“FREE AGAIN,” A CATCHY SUMMER TUNE FOR THE OIL SPILL SEASON
Touring behind current album One Foot in the Ether, Austin band is on the road all summer and fall, with appearance at Lollapalooza
AUSTIN, Texas — While the Band of Heathens’ new song “Free Again” will keep fans happily humming and tapping, it will probably raise some eyebrows as well. The track — available for free on the band’s web site on July 15 — references the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. “It’s sure to be the feel-good hit of the summer,” quips band member Ed Jurdi. “Imagine the Silver Surfer making his way through Brian Wilson’s brain and ending up on summer holiday in the Gulf of Mexico. That’s the loose plot of the tune.”
In between tour segments, the band took a couple of days in the studio to record some new material. The two-day session yielded three songs showcasing the group’s wide musical horizons. In a move that that echoes the hallmark of the Heathens’ independent spirit, they’ve decided to release one song from those sessions as a free track to fans.
“A big belief of the band is that we shouldn’t put limitations on when we release material,” says Jurdi. “We are always available and open to the creative muse. If we’re working on something that feels good, the next logical step is to share it with people who have helped us create our own little space in this weird and woolly time.”
The Band of Heathens’ One Foot in the Ether made it to #1 on the Americana airplay charts as did its eponymous predecessor. For the second year in a row they are nominated for Americana Music Honors & Awards – this year for “Best Group,” last year for “Best Emerging Artist.” The band appeared on PBS’ Austin City Limits program last November on a bill with Elvis Costello. In the past year they have toured ceaselessly hitting such festivals as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Wakarusa. Maverick magazine called One Foot in the Ether album “a quality album from a quality group,” adding, “If you haven’t caught up with this group, why not?”
“Free Again” takes the view that as long as there’s gas in the tank, food in the fridge and America’s Got Talent on TV, we’re good, right? From the lyrics: “Flip the channel, turn the dial, watch tomorrow going on today. We go sinking further down the mess that we have made. Just asking for forgiveness ’cause we all know that Jesus saves.” Someone somewhere, the song hopes, has figured it out and will fix it and put it back together again.
So sit back and enjoy the summer, bring the family and enjoy the sand. If a few tar balls wash up on the beach, not to worry.
As much as the Band of Heathens would love to join the ranks of beach-goers, they remain on tour all summer and into the fall.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Band of Heathens, whose current album One Foot in the Ether reached #1 on the Americana airplay charts and has won critical kudos from the indie-rock, alt-country and jam press alike, were nominated this week in the Americana Honors & Awards category of ”Best Duo or Group.” It is the band’s second nomination for the Honors & Awards; the first was last year’s nomination for “Best Emerging Duo or Group.”
In what will prove a pivotal year for the Band of Heathens, the quintet will also perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park in August, and at the Wakarusa festival in Arkansas. Also this past year, the band performed on the nationally televised PBS program Austin City Limits on a bill with Elvis Costello.
The Americana Honors & Awards ceremony will be held Thursday, September 9 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Other nominees in the “Best Duo or Group” category include the Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Dave Rawlings Machine.
According to band member Gordy Quist, “We're really pleased to be nominated for this award by the Americana Music Association and to be named along with such amazing artists. The AMA has supported us from the very start and it's a real honor to be embraced by the Americana community."
We're very pleased to announce that The Band of Heathens will appear at Lollapalooza held in Chicago's Grant Park August 6-8. Lollapalooza is one of the world's premier music festivals, and we're very excited to have been asked to be a part of it. This will be the band's first appearance at the festival.
The band kicks off their April tour in Charleston, SC at the Pour House on Wednesday April 7th. Then they hit a series of dates throughout the Southeast with J J Grey and Mofro. Check the calendar section of the website for all dates and showtimes.
NEW DATE ADDED: We've just added Tuesday April 13th at Zydeco in Birmingham, AL. Tickets and more information at http://www.zydecobirmingham.com/
As the Music, Film and Interactive worlds descend on Austin this week for SXSW, the Band of Heathens pull back into town, fresh off of a succesful tour of the Midwest, for a full week of day parties, special events, and an official showcase.
Be sure to check the TOUR page for up to the minute information, also follow the band on Twitter to see where they are at and what they are experiencing.
