Band of Heathens

Austin's Band of Heathens call themselves a "loosely knit collective," but there isn't anything loose about their music. This is well-crafted Americana, built on strong melodies and superior musicianship. It don't hurt that four of the six band members are talented singer-songwriter-guitarists (Brian Keane, Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist) or that drummer Eldridge Goins is also a sought-after producer. (Bassist Seth Whitney rounds out the rhythm section.) The group says its influences run from Lyle Lovett to Prince. Okay, that might be stretching it, but it's clear that there are some folk, country, rock and swing overtones to their music, with just the tiniest hint of Southern gospel at the edges.

The group started sharing a stage at Momo's two years ago, more pickup band than anything else. When those song-swapping sessions turned into the most productive and enjoyable four hours each week for the group, they made it slightly more formal and began looking at recording together. The group has a live recording coming up, from their show at Momo's last May. Band lore (a suspect source of information) is that the group changed its name from the original Good Times Supper Club when a local newspaper mistakenly listed them as the Heathens. Our guess? They were heathens all along.