Highwater Haulers calls itself a “cosmic rock and roll outfit.” Hailing from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the group’s songs are influenced by old-school country, punk and rock ‘n’ roll. Their debut album, “Puncher’s Chance,” was released in March 2024.
The group sees the album title as a manifestation of its underdog spirit. “Puncher’s chance” is a boxing term that subscribes to the theory that even an unlikely contender can land a solid punch despite long odds.
“Everybody’s got a puncher’s chance,” lead vocalists Taylor Brennan and Meaghan Casey sing.
Think Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” movie franchise, and you get the idea.
In addition to Brennan and Casey, band members include bassist Alfie Purcell and drummer Ryan Jackson.
Here is a conversation with Brennan and Casey, who are now married. The full interview can be found here.
Singers Taylor Brennan and Meaghan Casey are partners in song and life.
“This feels like ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ it’s like my favorite rom-com,” Brennan says.
Casey meanwhile, calls their relationship while they were dating “like separation of church and state.”
“Like I had my songwriting career. I’m not new to this, I’m true to this. I’ve been working my ass off,” she says. “Once we got engaged, when we really started playing together more, we decided, you know, I think now is the time.
“We are gonna be together forever. We might as well try the band thing out.”
Both singers have been on the verge of quitting but stayed together.
“The Highwater Haulers are psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll creatures,” Casey says.
“Like Patsy Cline and Thin Lizzy driving like a horse and buggy. But there’s like lightning bolts coming out of the back,” Brennan says. “The horses aren’t horses, but like giant St. Bernards.”
Finding a name for the band was difficult at first, but it turned out to be a natural fit.
‘We’re like, ‘Come hell or high water, we’re gonna find a band name,’” Brennan says. “And then the name of the album and the title track was kind of about just the underdog and, and being the underdog.
“Everybody’s got a puncher’s chance. And just the idea that no matter how insurmountable the odds are that you really only need that one shot. And you can turn the tables.”
Casey agrees, noting that “everyone loves an underdog.”
“It’s so crazy to me in seeing how far we’ve come and how far we still will go. We shared the stage at Boston Calling, but ... the motivation hasn’t stopped,” she says. “What will our next tour look like? What is the next festival? We’re always looking to be releasing new music. It’s just a part of our life. We’re songwriters. It will always be happening.
“But now that we’ve had a little bit of exposure to these bigger ideas, we’re more motivated than ever.”