3.16 Clear / DELL Party (ME TV taping) Gibson Showroom, 8PM 3.16 Ray Benson's B-Day Bash - La Zona Rosa, 10PM 3.17 VideoRanch3D at Troublemaker Studios (www.videoranch.com), 2PM 3.17 Guitartown / Conqueroo party - Joe's 506 West Ave, 7:30PM 3.17 APA Party, Threadgill's World HQ 3.18 Gibson Party - Maggie Mae's, 2PM 3.19 Saxon Pub, 10PM (tix here) 3.20 OFFICIAL SHOWCASE :: Amsterdam Cafe, 1AM
We just learned from some of our fans that Live Nation is adding a $8 "Ticket Fee" to each advance ticket sold online for our Friday show at the House of Blues in Houston. We were previously unaware of this fee, and if you would like to avoid it and pay a lesser fee of $3-5, you can wait until Friday and buy tickets at the House of Blues. You risk the show selling out, but you avoid the higher ticket fee.
Regardless of what you choose to do, we deeply regret that you were charged this fee, and we'd like to give each ticket holder a voucher worth $8 to be applied to any purchase at our merchandise table at the show. So hold onto your ticket stubs to redeem your $8 voucher. We will do everything in our power to be aware of these things and avoid them in the future. We hope to see you at the show.
Buy advance tickets (and your $8 voucher) by clicking here.
The Band of Heathens will perform on Sunday January 24th at the Austin Music Hall as part of a benefit for the victims of last weeks earthquake in Haiti. More details to follow, please check back for the complete lineup and event times.
The Band of Heathens are set to play New Year's Eve in Austin with Robert Earl Keen, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen at the Austin Music Hall. Tickets are on sale now at Front Gate Tickets
New tour dates added for 2010 including CO, ID, WY, UT, Chicago, MI, KY, TN and more. Check out the tour page for the most recent tour schedule.
Special Thanksgiving week shows: This Wednesday the band returns to The Mucky Duck in Houston for two shows. Be sure to check with the venue for tickets and reserved tables, these shows will sell out.
Also, the band returns to Momo's, where it all began, Friday November 27 for a special 4th anniversary show. Advanced tickets are available at Front Gate Tickets. Brian Keane opens the show, specials guests planned for the night.
One Foot In The Ether held solid at #2 this week on the AMA chart and showed up in Rolling Stone as #10 on the Sirius Radio Outlaw Country chart. The band keeps the momentum going with a tour through TN, NC, VA, KY, IN, IL and TX.
Check out the tour page for a full listing of dates.
The Band of Heathens new record "One Foot In The Ether" went to #1 this week on the Americana Radio Chart. This is the first time in chart history for an independent band to hit number one twice on this chart! Thanks to all of the DJs and fans who continue to support The Band of Heathens on the air and on the road.
The Band of Heathens hit the road in November with dates in Winston-Salem, NC, Charlottesville, VA, Raleigh, NC, Knoxville, TN, Chicago and Champaign, IL.
NEW DATES: Saturday November 7th the band will open for Reckless Kelly at the Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte, NC. Tickets are available here
Also, just added Monday November 9th, the band will perform at the Bluebird in Bloomington, IN. Visit the tour pagefor updates and ticket information.
The Band of Heathens new record "One Foot In The Ether" is currently #3 on the Americana Radio Chart here in the US (after only 4 weeks at radio), and sits #1 on the Euro-Americana chart for October. The record is also seeing great movement at both commercial and "non-comm" TripleA stations across the country and on the Texas Music Chart. If you hear the Band of Heathens on your local radio station, call them and let them know what you think about the band and the song!
The Band of Heathens have made another track from their new album "One Foot In The Ether" available for free download. Click here to download "You're Gonna Miss Me".
The Band will have 3 Texas CD release parties this week in San Antonio, Houston, and Austin as well as visits to key radio stations and in-stores at Waterloo in Austin and Cactus Records in Houston. Check the calendar section for the most up to date information, including tickets and showtimes.
You can now get a FREE download of the song "LA County Blues" from the upcoming The Band of Heathens record "One Foot In The Ether. Click here to download the FREE .mp3.
The Band of Heathens’ self-titled studio debut album brought the band from relative obscurity to playing 250-plus shows a year for their rabid fan base, as well as a coveted taping for this year’s 35th Anniversary season of Austin City Limits.
The Band of Heathens' self-titled studio debut album worked wonders. They played about 250 dates and taped a show for this year's 35th anniversary season of Austin City Limits. The album hit number one one on the Americana Music Association Radio chart.
