Gordy Quist

“The Band of Heathens, an Austin-based group, played the best set I came across during my five nights in town (at SXSW 2009).” – Wall Street Journal - Wall Street Journal

The Band of Heathens won “Best New Band” in the 2006-2007 Austin Music Awards. Members Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Colin Brooks, and Seth Whitney accepted the award last night at the Austin Convention Center. The Band of Heathens fit the moniker of “new band” – following years of performing as solo artists and sidemen, about a year ago, the group started playing shows together on Wednesday nights at Momo’s in Austin, Texas. Previous “Best New Band” winners include Del Castillo and The Greencards.

In addition, the Band of Heathens placed second in multiple categories: “Band of the Year” behind Asleep at the Wheel; “Album of the Year” for their debut releaseLIVE FROM MOMO’S; “Best Record Producer,” Mark Addison, for the debut release; “Song of the Year” for “Bumblebee” on the debut release; and, “Best Concert Poster” for the October 11 debut release party at Momo’s.

Individually, members of the Band of Heathens received recognition in the Austin Music Awards. Ed Jurdi placed 7th for “Musician of the Year” and 8th for “Best Male Vocalist.” Seth Whitney placed 6th for “Best Bass Guitar.” Gordy Quist placed 9th for “Best Acoustic Guitar.”

To finish out the SXSW week, on Friday, the Band of Heathens’ schedule includes free shows at the Austin City Hall plaza at 12 noon, the Fat Caddy Records, Second Floor Management, and House of Mercy Records (UK) Spring Showcase at Molotov at 2:30 pm, and SXSanJose at Jo’s Coffee at 4 pm. On Saturday, the group will play additional free shows at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo at 2:30 pm, Guero’s at 6 pm, and the Americana Roots Showcase at Waterloo Ice House at 8 pm.

To kick off SXSW week, on Tuesday, the Band of Heathens performed on the KGSR (107.1) Morning Show from the Four Seasons and at the Official SXSW Welcome Party at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The group played their official SXSW showcase at Momo’s on Wednesday night.

Complete list of 2006-2007 Austin Music Awards:

1st place: Best New Band
2nd place: Band of the Year
2nd place: Album of the Year, LIVE FROM MOMO’S
2nd place: Song of the Year, “Bumblebee” from LIVE FROM MOMO’S
2nd place: Best Record Producer, Mark Addison, for LIVE FROM MOMO’S
2nd place: Best Concert Poster, Band of Heathens Oct 11, Momo’s
3rd place: Best Roots Rock Band
3rd place: Best Folk Band
8th place: Best Rock Band
7th place: Musician of the Year, Ed Jurdi
8th place: Best Male Vocalist, Ed Jurdi
9th place: Best Acoustic Guitar, Gordy Quist
6th place: Best Bass Guitar, Seth Whitney

THURSDAY
4pm- SXSW Tradeshow – UnlockAustin.com Booth (badges required)

FRIDAY
Noon- Austin City Hall - Live from the Plaza - FREE SHOW
2:30- Molotov Lounge (712 W. Sixth Street) FREE PARTY Fat Caddy Records, Second Floor Management & House of Mercy Records (UK) Spring Showcase 1-5PM
4pm- Jo’s Coffee (S. Congress) SXSanJose – FREE SHOW

SATURDAY
2:30pm- Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo Travis County Expo Center
6pm- Guero’s on S. Congress – FREE SHOW
8pm- Waterloo Ice House - Americana Roots Showcase (6th & Lamar) - Austin Chronicle

Gordy was chosen as a winner of the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival, New Folk Songwriting Competition.

Past winners/finalists include: Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, James McMurtry, Martin Sexton, Slaid Cleaves, Robert Earl Keen and Nanci Griffith. - Kerrville Folk Festival

Music: Two of my favorite Austin acts are releasing albums month. They couldn’t be more different. … Gordy Quist: Well, he’s all grown up. Quist, one part of the magnificent Band of Heathens, has recorded his first Nashville album, “Here Comes the Flood". The 11 songs deepen his unfeigned Texana with seams of adept arrangements. His songwriting has evolved, too, especially his alluvial lyrics, and this album includes a massive ballad about historical Australia. Quist launches the CD at Momo’s on Friday and Gruene Hall on Saturday. …

