Family-oriented The Band Perry coming to Gorge June 18

George - If you're looking for a country-western act with more than a touch of family, you may want to check out The Band Perry at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Saturday, June 18.

The Band Perry, a young woman and her two brothers, will open at 7 p.m. for a show by Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan. They come to the Gorge with their latest hit, "You Lie," in the top 10.

The Band Perry recently learned that their smash No. 1 hit "If I Die Young" has achieved double platinum, exceeding 2 million in sales just before Memorial Day.

The album The Band Perry was certified gold in October of last year. The group is a country break-through act which this year won ACM's New Artist of the Year Award.

The Band Perry is an All-American family story about country, rock and soul. Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry started with an indoctrination of sorts from their parents.

"Daddy rocked us to sleep with the Rolling Stones. Mama woke us up with Loretta Lynn," Kimberly said.

Big sister Kimberly got things rolling when she strapped on a guitar at the age of 15 and then fronted her own band in high school. Reid and Neil, 10 and 8 then, were her roadies.

The chores of a roadie became old in a hurry, and the boys decided to form their own band. For a while, they opened for big sis.

All three Perrys played at any venue that would take them in their home town of Mobile, Ala., including churches and dusty roadhouses. And they were committed to their goals.

"While most of my friends were playing little league, I was in my room learning Rolling Stones and Beatles bass lines," Reid said.

Although they had different bands, the Perrys spent many nights playing together at home. They finally formed The Band Perry in the summer of 2005 after years of writing music together.

"We always knew we would take the stage together," Kimberly said. "All we were waiting on was the right moment."

Coca-Cola invited The Band Perry to open all of the dates on its New Faces of Country Tour that year.

According to the Perrys, the sense of family extends beyond the music. Kimberly noted that all three read the same classics and cook from the same recipes.

"There is a tightness between the three of us that goes way beyond even best friends," Neil said.

"Blood runs thick," Reid added. "The music business is hard, but the three of us are committed not only to our lives in music but to living them together."

"With all of our likenesses though," Kimberly said, "I believe it's our distinctions that stir up the magic when we create. When the three of  us sit down to write songs together, we pull from all of our individual perspectives."