The Happen-Ins

The Happen-Ins' four-piece ass-shaking swagger harkens back to a time when rock and roll was a simpler beast, when bands were like boozy little gangs one step ahead of the law and one foot in the grave. The group has deservedly been getting its buzz on in Austin for its raggedy inter-gender R&B and Faces-style stompers; the stamp of the latter is in full effect on "Never Said" off this year's self-titled debut. Hell, most of the band's stuff sounds like the late Ronnie Lane or Rod the Mod had their seedy hands all over it. The cooing female backing vocals only give their songs that extra dollop of Stonesy grime and dash of old soul that makes the album one of the best to come out of Texas this year.