Li’l Cap’n Travis: Is there a more Austin omnivorous act? Listening to “Twilight on Sometimes Island,” you can detect the Beatles, Beach Boys, progressive country, contempo pop, early rock, all in a cycle of personal songs that shine like the golden sun over Lake Travis. These are savvy musicians who know how to manipulate songs into supple pseudo-memories, as though you’d heard it all before. The Cap’n toasts the release July 7 at the Continental Club and July 21 at the Cactus Cafe. - Austin American-Statesman / Austin360.com

“One Foot in the Ether: Possibly one of the best albums of 2009… 5 Stars” – Maverick Magazine, UK

“What makes these Heathens so refreshingly different is the overall musicianship and seamless blending of alt-rockers, folk tales, gutbucket blues and heartland anthems.” – Chicago Sun-Times

“The Band of Heathens, an Austin-based group, played the best set I came across during my five nights in town (at SXSW 2009).” – Wall Street Journal

“There’s no denying the appeal of the group’s soulful rocking swagger and lock-tight arrangements.” – Texas Monthly

“One Foot in the Ether bears the musical influences of forbears like The Band and The Black Crowes while embodying timeless lyrical themes of salvation and sin… 4 Stars” – Country Weekly

“The Heathens reach beyond the sum of their influences and create something that stands on its own… Genres can be analyzed and categorized, and hidden meaning can be found everywhere, but when something works, it works.” – Sounds Country

“One Foot in the Ether features the ingredients perfect for a great rock ‘n’ roll record… The Band of Heathens have a knack for writing timeless songs… Raw musical talent and soulful singing combine for a mighty powerful release.” – Glide Magazine

“One Foot in the Ether is the new benchmark for contemporary Americana, both in theory and in execution.” – Yes Weekly

“One Foot in the Ether, the group’s fourth release, is their best so far, topping the previous release that reached No. 1 on both the Americana Music Association and the EuroAmericana radio charts. It’s one of the half dozen or so best listens of the year.” – Buddy Magazine

“There is definitely no sophomore jinx here, as this band continues to shine… they are no longer emerging onto the music scene, but stand high on the list of what others can only hope to become… The best record of 2009?” – Americana Roots

“The bar was pretty high for a follow up, but One Foot in the Ether easily meets the mark. If you’re a fan of albums that can’t be pigeonholed into a single musical style, you’re going to love One Foot in the Ether. – Twangville

“The Band of Heathens confirms its status as one of the most promising practitioners of contemporary Americana with One Foot in the Ether.” – Under the Radar

“Crisp playing, interlocking harmonies and solid songwriting not only continue to raise the band’s bar but confirm the promise of the Austin based band’s previous work. One Foot in the Ether is a work of confidence and first rate craftsmanship.” – The Alternate Root

“An extraordinarily good record. It’s got soul. It’s got heart. It’s got Rock ‘n’ Roll.” – Texas Star Tribune

“Their sound has congealed as much more uniquely their own, and the band has never sounded as impressively coherent as they shift into looser, more rockin’ territory.” – AustinSound.net

“One Foot in the Ether emits memorable guitar riffs and subtle hooks that keep the listener’s attention on every tune.” – Swampland.com
- 2009

Singer-songwriter stays busy with band, solo record
by Sara Cress

A rush of good things is hitting Houston native Gordy Quist in his 27th year. He recently married. He's building a house in Austin. He has steady work in a really hot Austin-based band, the Heathens.

He also has a new album, ``Here Comes the Flood,'' which he almost didn't release because he's just been too busy with that really hot band.

"I recorded this album at the end of last year not knowing that the Heathens would be taking up all my time," Quist says. "We formed the band really loosely, doing it for fun, but now it's a bigger time commitment. Things are going well, so we're rolling with it."

"Rolling with it" means playing about 260 shows this year, building on the momentum of the Heathens' regular Wednesday night gigs at Momo's in Austin, plus shows at the South by Southwest Music Conference and the Sundance Film Festival. The band started work on its first studio album last month and recorded a concert DVD at Austin's Antone's last week.

"There are TV opportunities now, we have management, booking agents, a record label (Austin's Fat Caddy Records). There's a lot more people involved and more mouths to feed, so this is our career."

Quist is one of three frontmen in the Heathens, which also includes Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Seth Whitney. It's easy to see why there would be such a clamor over this wicked little band: A handful of handsome guys putting multipart vocal harmonies to roots-rock-country-soul songs. It's the kind of free-wheeling, good-time music rock 'n' rollers used to make "before there were categories," Quist says.

