Band of Heathens, The

Biography

The Band of Heathens is an American roots-rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 2005 by singer-songwriters Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi, and Gordy Quist. The group coalesced out of a Wednesday night residency at Austin club Momo's billed as "The Good Time Supper Club" — the name "The Heathens" itself came from a misprint in a local paper. Bassist Seth Whitney joined early on, followed by drummer John Chipman in 2007 and keyboardist Trevor Nealon, who first appeared on studio recordings before joining the touring lineup in 2011. The band's unusual three-singer-songwriter structure — each member bringing original material — gave them a rare democratic creative identity that set them apart from the Austin scene.

Their 2008 self-titled debut studio album, produced by veteran Texas outlaw Ray Wylie Hubbard and featuring guests Patty Griffin, Stephen Bruton, and Gurf Morlix, shot to number one on both the Americana Music Association radio chart and the EuroAmericana chart — only the second independently released album to reach that peak. A second studio album, One Foot in the Ether (2009), also hit number one on both charts, and the band was nominated for Americana Music Honors & Awards in both 2009 (New Emerging Artist) and 2010 (Best Duo/Group). Critics often described their sound as "the bastard stepchild of Little Feat and The Band" — blues-drenched Texas rock with tight harmonies and a soulful looseness.

The band taped an Austin City Limits performance in July 2009 during the show's 35th anniversary season, cementing their status as Austin standard-bearers. They continued releasing albums through the 2010s and 2020s, including Remote Transmissions Vol. 1, a covers record featuring collaborations with Margo Price, Todd Snider, Hayes Carll, Nicki Bluhm, and Charlie Starr. In 2024, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist partnered with Texas singer-songwriter Hayes Carll to form Hayes & The Heathens, releasing a limited album and touring together. Their career arc — built on relentless touring, three-part harmonies, and a deep roots in Americana, red dirt, and southern rock — has made them one of the most durable acts in the Texas/Americana scene.

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Fun Facts

• The band's name came from a misprint in an Austin newspaper — a local paper accidentally billed their Wednesday night Momo's residency as 'The Heathens' instead of 'The Good Time Supper Club.'
• Their self-titled debut (2008) was only the second independently released album ever to reach number one on the Americana Music Association radio chart.
• Ray Wylie Hubbard said of their 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone' collab: 'If I couldn't do it with The Temptations, the next best would be to do it with The Band of Heathens.'
• They taped an Austin City Limits episode in July 2009 during the show's landmark 35th anniversary season.
• The band runs on a rare three-songwriter democracy — Brooks, Jurdi, and Quist all bring original material and share lead vocals, with no single designated frontman.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ray Wylie Hubbard - Produced the band's 2008 self-titled debut studio album; longtime Americana mentor and collaborator who later recorded 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone' with them [2008–present]

Key Collaborators

• Hayes Carll - Formed Hayes & The Heathens in 2024 for a limited album release and tour; also contributed to Remote Transmissions Vol. 1 [2022–2024]
• Patty Griffin - Guest vocalist on the band's 2008 self-titled debut album
• Stephen Bruton - Guest on the 2008 self-titled debut album, produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard
• Gurf Morlix - Guest on the 2008 self-titled debut album

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia