IV and The Strange Band

Nearly 85 years after his great-grandfather Hank Williams made his musical debut, Coleman Williams (also known simply as IV) is continuing the legacy of country music’s most legendary family with his band IV and the Strange Band.

The only son of Hank Williams III, IV was raised by his mother in Nashville until his formative high school years, which were spent with his father at Hank3’s “haunted ranch,” going to punk and house shows, and being driven by the heavy tones and sounds of progressive vocal driven music while still retaining a love for the southern country and blues legends. After high school, IV travelled the country, which led to meeting more bands and expanding his musical tastes from country bands in Louisiana to doom metal bands in New Jersey.

But fulfilling a family musical legacy is never what drove IV as a person. After traveling, IV returned to Nashville to attend college and study English literature with dreams of being a writer. IV’s love of writing eventually manifested itself in the composition of lyrics and with an acoustic guitar, the seed of his music career was planted.

He became friends with producer Jason Dietz, who became a musical ally. IV’s friendship with Dietz and encouragement from country and punk icons led to meeting the group of musicians he needed for what is now dubbed IV and the Strange Band. Lead guitar player David Talley and Jason Dietz on bass make up the core of IV and the Strange Band, with Daniel Mason (of Hank 3’s Damn Band) on banjo and Carson Kehrer on drums. Starting from IV’s acoustic songs, the band and IV collaborated to create the sound now that has come to define the project: 100-watt amps blended with banjo, fiddle, drums, and powerful vocal driven country hooks combining many diverse influences including John Prine, Blaze Foley, The Jesus Lizard, The Replacements and The Melvins.

“The Williams namesakes have never shied away from shaking things up… But rather than nailing himself to a bedazzled hand-me-down cross, in some public attempt to suffer for the sins of his forefathers, Coleman Williams seem to be learning from them instead…it is pretty apparent that IV might be the first Williams to apply a stable, workable balance to the many hard fought lessons that his family has struggled with for so long.” – Austin Chronicle

“IV & the Strange Band’s driving force is newcomer Coleman Williams, who’s the “IV” in their moniker…he the son of Hank III and the latest musical heir of Hank Williams to enter the business… and is another country outlaw in the making, from one of the most royal bloodlines in American music.” – Orlando Weekly

IV & the Strange Band’s ‘Son of Sin’ holds more meaning to the name. Coleman [Williams (IV)] happens to be the great-grandson of Hank Williams and the son of Shelton ( Hank III ) Williams. Even without that connection being established, Coleman’s song-writing gives me the southern gothic feels of family. While the acoustic version of this song is great, you have to hear the cinematic perfection of ‘Son of Sin’ in its entirety” – WESTERN AF