The promise of a relatively quiet summer, before the Heathens' album release and tour, spurred Quist to release ``Here Comes the Flood,'' his second solo album. His first, 2004's ``Songs Play Me,'' was a straightforward folk recording filled with quiet story songs, the kind of writing that earned him a win in the Kerrville New Folk songwriting contest in 2006. Previous winners include James McMurtry, Slaid Cleaves, Tish Hinojosa and "a lot of guys that have normal day jobs," Quist points out.

Quist picks up the pace on ``Flood,'' infusing his folk songs with more rock 'n' roll.

Warmth is the right word for ``Flood'': The warmth of Quist's voice on lovely standout Skin on Soul. The warmth of feeling on ``Green and Blue,'' a song he wrote to perform the moment he asked his wife to marry him. A warm friendship lights up ``Satisfied Mind,'' which Quist learned from his favorite songwriter and frequent touring partner, Adam Carroll, who makes a guest appearance on the song. A trip to the warm shores of Sydney, Australia, prompted him to write ``Lady Juliana,'' a grand, sea-tossed song about the first boat of female convicts to arrive on the new settlement.

While he's sure that he wants to maintain a solo career, he's unsure of how much to separate himself from his popular band, which will be his backing band at the CD-release party Friday at McGonigel's Mucky Duck.

"I don't know if I should try to make the solo shows really different," he says.

"Or just say, `These guys are tight on all the material, it's fun, don't be weird about it.' " - Houston Chronicle

In this post-Katrina era, a CD entitled Here Comes the Flood is sure to raise an eyebrow, especially for a CD recorded south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Guitarist and singer/songwriter Gordy Quist took a week off from playing in one of Austin, Texas' most substantial and hardest-gigging bands, The Band of Heathens, to record Here Comes on analog tape amidst juju beads and vintage amps in East Nashville. In a note penned to the listener on the inside of the CD cover, Quist informs: "No digital undo. No cut and paste. Just vibe"… and vibe truly permeates this impressive set of soul-searching, cross-country songs. Quist's second solo CD does not reference hurricanes or the flood that set Noah afloat, however the CD lives up to its ominous title: Here Comes is musically and lyrically full of bare-bones human struggle, sometimes in Biblical proportions. The flood of the CD's punchy and harmonica-infused opener, "Rehab Facility", however, is actually the rush of addictive love flowing through one's veins, and the ship that sails in this collection can be found in the fiddle-laced "Lady Juliana", narrating the historical vessel that carried over 200 women convicts on the 1789 colonial voyage from Britain to Australia. Here Comes takes a listener down rattlesnake roads in the traveling stroll of "Quarters and Dimes" to a Quaalude Highway in the danceable roadhouse blues of "Unsleeping Eye", arriving unmercifully at "Paradise Awaiting": "I hear Paradise is waiting/ you can see it from down on your knees/ The Faithful from a distance strain to see/ the preacher from the bleacher seats." The CD climaxes and delivers more Biblical allusion in the galloping "Judas 'Scariot Blues", a haunting depiction of the fated Apostle who betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Recorded in Joe McMahan's Nashville studio, "cradled between halfway houses and soul food joints", Here Comes is musically enhanced by Hammonds, Wurlitzers, and upright bass: it lives up to Quist's intention to capture the feeling of "[j]ust people in a room making music." Here Comes the Flood offers up the human desperation of longing that leads us to the grit of travel, and if it is representative of what he (and his generation) have to contribute to the Texas singer/songwriter tradition, let's hope he's right about that flood. - WRUV Radio, Kimberly Caterino

Real Life Real Music
by Kyle Hutton

The last two editions of the Real Life – Real Music songwriter series featured artists who epitomize words like “genuine” and “authentic.” Early in May I was joined on stage at Dosey Doe in the Woodlands by Gordy Quist. Genuine down to his name. This was my first chance to perform with Gordy, but rumblings from Austin and abroad preceded him. I and the audience that evening took a drink from the fire hydrant of talent that is Gordy Quist.

Gordy, a founding member of The Band of Heathens, took the time to explain how the band that played 60 shows in the first quarter of 2007 was formed. There was no pretense, no manipulation, no huge business plans or discussions – all of which are opposites of genuine – just a group of songwriters playing a weekly gig at Momo’s in Austin. After a time, Gordy and crew decided that it was easier, and much more fun, to stay on stage and play along with each other than rotate solo sets. Sound too simple to be a formula for success? They were just named New Band of the Year at the Austin Music Awards!

Quist played songs from his previous solo record Songs Play Me, from The Band of Heathens’ Live from Momo’s and from his new solo project due out this month. Gordy shared a song included on his new solo project written for his wife, “Green and Blue.” He said, “I played it for her the night I proposed.” When I asked Gordy if it worked, he said smiling, “Eventually she got it. I don’t think she initially realized what I was doing because as soon as I finished the song and was about to propose, she said “Sing me another one.”
- Best in Texas

"With their wealth of wonderful tunes, it's easy to see why Texas music great Ray Wylie Hubbard signed on to produce this fabulous first effort."
- Michael Berick, No Depression

"Their music balances between studio-slick and devil-may-care sloppiness, with equal parts southern rock, '50's R&B, and Louisiana swamp-rock with a punkish swagger, they conjure a post-modern roots rock...This debut may establish the band as the next big thing from Austin." - Vintage Guitar Magazine, The Hit List

"Most bands are lucky to have one good songwriter in the group and super lucky to have two. This band has three poets who can deliver at the top of anyone's lyrical game. They all three are songwriting treasures… one of the best Americana records ever made." - Keith Howerton, Texas Music Times

"This is real spit and sawdust Southern rock with tremendously gritty vocals and scything guitars." - David Knowles, Maverick Magazine

"The Band of Heathens make the transition from live recordings to the studio pleasingly well on this 2008 release." - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

"If you're an Americana radio station and you don't play this record, then you're not an Americana radio station. The Band of Heathens are, by far, my favorite discovery in the last 2 years." - Mattson Rainer, KNBT

"The Austin five-piece performs its original bar-band country and Americana music exceptionally well." - Pete Freedman, Dallas Observer

"The Band of Heathens' first, self-titled studio CD has a variety of good roots-rock songs that encompass folk and country and even a bit of gospel. It's a good listen." Tom Geddie, Buddy Magazine

"Don't miss this good time excursion into the roots of the Music of today, sure is hard to get its honest grooves and good time feel out of the system. " - Bob Gottlieb, FAME

"Austin is the hub of all things Americana, folk and alt-country. And The Band of Heathens have risen to the top of that heap." - Craig Bonnell, Songs: Illinois

"The Band of Heathens' self-titled album serves as a real treat to country rock and roots rock connoisseurs with its blend of rich vocals, ballad and upbeat sides, and rootsy rhythms propelled by good musicians." - Jeff Boyce, Jupiter Index

“There is a comfort and ease in the material and lyrics; a perfect marriage of roots and jam allows the casual tone of the songs work anywhere from a back porch party to a packed club. Even in their studio effort it is clear The Band of Heathens loves playing this music they create together. The release will solidify their reputation in the American music scene.” – Vintage Guitar Magazine

"Leave it to The Band of Heathens to release TWO live albums before their studio debut. Because these guys obviously have their own ideas about how to do things - and that comes through loud and clear on their new record. It was WELL worth the wait. This ain't genericamericana. This is greasy and right." Jody Denberg, KGSR Content Manager

"Remember that you read it here first, The Band of Heathens are headed for stardom!" - Joe Montague, Riveting Riffs

"Smart southern/country rock that has some heartland heart running through it as well. A sure bet for anyone that's ever grooved to that vibe and wants more without it being more of the same." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record

"Definitely recommended: here's a new band that's worth keeping your eyes on." - Lawrence Kay, Joe Sixpack's Record Riot

"The Band of Heathens... kinda like if Rimbaud, Keats, and Rilke strapped on guitars and hooked up with a bad ass rhythm section... literary and sinfully cool." - Ray Wylie Hubbard

“Lord, I love this Austin band! Rootsy, bluesy rock in the best Austin sense that feels like it’s been cooking for decades. Four Stars.” - Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman

“Over the past 16 years I've received my fair share of “recorded live” albums but the Band Of Heathens ”Live From Momo's” truly has no equal. A Top Rank , 5-Star effort by all and in my humble opinion: One of the best albums to ever come out of Austin.” -Eddie Russell, 3rd Coast Music

“Previously, I have been fortunate to catch live performances by such greats as Albert King, B.B. King, James Taylor, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Sam Hopkins jazz great Charles Mingus and The Who. These guys are that good. The Band of Heathens are not unlike The Band back in the early days, the days of “Music From Big Pink.” - Paul Heidelberg, editor, Canyon Lake Times Guardian

“The Band of Heathens are a rich musical mélange of stunning harmonies and dizzying range. Only superstars can comprise supergroups, but the Band of Heathens prove that sometimes a group of top-notch specialists can capture similar magic. FOUR STARS.” - Patrick Nichols, This Is Texas Music - 2008