The Band Of Heathens

Originally conceived as a loosely-knit collective showcasing four of Austin’s best up-and-coming artists, The Band Of Heathens is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new acts in American Music. The band’s debut album LIVE FROM MOMO’S features dynamic songwriting with powerful vocal harmonies and superb musicianship. The broad appeal of The Band of Heathens can be credited to musical diversity. The idea for this collective hatched from a Wednesday night residence that saw the four principle songwriters, Colin Brooks (Chippin’ Away at the Promise Land, 2002 & Blood and Water, 2005), Ed Jurdi (Longshores Drive, 2003), Brian Keane (I Ain’t Even Lonely, 2006) and Gordy Quist (Songs Play Me, 2004), sharing the bill as separate acts. Seth Whitney would stay on stage all night, providing groove-filled bass lines to lay the foundation for all the songs. In the spring of 2006, as an experiment, Brooks, Jurdi, Keane and Quist decided to play a show where they would share the stage equally and collaborate on each other’s songs. Largely improvised and unrehearsed, the initial endeavor took on a life of its own. Quickly, the four individual voices began blending together to form a unique and distinct harmony. Drawing from a wellspring of traditional American music, the show would easily switch gears from Classic Country to Progressive Folk to Americana and R&B, with all of the parts coming together in a rock and roll stew. The group’s first official name, “The Good Time Supper Club,” was short-lived. A misprint in the local paper listed the act as “The Heathens.” The characterization stuck, and the band began to cultivate a loyal and growing legion of fans that immediately took to the group’s laid-back style of musical delivery. In an effort to capture the energy and magic of a live show, LIVE FROM MOMO’S features performances culled from two nights of recording in May of 2006. Each individual brings his own style into the mix to create the sound that is The Band Of Heathens. Colin Brooks’ road-worn bluesy vocals and guitar slinging highlight “One More Step,” the leadoff track, which finds the band filling in the seams with four-part harmonies and an explosive “gospel-rock” musical performance. “Bumblebee,” features the soulful milk and honey vocals of Ed Jurdi as the band travels closer to Memphis, catching the chorus in harmony. Brian Keane invites listeners into “Odysseus,” a tale of a cowboy lost in a Greek Tragedy. Keane’s distinctive vocal delivery is equal parts folk-country and soulful troubadour, delivering the lyric with subtlety and passion. “Judas ‘Scariot Blues,” is Gordy Quist’s dark turn on the original heathen. Featuring Quist’s classic baritone country vocals and a thumping bass-line by Seth Whitney, the song traverses a darker and denser musical landscape.