The Band Of Heathens is marking its 20th birthday with Country Sides, an album packed tight with the sort of rag-tag roots rock that’s made these guys a Texas institution. The fiercely independent group’s longevity was forged in the plentiful bars and clubs of Austin and other cities on the Lone Star circuit. That their first two releases were live albums tells you something about the foundation of said longevity. They’re also celebrating a platinum hit in “Hurricane,” which is now the beneficiary of more than a billion streams since its 2011 release.
Country Sides is largely a no-nonsense, guitar-focused celebration of what works. For its ninth studio LP, the battle-tested quintet stuck to what it knows, tracking all 11 songs in just more than a week at BOH cofounder Gordy Quist’s studio. The Finishing School is situated, appropriately enough, in the former home of legendary Austin music linchpin George Reiff, who succumbed to cancer in 2017. Longtime collaborator Jim Vollentine (Spoon, White Denim) presided over the sessions as co-producer.
MAGNET’S Hobart Rowland checked in with BOH cofounder Ed Jurdi to get more on the new LP and the band’s anniversary plans.
Country Sides was tracked in just more than a week. How did the speedy recording process contribute to the overall vibe of the album?
We’ve made records in all different places and over different periods of time. Some came quickly and without a lot of thought, and some were constructed and deconstructed and put back together over a number of months. Our objective with this record was to capture a snapshot of this very specific moment in time for the band. I think it finds us focused and musically tight, while at the same time being loose, free and fun. The record was largely tracked live, including vocals, which gives it a particular spark and energy that works really well for this particular batch of songs.
You’ve had quite a productive run with Jim Vollentine. What is it about working with him that brings out the best in you guys?
The best way I can put it is that Jim and the band are simpatico. We know each other so well, and there’s complete comfort and trust there. He was largely responsible for the design and layout of the Finishing School, which also serves as our creative playground and laboratory. JV is like a sixth member of the band when he’s in the studio with us. In addition to being a good arbiter of the right take and performance, his sonic sensibilities and understanding of what we’re going for is almost clairvoyant at this point. He makes the workflow and recording process so easy. And within that ease of work, we’re actually able to dig deeper and focus completely on the music to get to the best presentation of the songs.
What’s it been like witnessing Austin’s startling transformation in recent years?
To put it simply, there wouldn’t be the Band Of Heathens without Austin and the musical scene. We all were drawn to Austin for the specific vibe and musical legacy that had been created by great forefathers like Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In the early years of the band, the music community supported, lifted us up and helped give us the forward momentum to take our music out to the world. Change is inevitable—nothing ever stays the same. I think in the end, the foundation of the music community that made Austin special is still in place, and the DNA has been passed on from the early adopters through us and down to the next generation of musicians and artists working to get their voices heard. As much as things have changed, I think the same supportive, open spirit and camaraderie still exists.
The Band Of Heathens have been a proudly independent operation for two decades. How do you make it work?
The key to our success—other than being fortunate enough to find an audience for our music—is that we’ve done things our way. It hasn’t always been traditional, and oftentimes it required taking the road less traveled to get there. But in the end, we were at the helm of our ship. It’s always been about making music and the next record and following the creative muse. There’s a lot of lip service to being “outlaw,” or working outside of the traditional industry, but we’ve just quietly walked the walk and talked the talk. It’s never in an effort to show that we’re better or more righteous and noble than anyone. It’s been by design—so we could focus on our music and art without a lot of voices in our ears telling us how we needed to sound and look. In a nutshell, it’s been about building a career and having longevity, which as I look back on it now, has worked out rather well.
Any big plans for celebrating your 20th anniversary?
We’ve made it 20 years with a lot of sweat and hard work, but we honestly wouldn’t be here without our friends, family and fans. As much as this 20-year anniversary is a time for us to celebrate, it’s also a time to share and give back to everyone in our world that has made it possible. Country Sides is really an acknowledgement of all those things. We’re grateful to be here and excited to get out on the road and share the music. Now, more than ever, the mission is clear: Use music to bring people together and celebrate what’s common and good between us.
See the Band Of Heathens live.
