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“. . . 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).”—THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
“One Foot in the Ether is sure to reinforce the band's place in the Austin music scene . . . ready-made for sitting on the back porch with a cold beer, a rock 'n' soul affair evocative of Little Feat, The Band and The Black Crowes.”—AUSTIN-AMERICAN STATESMAN Austin’s Band of Heathens is a supergroup of sorts — frontmen Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist and Colin Brooks all worked as solo artists before falling into a partnership three years ago. But this is no battle of egos: All three write together, and trade off lead vocals as if passing a bottle of wine around a campfire. 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. Bass player Seth Whitney and drummer John Chipman make for a sympathetic rhythm section, keeping the trio of equally matched talents upfront tied together seamlessly. —COUNTRY WEEKLY
“It takes a fairly sizable amount of greatness to get over the great well-traveled divide of roots music and create something of eternal beauty now. But that’s exactly what this group does on One Foot in the Ether, and it’s the way they do it that marks them as shining survivors . . . a vocal blend straight out of a heavenly barroom, and a rhythm section that sounds like it was locked in the basement for five years until they learned out how to play together in the dark. —SONIC BOOMERS
“The second release for the Band of Heathens continues their strong emergence onto the music scene by displaying a variety of mesmerizing attributes . . . This exceptional record provides further evidence that one does not need to pick a single genre to be successful. The Band of Heathens’ variety is what makes them unique.” —COUNTRY STANDARD TIME
“. . . there’s no denying the appeal of the group’s soulful rocking swagger and lock-tight arrangements.”—TEXAS MONTHLY
“[T]he Band of Heathens’ sophomore effort asserts the local quintet as coherently evolved, the distinct songwriting styles of Gordy Quist, Colin Brooks, and Ed Jurdi melding into a singular sound . . . Looseness prevails, but the Band of Heathens pushes its sound forward together.” —AUSTIN CHRONICLE
“THE BEST RECORD OF 2009?” “One Foot in the Ether is a masterful follow-up . . . here is definitely no sophomore jinx here, as this native Texas band continues to shine. [T]hey successfully branch out more into a soulful funk here, along with a blend of alt-country and rock, allowing their harmonies and outstanding instrumentals to capture the listener . . . an exceptional job of catching the live energy which is missing in many studio recording . . . This one will certainly stand the test of time . . . and so will the Band of Heathens.” —AMERICANAROOTS.COM “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 “An album that echoes their down-home resolve, One Foot in the Ether finds them putting their best foot forward.”—BLURT
“Equally adept at rootsy country-rock as they are old-time R&B on One Foot in the Ether.” —UNCUT
“One Foot in the Ether is an ever-evolving masterwork that gets better with every replay. The Band of Heathens continues to dig deep to discover blues and folk rock gold.” —HONEST TUNE
“I don’t think any CD released [in 2009] can match the musicianship, songwriting, energy, or pure listening pleasure One Foot in the Ether has brought me! . . . The Band of Heathens has been compared to Little Feat, The Band, Black Crowes, and the Allman Brothers. I say that’s some pretty heavy company to be compared to, but . . . more than a clone of those great bands it is five very talented individuals who studied the masters and created a sound that is fresh and timely, not a rehash of the past.” —AMERICANA GAZETTE
“Play ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ for a Little Feat fan who has never hear the Heathens, and see if they aren’t fooled. The Heathens’ lead slide guitar and New Orleans influenced backbeat treads on the marshy musical low ground that was first discovered by Little Feat. But the Heathens push further into the swamp to create a unique peninsula of Americana.” —VINTAGE GUITAR
Denver Concert Review: “Putting the Heat in the Band of Heathens” “On the Mile High City's coldest day of the year — even the decade, for that matter (OK, 2010 was only seven days old) — venturesome music lovers needed somebody to bring some heat to combat the sub-zero conditions. The Band of Heathens were just what the meteorologist ordered. Their blend of churning guitar interplay, good-time rock 'n' roll numbers . . . and funky chunks of rhythm and blues raised the temperature — if not the roof — at Denver’s cozy Bluebird Theater on January 7. By the time BOH finished its run through the state at the Abbey Theatre in Durango, the warmth of the sun was felt in Denver and along the Front Range as highs reached the mid-50s. Blame these guys for global warming . . . With two live albums already under their belt, it's no wonder they’re such a hot commodity.” —THE HUFFINGTON POST “While it’s tough to stake your claim in this well-populated musical territory, in addition to a solid set of tunes, the Band of Heathens boasts tight-fisted musicianship and the seamless sound of a group that thinks and plays like a unit.” —THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
“Must-see shows by Texas artists for Feb. 26-March 4” Band of Heathens at Granada Theater “A happy accident, perhaps, is the best way to describe the formation of Austin's Band of Heathens. The group is fronted by three one-time solo singer-songwriters: Gordy Quist, Ed Jurdi and Colin Brooks. Bassist Seth Whitney and drummer John Chipman round out the quintet. Quist, Jurdi and Brooks began to share concert stages almost by happenstance, but they soon realized there was magic in the musical unity. So the Heathens were born . . . Oh, and in quintessential do-it-yourself Texas style, Quist, Jurdi, Brooks and company passed on a five-album deal from a well-known independent label and released Ether themselves. They might as well fly or fail of their own accord.” —THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS “With one foot on the ground and an eye toward the unknown, we think they’re moving in the direction of the spotlight.”—REAL DETROIT WEEKLY
“Amazing that they call themselves the Band of Heathens, because if ever there was a group of enlightened musicians, it’s this Austin, Texas bunch. With three distinct multi-instrumentalist front men armed with original songs fat with substance and dazzling rhythms, they’re a vastly charismatic quintet. One Foot in the Ether is their second studio offering that’s wide in diversity, but knitted together in an entirely natural pattern . . . Roots rock? The term fits, but it’s too easy. One Foot in the Ether is more precisely a series of rich, undeniable American tableaus.” —HITTINTHENOTE.COM
“The Band of Heathens have a knack for writing timeless songs . . . Raw musical talent and soulful singing combine for a mighty powerful release.” —GLIDEMAGAZINE.COM
"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." -NO DEPRESSION
"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
"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 FM
"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. " - 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." - SONGS: ILLINOIS
"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
