Thompson Square bringing country-rock music to Tri-City fair Aug. 19

There's nothing square about Keifer and Shawna Thompson, even if they do use a math term as their musical handle -- Thompson Square.

The country pop/rock duo will open the main stage entertainment Aug. 19 at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo in Kennewick.

The couple have been married for as long as they've been making music for a living, which is 15 years. But it's only been the past four years that they've been making noise in the music industry.

"I think we've lasted this long together because we're good friends too," Keifer Thompson told the Herald. "We tour about 200 days a year, so when we're home (in Tennessee) we stay home, watch movies, play with the dogs."

The dogs are a Yorkie named Barkley and a snorkie named Etta -- snorkie being a mix of Yorkshire terrier and something else, he said. They accompany the couple on tour.

The Thompsons are also big motorcycle fans. When time allows, they hop on Keifer's bike and hit the highway, though Shawna appears to be restless as his passenger.

"My wife is bugging me about getting her own bike, so I'm sure that'll happen sooner rather than later," Keifer said with a laugh.

The music of Thompson Square could be described as a biography of their lives together and reflects their lifestyle, he said.

If their music videos are any indication of how they feel about life, music and each other, then it's worth a walk through cyberspace to watch them perform such songs as d Glass, I Got You and Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About, which abound with playful themes, stimulating romance and a whole lot of fun.

And though their music is labeled country rock, Shawna Thompson adds a little spice to their music on occasion, like when she raps on the song d Testing the Water.

Keifer Thompson admits that the duo's latest hit, d Just Feels Good, is an intimate peek into the musical soul of he and his wife.

"Shawna and I both grew up in small towns where people like to party, so we like to keep the party atmosphere in our shows," Thompson said.

They've had a string of hit singles during the past couple of years with the double platinum-selling d Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not along with d I Got You and d Glass. In the video for d I Got You, the two take on a mock Sonny and Cher performance, complete with clothing and hairstyles from the 1970s.

As for raising a family, Thompson both he and his wife would love to have kids one day.

"We're really torn on the kid issue," he said. "We both love kids. Right now it just wouldn't seem right to haul kids on the road as often as we tour. But maybe someday."

In the meantime, the dogs will do.

-- Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @dorioneal

This story was originally published August 13, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Thompson Square bringing country-rock music to Tri-City fair Aug. 19."