Band of Heathens

“Let’s see.  We’re a 2 year old band and we want to record or debut studio CD.  Let’s get Ray Wylie Hubbard to produce it and play on the CD.  Let’s get a few other guests to play as well. How about Patty Griffin and Gurf Morlix?” Sound a bit unrealistic?  Well, with the Band of Heathens from Austin, this is what happened and has resulted in a stellar studio debut release for a band whose first two releases were live recordings.

The band’s origin dates to spring 2006 when the three principle songwriters, Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, were sharing the bill every Wednesday night at the Austin club Momo’s. They started sharing the stage equally and collaborating on each other’s songs during the gigs billed as “The Good Time Supper Club.” Momo’s became the hot spot for live music on Wednesdays. A local paper mistakenly called the act “The Heathens”, but the name stuck. Drummer John Chipman and bassist Seth Whitney round out the band.

This is yet another fine band that built its reputation and fan base first on its live performances. “Live at Momo’s” was released in October 2006. The “Best New Band” award, among other awards, soon followed at the Austin Music Awards. Soon after, the Austin Music Television channel M.E. TV suggested another live recording, this one to be released on CD and DVD. On June 1, 2007 the band’s live show at legendary Austin club Antone’s was recorded and recently released on CD and DVD. Evidence of the bands talent is the fact that they skillfully use three main frontmen/songwriters. I wouldn’t normally spout on about a bands history as much, but I imagine this band will be on top of the Americana world for some time, so you might as well know the history! May 20th saw the release of their debut studio CD, and it is an Americana gem that you really must have in your collection. There are fast tunes ("Don’t Call on Me"), slower tunes ("Maple Tears"- highlighted by Patty Griffin on harmony vocal), rockin’ tunes ("Heart on My Sleeve") and southern country/spiritual type tunes ("Jackson Station"). The CD features loads of guitar, mandolin, organ, dobro, piano, harmonica and even Gurf Morlix on pump organ on the tune “Second Line.” Whatever the instrument is that you like most, it is likely here. The band delivers some clever vocals as well, such as on “Maple Tears,” which starts:

“I met a girl, from Manitoba; where the wind is wild, on the Hudson Bay
She could have been from Oklahoma, if she didn’t live so far away!”

“Unsleeping Eye,” loaded with Hammond B3, sounds like it could have been plucked right off of an old Little Feat CD. (It even features the line “unsleeping eye, don’t fail me now"). Lowell George must be smiling somewhere.  Don’t let Lowell smile alone.  Pick up this fine disc (and their live recordings) and you’ll be smiling too!