Just a quick read through The Weeks' bio on their Facebook page will pique your curiosity. One haphazard Shazam or concert will do it, too, maybe even a quick look-see at their pictures. This group of musical bandits from none other than Jackson, Mississippi is sure to win your hearts. But if it doesn't win you over, their witty charm, bad boy style, and luscious locks may do the trick.

The four piece comprised of Cain and Cyle Barnes, Damian Bone, and Uel Dee is unlike any other band on the scene around these parts. Their mashup of alternative rock with a southern twang and lyrics from a deep, mysterious place has already taken them to cool places with the promise of even more ahead. Originally formed in 2006 as a five piece, The Weeks have enjoyed some good success in little more than a decade of existence, especially once they relocated to Nashville. Two of their most recent albums were recorded under Serpents and Snakes Records, the Kings of Leon record label, with successful tours following the releases. They've made a name for themselves and here are 11 reasons you should know their name, too.

1. “Slave to the South”

This was one of the first songs I heard by them and it absolutely blew me away. When I first thought about doing this article, “Slave to the South” was the first thing that popped into my head. The song’s enchanting, haunting lyrics about being perpetually stuck in the south, bound to the “way things have always been,” and feeling like you may never make it out is something younger generations of Mississippians can relate to; we’re bound and determined to get away from here but the when and the how are always a bit fuzzy. Hearing this song that accurately summed up a feeling I hadn’t realized I had by a group of guys from my hometown was one of those, “somebody else actually gets it, it’s not just me” moments.

2. They’re awesome live

The energy you hear in their recordings is conveyed tenfold at a concert, especially if the crowd is particularly rowdy; you’ll feed off their energy and they’ll feed off yours for a night of rowdy jamming out you won’t forget or regret. One of them will likely be standing on an amp and two of them may even do some crowd surfing, or hanging from the rafters, if applicable to the venue. I’ve seen this band three or four times in concert and they never disappoint, even people in the UK agree (Yes, a little indie rock band from Jackson, MS went on a UK tour). Their love for their craft is very apparent; their music is pure, from the heart and a take on life from their perspectives and experiences. Seeing a group give their all on stage is something I’d rather see any day over some overly- produced, theatrical concert; the music should be the focus, not the spectacular-ness of the lighting or the costumes.

3. Two of them are twins

Cain and Cyle Barnes, two of the founding members of The Weeks, are indeed twins. Cain is the drummer and Cyle is the singer. But good luck telling them apart when seeing them out of context. The fact that they’re brothers who play in a band they helped form shows how close their bond is. In a way, it reflects that old, noble tradition of brotherhood on more than just a literal, blood level. It also helps that they’re good-looking if you’re into guys with long hair.

4. They’re brothers, not just band mates

Even though the band has been through a few incarnations, these guys honor one of the oldest and noblest of southern traditions, brotherhood. Not all of the are blood- related but they might as well be; each one has several matching tattoos relating to their music and their home state, they live in neighboring apartments, and can answer each other’s questions without hearing it first. When you’ve been around as long as these guys have (the first incarnation of the weeks formed around 2006), it’s no surprise they have a bond as thick as thieves.

5. They proudly claim Mississippi as home

Unlike some bands from here that make it in the big leagues, these guys never forget where they came from. Instead, they embrace it and let it bleed into every aspect of what they do. They may base their activity out of Nashville, but the ‘Sip will always be their home. Many of their songs reflect their time growing up here, the struggles they faced, and what life is like in a place like Mississippi. Some may say they go a little overboard with it, but when you’re from a place as engrossing and complicated as the ‘Sip, you can’t help letting influence everything you do. Guitarist, Uel Dee, says the laid back, slow-moving lifestyle that nurtured them made its way into how they write and record; they take their time and be sure it’s done just right, kind of like getting tea to just the right degree of sweetness.

