest album, “Strong Willed Women.”

“We love the songs we’re playing and the people we’re playing them with,” Allen said. “If you’d told me at age 14 that I’d be touring all over the country doing that, I’d take that deal in a heartbeat.”

During the Brevard appearance, the quintet erupted from behind the microphone — this melodic kaleidoscope of soaring vocals and guitar/keyboard licks, all with a thunderous bass-n-drums anchoring the whole wild scene.

“A song can be interpreted as something completely different from someone else,” Noelle said. “However, if that song is hitting you in some kind of gut-feeling way, then it’s serving its purpose — it’s allowing you to free yourself.”

“Songs save lives. I know they’ve saved mine a few times,” Allen added. “[Our new] music is serving the song now, and people really seem to be latching on to these new ones in a way they haven’t before.”

In terms of inspiration, Magnolia Boulevard contains a core respect and continued admiration for the likes of John Prine, Neil Young, Woody Guthrie and John Fogerty — all aiming to connect with the listener and reveal truths about life, either hard or merely pure in nature.

“I once heard John Prine say that songwriters don’t keep office hours, and I think that’s true,” Allen said. “It seems to me like it’s more of a state of being than anything, just having that part of your mind open, always looking for inspiration. I like to keep myself in a learner’s mindset.”

“Inspiration comes and goes,” Noelle pondered. “I’ve realized, in these later years of songwriting, I tend to write about my current life and where my heart is.”

And when looking back at the startling line of Magnolia Boulevard in its native Lexington, a place they still call home, the group can’t help but retain a deep sense of gratitude for the city’s vibrant, whirlwind (and completely supportive) music community.

“People don’t live [in Lexington] because it’s easy,” Allen said. “They live here because they love it, they know it, and there’s nowhere else in the world like it. There’s a reason so many of the top songwriters ever are from here.”

“I’m so grateful for the amount of kindness these local musicians [in Lexington] have given me, and this band for that matter,” Noelle added. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and our music community here has really helped build us up in so many ways. It’s a trade, [and] we’re all one big ole Kentucky family.”

To learn more about Magnolia Boulevard and its current nationwide summer tour, visit magnoliaboulevardband.com. The latest album, “Strong Willed Women,” is now available on all streaming services.

185 King Street

A bastion of live music, artisan craft ales and culinary delights here in Western North Carolina, 185 King Street is located in Brevard.

With an onsite kitchen and delicious beers by its sister business Noblebrau Brewing (situated right next door), 185 King Street plays host to live music and community events every single day of the week.

Of note, there are a handful of key acts rolling through the venue, including Randall Bramblett Band (July 12), Fireside Trio (July 15), Pierce Edens (July 17), Jon Weisberger & Friends (July 29), Empire Strikes Brass (Aug. 1), Hustle Souls (Aug. 2) and many more.

For a full schedule of concerts and/or to purchase tickets, visit 185kingst.com or call 828.877.1850.