XL Music

Look, up on the stage: it's the superband of Heathens

By Will Mills
Thursday, January 11, 2007

Sure, members of Austin's Americana-soul supergroup the Band of Heathens might not possess such superhuman abilities as precognition, super-strength or flight, but who's to say the powers they do posses — acute tonal hearing, enchanting four-man choruses, and an eerie foresight into what the others are going to play next — aren't equally as helpful to mankind.

And, according to guitar player and vocalist Colin Brooks, that last gift comes in handy.

"Everything's from the hip," he says. "Nothing is choreographed with this band. There's usually not even a set list."

At a Heathens show — they play a regular Wednesday gig at Momo's — there's no front man, and the four singer-songwriters lined up across the stage trade off leading songs and adding back-up. As established local solo artists with their own critically acclaimed CDs, each brought a guitar case full of songs. They came together to support their own solo efforts but stayed to defeat the soulless minions of radio rock and, oh yeah, to save damsels and others in distress.

Brooks (guitar, dobro, lap steel, vocals) once pulled a child from the path of a rolling car. Gordy Quist (guitar, harmonica, vocals) saved the band from imminent electrocution and certain death once when Brooks dropped a nearly full beer bottle all over an electrical box on stage. Brian Keane (guitar, keys, vocals) has a knack for breaking up bar fights with no regard for his own safety. Seth Whitney (bass) saved a co-worker at his day job from choking. Before jumping in, he politely went over and asked, "Do you need the Heimlich maneuver?" With all the lawsuits these days, who could blame him? "I can't just grab someone at work and start squeezing them," Whitney says.

Ed Jurdi (guitar, harmonica, vocals) just tries to stay out of people's way.

Good policy, but that can be difficult during a Heathens show. In addition to squeezing six musicians and their equipment onstage, they invite other players to sit in. Local legends such as Patrice Pike, Guy Forsyth and Ray Wylie Hubbard are just a few. And, in the tradition of collaboration, the Heathens occasionally lend a hand to their guests' shows. Keane tours as Pike's keyboardist and Brooks used go out on the road with Forsyth.

The Heathens pick up these other gigs along with the occasional substitute teaching job because rescuing humanity (playing their music) doesn't always pay the bills. They are in the middle of construction on their own music studio sanctuary where they can hone their craft and ponder the mysteries of the universe. According to Brooks, they'll charge a little for others to record there, but it will be primarily a community space. Brooks says, "It's going to feel like a fortress." Uh, of solitude?

The Heathens experience their share of bickering like any musical group packed full of songwriters. According to Brooks, everything political, existential, philosophical or crass is fair game for van ride debates.

"If we can't fight, we're not going to be friends," Brooks says.

He says the ego issue comes up, but they usually do a good job keeping it in check. Although, he admits he gets a little rankled if he doesn't feel like he is contributing an equal share to the show. "They (expletive) love Gordy. How come they don't love me?" he says. "We're a unit, and in my heart I truly want these guys to shine, but I don't want to be outshone."

Originally from Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, South Carolina and Texas, these guys come from varied backgrounds with one thing in common: a musical inheritance. Some embraced it early on, whereas others couldn't escape it. Brooks had his frightening revelation during a therapy session.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks. Oh, my God, I'm a slide guitar player."

Although they each bring different variations of blues, country, soul, folk and gospel into their Texas musical stew, when they come together the end result is massive and overpowering.

"This band is really an American band," Jurdi says.

Captain America would be proud.