6. “Hold it, Kid”

The first time I heard this song, it made me tear up, it still does. “Hold it, Kid’s” gentle, lilting melody and lyrics about a child whose parents are addicts will make you want to reach through the music and hug the kid. It’s a real, not sugar coated, view of growing up with an addict. That topic is something you don’t hear talked about a lot down here and The Weeks do it in an excellent way. “Hold it, Kid” also shows you a softer side of the band. Many of their songs come from an alternative rock base with a southern rock influence that reflect driven, dynamic rushes of power and angst that slow to something calmer, similar to the kind of dynamics heard in may Nirvana songs. However, The Weeks definitely know when to slow it down and let it roll on downstream at a steady pace.

7. They break every stereotype of a Mississippian

Growing up down here, you learn that much of the world has this stereotypical vision of Mississippians as these dumb, raggedy- looking people, running around in overalls with no shoes. On the flip side, you have the stereotype of the clean-cut southern gentleman and that of the pristine, proper southern belle standing in front of an antebellum mansion, complete with a wrap around porch. The Weeks broke that rule, shattered the stereotypes and haven’t looked back a day since. They’re the Mississippi Longhairs, covered in tattoos, sporting shoulder length hair, and often wearing clothes granny would frown upon. The two well-known Mississippi traits they do carry are that southern twang in their voices and, most importantly, their talents in a long history of local musicians.

When they go out on tour here and abroad they’re musical representatives of this state, their home. If I had it, I’d bet a million dollars many audience members weren’t expecting a group of Mississippians looked like that, much less, that they could present someplace like Mississippi and their stories in a way that makes you oddly anxious to explore this place. They represent the young part of the population here that isn’t interested in hunting, mudding, lift kits, and country music. Instead, the Longhairs are representatives of those of us who love our state but see its backwardness and are eager to escape it to make something of ourselves.

8. They give younger generations a voice

Down in these parts, you’re taught from a young age that children are to be seen, not heard. Unfortunately, the south’s definition of a child extends well into your teenage years and in some cases past that. The Weeks and their lyrics make heard many of the things younger generations feel but don’t always know how to voice. The Weeks don’t just haphazardly voice their stories, they’re going to tell it to you like it is. Older generations and their traditions tend to dominate a lot of what happens around here. Having a well-known group that’s not necessarily of that same mind-set is a great thing. As a freshman in college, finding a band from my hometown that seemed to get how it really was to be from Jackson and Mississippi in general was a major thing; being able to relate to their songs and turn to them when I needed a pick me up was great.

9. Lots of their merchandise is made by them

This was something I hadn’t really realized until I was digging for information on the band. Naturally, they named it Crooked Letter, commemorating the famous way we teach kids how to spell Mississippi. The guitarist, Uel, designs all the merch and Cain, the drummer, photographs it all, “everything is done in house.” To make it all better, they pack it up themselves and get it ready to ship to you. That’s pretty darn special.

10. “Buttons”

This song is one of their classics; it sums up the angst that comes with young love, especially after a breakup. It doesn’t get more angsty than, “smoke yer cigarette I hope ya choke.” If I hear this song on a bad day, it’ll instantly make it brighter; I can’t help but dance. They originally released “Buttons” on their first full length album, Comeback Cadillac, in 2008 and have since re-released it with a fresh take on it.
I’ve seen them in concert three or four times and I’m pretty sure they’ve played it every time. It never fails that the audience cheers as they start it up, which then leads into the entire audience singing along as they jump up and down. In a couple of the venues, I felt like the floor would fall through from all the jumping people were doing.

11. They’re just great

I wouldn’t steer you wrong, especially when it comes to musical choices. These guys know how to put on a show, write great songs, and be humble about their success. Their weirdness and “I don’t give a d***” attitude only make them that much better. In reality, their music matters most to them; they work at it and take their time to be sure they do everything as best they can. They even released some of their earliest recordings from when they were 14 and 15 years old in honor of a decade of existence. Not a lot of bands do that. Putting that material out there gives fans an even more definite idea of what the band was like in their early years. Upon listening to it, I learned that they had some good stuff going on back in the day.

All these years later and they’re still at it. I have no doubt they’ll continue doing great things. As their bio reads: "Our shoes are tattered and torn, but our feet are dry. As for our places in history, we will run naked through your streets before we sit decorated in your halls."