- RECENT PRESS -
Banding Together
June 2007
by Mark Williams
Music has always had its fair share of super groups -- individual forces
that come together for a unique musical experience, a chance to step outside
their singular personas to do something different; and it was only a matter
of time before Texas singer-songscribes would band together for the same
outside-the-box creative purpose.
Originally conceived as a loosely-knit collective showcasing four of Austin’s
best up-and-coming artists, The Band Of Heathens -- who play Borski’s Tavern
(I-45 at Shepherd Hill Rd., Willis) this Saturday, June 9 -- is quickly
becoming one of the most exciting new acts in Texas music. The band’s debut
album “Live From Momo’s” features dynamic songwriting with powerful vocal
harmonies and superb musicianship -- but the secret to their growing appeal
may just be in their diverse talent.
The idea for this collective hatched from a weekly Wednesday night gig that
saw the four principle members -- Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi, Brian Keane and
Gordy Quist -- 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 show 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 modern Americana and R & B -- with all of
the parts coming together in a rock & 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 taken from two nights of recording last May.
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.
Individually, the quartet have won acclaim from folk and country cognoscenti.
Together, they are headed to a whole new level. Like the Band, whom this
band honors with "Ain't No More Cane," the Heathens are a rich musical mélange
of stunning harmonies and dizzying range. Only superstars can comprise super
groups, but the Band of Heathens prove that sometimes a group of top-notch
specialists can capture similar musical magic.
Ed Jurdi is blazing a trail with music: his peerless style, dubbed "Cosmic
American Soul," has charmed listeners, critics, and musicians across the
country and beyond. It's like a cross-section of American musical history,
starting with heaping doses of soul augmented by flashes of country, blues,
bluegrass, gospel, and folk to create a sophisticated yet earthy union.
People have certainly taken note of his classic musical map: over the past
five years, Jurdi has steadily emerged as one of the most exciting and dynamic
artists in American music.
Featuring ten original songs from every corner of the musical landscape,
Jurdi's sophomore effort, “Longshores Drive,” showcases the extraordinary
power, range, and depth of Jurdi's voice and songwriting skills. From the
gospel tinged "Keep On Trying" to the New Orleans stomp of "Walking and
Talking" to the cool Memphis soul of "Bumblebee," the album crosses the
road map of American music to a vibrant and fresh destination.
Following his self-titled 1999 debut release, Jurdi toured the country extensively
-- with only a guitar, a couple of harmonicas and a tank of gas -- performed
over 600 shows in three years. Showcasing as a solo artist, he has performed
in 23 states, shared the stage with Willie Nelson and played on recording
sessions with Queen Latifah.
Brian Keane performs with a twinkle in his eye -- sometimes it is a twinkle
of mischief as he tells the lyrical story of “Odysseus,” his westernized,
modern tribute to the Odyssey. Other times, it is a twinkle of conviction
as he strums through stories of a life worth living and time well spent
-– despite the inevitable scrapes and bruises that come along with it.
Originally from South Carolina, Keane’s storyline is shaped from stints
of time spent in New York City, Boston, and currently, Austin. At the end
of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, Keane toured worldwide with Central Texas
songstress Patrice Pike, playing keys and electric guitar. Keane plays well
with others, but is not afraid to sit alone in the spotlight –- and he is
not afraid to entertain an audience. “I just want the audience to have fun”,
says Keane. “I keep eye contact with as many people as I can. I want to
see how people react when they hear a song.”
Keane is aware of how the words of his songs can penetrate the hearts of
listeners and bring to mind memories that may include hard times. Still,
he hopes some, including himself, can find some resolution in relating to
experiences and observations turned to lyric; and, when he senses things
are getting a little heavy, that’s when he pulls out one of his many songs
that beg to be sung with a sly grin. “I like to mix it up so people don’t
take themselves too seriously,” says Keane. “So I don’t take myself too
seriously.”
Keane’s debut album, “I Ain’t Even Lonely,” was released in 2005 to both
critical acclaim and commercial success. In March, Keane’s fans got a preview
of his sophomore effort, with the release of the single “Forbidden”, a semi-autobiographical
tale of a romance that tests the boundaries of a personal faith. A full-length
album is scheduled to follow in this fall.
As a songscribe with a lyric-driven style, Gordy Quist is equally at home
in an intimate listening room with just his guitar and harmonica as he is
in front of a five-piece electrified band. Quist's live shows span the spectrum
of American-roots music -- from country, folk and blues to rock and soul;
he is being hailed as both a potent wordsmith with depth and an authentic
voice -- and as an integral musical force in the Band of Heathens.
In a short time, Gordy Quist has developed a very nice following and has
caught the attention of the movers and shakers; his easy delivery is pleasant
to the ear and his subject matter is life, love, and music. On his debut
effort, “Songs Play Me,” Quist writes or co-writes every cut and each one
is a lyrical gem; he is quick to abandon tradition for content and many
of his tracks are a refreshing departure.
Quist grew up in Spring, where his father taught him to play guitar -- and
he knows how to use it. This week, while the Band of Heathens are starting
up the initial sessions for their first proper studio album in Austin, Quist
is readying himself for the release of his second solo album, which was
recorded in East Nashville. “It’s a great place to make a record,” says
Quist. “It’s far removed from the regular Nashville scene. It’s a great
little community with its own vibe -- a little rock and roll, some old country.
Steve Wedemeyer, my old guitarist, lives there now and encouraged me to
come do the album there.”
Quist declined to go the digital route for his new album, which is due out
soon, preferring instead to use analogue equipment. “It’s got a very old
fashioned feeling to it. We recorded on tape instead of digital and the
album’s got a real raw quality to it that I like a lot.”
Last week, the Band of Heathens got together for a free show at Antone’s
in Austin to film a DVD concert for release this fall. “We’ll put out the
DVD, then the new record sometime next year. The band started as a fluke
and now it’s just a great ride that we’ll all wanting to ride out for as
long as we can.”
See The Band of Heathens -- the hottest band to come out of Austin in some
time -- at Montgomery County’s oldest music venue, Borski’s Tavern, on Saturday,
June 9. Make reservations now at 936-344-6212...
