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<\/a>Growing up in Ohio I never heard a country song I liked. That just was not going on in that part of the world in the 1970\u2019s. Living in Texas since 1979 however has made me appreciate what country roadhouse music really means.\u00a0 A band that personifies the true country roots and adds plenty of rock to the delivery is Austin based Mike and the Moonpies.\u00a0 Rose and I had the pleasure of catching this squad a few years back at the Viva Big Bend Music Fest where a spent crew slammed their way thru one song after another while hittin\u2019 a bottle of bourbon.\u00a0 This was our fourth go around with them and beer drinkin\u2019, whiskey and dancin\u2019 stick to them like glue!<\/p>\nHead Moonpie and songwriter Mike Harmeier is the type who does not set out to write country songs but rather authentic stories about life growing up. You ain\u2019t getting\u2019 no sappy stuff here son , but be prepared to be hit upside your head with straight forward instrumentation from a solid six piece band. Drummer Kyle Ponder, Johnny Carbone on keys, and Preston Rhone thumping bass are super steady backing the killer one-two punch of lead guitar Catlin Rutherford and Zach Moulton on steel\/electric guitar. Make no mistake about it though that Harmeier is the growling drawling leader of this show from start to finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmoke Em If Ya Got Em\u201d busted out of the gate and this shuffling shindig was on! Playing before their first sell out crowd at this bad to the bone venue seemed to energize the band.\u00a0 \u201cHonky Tonk Motel\u201d, \u201cStop Fallin\u2019 In Love With Him\u201d, and Haggard penned tune \u201cTonight We\u2019ll Kick the Flood Lights Out Again\u201d blasted the appreciative crowd back in their seats.\u00a0 Quoting Harmeier : \u201c It doesn\u2019t matter where we play. We\u2019re a good dance band. That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about\u201d. No room to do that this night, but the \u201cfeel\u201d was more than there all evening.<\/p>\n