The Blues Brothers
The popular duo from Bastrop hasn’t forgotten its Friday night catfish roots
With such legendary bluesmen as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lightnin’ Hopkins hailing from the Lone Star State, it’s not uncommon for young Texans to dream of finding fame in Texas’ blues scene. For two young brothers from Bastrop, however, that dream has quickly become a reality. Since their first shows in 2009 — when they weren’t even old enough to drive — the Peterson Brothers, consisting of Glenn Peterson Jr. (20) on guitar and Alex Peterson (18) on bass, has enjoyed the kind of success typically reserved for Austin heavyweights.
Despite their youth, the brothers have captured the attention of Texas audiences thanks to Alex’s uncanny ability to weave soulful bass lines around Glenn Jr.’s spirited guitar riffs. Supported by drummer Chris Mead and percussionist Levi Nichols, the Brothers have amassed an impressive fan base — as well as the attention of some of the genre’s most notable musicians.
Today, the Peterson Brothers enjoy a national following, as well as a weekly residency at Austin’s historic Continental Club. With a lifetime of experiences under their belts, the Brothers have much to celebrate. Despite this success, however, the boys’ dreams may have gone unrealized had it not been for the early support of an unassuming Bastrop eatery known as Maxine’s. Located in the center of downtown Bastrop, Maxine’s Cafe is a popular meetup for locals and tourists alike. The cafe gave the Peterson boys a chance to cut their teeth as performers.
THEY GOT THOSE FISH-FRY BLUES The Peterson boys began playing Maxine’s in Bastrop when they were just 13 and 11. They returned during SXSW this year — seven years later — as part of a benefit to raise money for a scholarship fund.
But it wasn’t easy: the brothers’ young age made it challenging to book shows at bars and venues. Deanna Peterson, their mother — and, at the time, manager — would contact venues directly, seeking opportunities for her sons. “She came to us,” remembers David Sartain, owner of Maxine’s, “saying ‘We’ve got these 11- and 13-year-old musicians. They’re young, but very talented.’”
After hearing the duo, Sartain took a chance on the boys, booking the band for a monthly residency. “The Petersons started coming in Friday nights, which was our all-you-can-eat catfish night,” Sartain recalls. “At first their audience was just a few family members — but within two months, our little cafe would be absolutely packed with people waiting to hear these boys play.”
As the brothers became the talk of Bastrop, Maxine’s began to see its own surge in popularity. Over the course of the Peterson’s catfish Friday residency, both Maxine’s and the Peterson Brothers would earn spots in the Bastrop Advertiser’s yearly “Best of Bastrop” list — for Best Home Cooking and Best Musical Group, respectively.
As the boys’ popularity took off, opportuni- ties that had previously been denied them began to present themselves. The band’s schedule began to fill, and performances at Maxine’s became less frequent.“Instead of booking them every month,” Sartain remembers, “it became once a quarter, then maybe once every four months.”
That doesn’t mean the brothers have out grown their small-town roots. Though they’ve stayed busy playing sold-out gigs, and, on occasion, opening shows for notable blues- men such as BB King, Buddy Guy and Gary Clark Jr., they’ve made time for Maxine’s. Last spring, the cafe invited the brothers back to play a fish-fry benefit for the MLK scholarship fund, an organization benefiting graduating students of Bastrop High. “That was the week of SXSW,” Sartain recalls. “They had two other shows that same night, but they still made time for Maxine’s.”
Busy as they may be, the Peterson Brothers will always find time for the venue that launched their career. “A lot of people wouldn’t have given us that opportunity” reflects Glenn Jr., resting backstage before his Monday night residency at the Continental Club. “We’re thankful Maxine’s believed in us.” Adds Alex: “Playing there takes us back to our roots. Seeing that little venue we used to play, all those years ago … it’s like going home.”
