The Derailers – Bakersfield Sound Comes To Austin  (Sept. 23)

What happens when you mix an Austin bar band with the twangy sounds of classic Buck Owens music? Maybe throw in some Beach Boys surf guitar for good measure and add just a pinch of Chuck Berry. If you cooked this brew in a Shiner beer keg and let simmer for a few hours, you’d have the Derailers. Easily the best thing out of Austin since Stevie Ray Vaughan strapped on that old stratocaster, the Derailers are one fine slice of Texas music pie.

It was their first CD, appropriately titled “Jackpot” that caught my attention in 1996 when it was released on Watermelon Records. It was like a breath of fresh air unleashed on a city clouded with rock ‘n roll wanna-be’s. Audiences all across the state were exposed to an exciting new sound. The album impressed listeners with its freshness and fun. It was impossible to attend one of their shows and sit still. You can forget your troubles and dance the night away. That’s exactly what the band expects from their fans.

 The journey started about a decade ago for primary songwriters Tony Villanueva and Brian Hofeldt, when they both moved to Austin from Oregon. They formed the Derailers and hit the club circuit all over south Texas. Despite some changes in the rhythm section, Tony and Brian have remained the core of the band. Both write songs, sing and play guitar with equal talent. Tony has the Faron Young look down pat while Brian has that blond Gary Busey persona mastered to a tee.

While their music is extremely important, their image is also a key factor for the band. Original Nudie suits and perfectly tailored hair put the band way ahead of the pack. As Tony explains, “I still go to Pete’s Flattop Shop. That’s the only place I can get my hair cut.” This becomes a problem if the band is on the road for more than five or six weeks. Then he does what every other red-blooded guy does on a bad hair day, he grabs his favorite hat. Clothing was also very important for the bands main musical influence, Buck Owens. He and the Buckaroos were always immaculately dressed and the Derailers have followed suite.

Their paths have crossed with Buck several times and he even cut a duet with the band for their “Full Western Dress” album. The new CD, “Here Come The Derailers,” was recorded in three days in Nashville using veteran proucer Kyle Lehning. The entire band, including bassist Ed Adkins and drummer Mark Horn, agree this is their best album to date. The twelve tracks were