EDITOR’S NOTE: No Depression’s new “Top 5” series features a quick playlist in which roots musicians share what they’re listening to at the moment. It gives artists the chance to highlight their contemporaries, as well as classic songs getting them through the days. This installment comes from Austin roots-rock group The Band of Heathens, whose second album, Country Sides, is due out February 20.
Austin’s Band of Heathens is one of those bands whose sound is both ubiquitous and distinctive. As a band, they’ve worked with Hayes Carll (ND feature) as Hayes and The Heathens and recorded a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” with Nicole Atkins. But as a fiercely independent, local-first band, which got its start pounding the Austin circuit, The Band of Heathens has impacted thousands of other musicians with not just their sound, but also their dedication, commitment, and tenacity.
Primary songwriters Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist are now in their 20th year of blending blues, rock, country, and all flavors of twang together as The Band of Heathens. The band’s ninth studio LP, Country Sides, reflects that passage of time in theme, if not in sonic spirit. For the new record, The Heathens decamped to Quist’s studio, The Finishing School, just outside of Austin. Over the course of about a week, last year they worked with collaborator and co-producer Jim Vollentine (Spoon, Patty Griffin, White Denim) to whittle more than two dozen songs down to 11.
On the eve of Country Sides’ release, No Depression checked in with Jurdi to learn more about what he’s listening to and who is inspiring him these days.
