{"id":420,"date":"2013-10-13T20:00:46","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T20:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=420"},"modified":"2015-10-07T20:27:12","modified_gmt":"2015-10-07T20:27:12","slug":"the-band-of-heathens-market-square-park-houston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2013\/10\/13\/the-band-of-heathens-market-square-park-houston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"The Band of Heathens – Market Square Park – Houston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by James Killen <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oct 13, 2013 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"Saturday night after a day of intermittent rain, the clouds parted long enough to allow the comfortable enjoyment of an evening of music with The Band of Heathens at the recently remodeled Market Square Park in the old section of town near Allen\u2019s Landing.<\/p>\n

For you history buffs, Houston was founded in 1836 by the Allen brothers when they set up a small dock on the Buffalo Bayou outside of a German community named Harrisburg. The Allen\u2019s would buy cotton from farmers and send it by barge down the bayou and through Galveston Bay to the Port of Galveston, saving farmers several days of travel time.<\/p>\n

In 1854 the Allens donated a city block to be used as a produce market, subsequently known as Old Market Square. Between the 1960\u2019s and the 1980\u2019s there were numerous music venues in the area including Wrecks Bell\u2019s first location of the \u201cOld Quarter Acoustic Caf\u00e9\u201d and \u201cLa Bastille\u201d, attracting artists like Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Winter and Vince Bell.<\/p>\n

Today the Square is surrounded by renewed venues, bars and restaurants in historic old buildings. In the square itself, Houston original Greek restaurant, Niko Niko\u2019s, has a walk up cafe set up with a stage and a pleasant grassy spectators area. This was the site picked to introduce Houston to the full band new incarnation of the Band of Heathens.<\/p>\n

Besides, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, the band features Trevor Nealon on keyboards and Richard Millsap on drums. They have a rotating bass position that for this evening was filled by Houstonian, Scott Davis. The show kicked off with the implied title track to the latest album, \u201cSunday Morning Record\u201d, \u201cRecords in Bed\u201d, featuring Ed and Gordy swapping leads, each brandishing a bottleneck slide.<\/p>\n

\"Image\"While the show included many new numbers from the latest disc, The BoH boys didn\u2019t want to leave any of the old fans behind and sprinkled the show with old favorites like \u201cRehab Facility\u201d and Hunter Thompson tribute \u201cL.A. County Blues\u201d. The full band could pull off the subtle New Orleans rhythm of \u201cWalking and Talking\u201d giving the song the full effect that it would miss in the acoustic shows. Davis rendered a heavy bass beat on \u201cSecond Line\u201d as though he were already a formal part of the band. Trevor added some nice organ on \u201cFree Again\u201d and Ed Jurdi reminded me one more time just how great a guitarist he is with \u201cShake the Foundation\u201d.<\/p>\n

One of the big tests for the new line up was how they pulled off the traditional work song, \u201cNo More Cane on the Brazos\u201d. Each member of the band (including Scott Davis) took a turn at the lead vocals as they moved through the song, sending an implied call for a sing-a-long from the audience, which was promptly forthcoming. Trevor played organ with his left hand and piano with his right, concurrently, showing off his years\u2019 experience as a performing keyboardist. If \u201cNo More Cane\u2026\u201d is the test, the new Heathens passed with flying colors.<\/p>\n

Ed Jurdi took his soulful vocals out for a spin on \u201cRight Here with Me\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t Call on Me\u201d. He and Gordy teamed up for some fantastic double lead vocals on \u201cOne More Trip\u201d and again on \u201cHurricane\u201d while switching off some impressive lead guitar licks. The band came out for an encore of \u201cBessie Smith\u201d, a tribute to the old blues singer, again featuring Ed and Gordy with the dual vocals and acoustic guitar strumming in perfect time.<\/p>\n

The Heathens drew quite a diverse crowd and throughout the evening they attracted some very animated dancers and curious by-standers. During a great deal of the show, the dancers were almost as entertaining as the band.<\/p>\n

I see that the Band of Heathens will be playing Fitzgerald\u2019s on December 21st, as well as numerous other dates around the country and state over the next few months. If you were ever a fan before, I\u2019d venture to bet that you still will be in spite of the personnel changes. Get out and see them. Ya\u2019ll have fun. We do.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by James Killen Oct 13, 2013 at 08:00 PM Saturday night after a day of intermittent rain, the clouds parted long enough to allow the comfortable enjoyment of an evening of music with The Band of Heathens at the recently remodeled Market Square Park in the old section of town near Allen\u2019s Landing. For… <\/p>\n

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