Artist to Watch: Love and Theft

Stephen Barker Liles, Eric Gunderson and Brian Bandas make up one of the hot new groups in country music today – Love and Theft.  The trio grabbed their first Top 10 hit with “Runaway” and opened for Taylor Swift long before they achieved success with their debut single.  Prior to all of that, Stephen, Eric and Brian spent six months crafting their unique sound and writing their own songs soon after they first met in Nashville.  In fact, they had a hand in writing or co-writing every track on their debut album, World Wide Open.

Stephen grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida and thought that he would end up being a college basketball coach, not a musician.  But, music factored in as a big part of his life, as he would tote his guitar along during road trips when he served as the Head Student Assistant for the University of South Florida Men’s Basketball team.  Stephen gravitated towards a vast range of music like Michael W. Smith, Johnny Cash, George Strait and Christian punk band MxPx.  When he tried his luck at the Colgate Country Showdown during his junior year of college, Stephen finally became aware of his potential as a talented musician as he reached the state finals.  Soon after, Stephen dropped out of college and headed to Music City.

However, Eric, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, grew up surrounded by music since his grandfather was a bluegrass musician.  Eric’s father, who loved the music of the Eagles and the Beatles, served as an influence as well.  When Eric reached his college years at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, he played in bands and honed his songwriting skills.  After moving to Nashville, Eric was tapped as the bassist on a six-week college tour.  During the tour, the band’s lead singer quit and it was Eric to the rescue – he took advantage of the opportunity, singing lead and many of his very own songs.

Brian hails from Austin, Texas, one of the epicenters of music.  After hearing Michael W. Smith’s music, Brian was inspired to begin playing the piano and eventually formed his own band after listening to the Goo Goo Dolls.  He stuck it out for two years of college, but Brian felt that music was his calling.  So with his parents’ blessing, he packed up and moved to Nashville.

Currently, Love and Theft is on the road with Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum on Tim’s Southern Voice Tour.  They’ve also released their second single “Dancing In Circles.”  Love and Theft’s debut album, World Wide Open, is available now.

Nikita Palmer for Citadel Digital © 2010

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