Choo Choo Ch'boogie

The Derailers get back on track with a major-label deal

Comments (0) By Bob Ruggiero Thursday, Aug 9 2001

Though their Houston dates mark the beginning of a very stuffed schedule as their upcoming tour winds its way through the country, Villanueva hopes to find some time to shop. Outside of Villanueva's slicked-on-the-sides, crewcut-on-the-top hairstyle, the band is best known visually for their natty western suits. "We all have sources for them, and we were lucky that Manuel, who studied under [legendary Nashville tailor] Nudie and does suits for Dwight [Yoakam], Marty [Stuart], and Alan Jackson does some for us as well."

He found a less expensive source for the outfit that he wears on the record cover, however. "We had a photo shoot, and I didn't have anything to wear. So I went to a vintage clothing store in Austin. I walked in, and the woman took one look at me and said, 'Western suit?' and I said, 'Yes!' "

According to Brian Hofeldt (far left), the Derailers are reverent, not retro.

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Villanueva wraps up the conversation by saying that he's taking his family to a nearby fair to see Mark Chesnutt and a bull-riding event. When it's suggested that perhaps it would be great publicity for the band if he donned that vintage Austin suit and entered the competition, he says with a chuckle, "That's notthe kind of publicity we want!"

Come to think of it, the headline "Derailed!: Slick-suited singer gored in ring" probably isn't the kind of notoriety they're looking for. But then again, there's nothing like a tearjerking near-death experience to grab radio's interest.