TCB

Derailed

After 10 years of sharp suits and sharper country-pop hooks, Derailers co-frontman Tony Villanueva has decided to hang up his string tie. "I'm just wanting to stay home with my family more, and in order to do this job, you have to leave," explains the father of three. Besides being one of the few Austin acts to hold on to a major label deal for more than one album, the Derailers have long been one of the city's hardest-touring ensembles, sometimes playing upward of 200 dates a year. Villanueva admits his decision to leave the group was "very difficult," and thanks bandmates Brian Hofeldt, Ed Adkins, and Scott Matthews for their understanding. "It's amazing we can resolve it with complete goodwill," he notes. Villanueva's tenure as a Derailer concludes after a statewide minitour this month -- local stops are the Broken Spoke, Dec. 20, and the Austin Music Hall's Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Dec. 21 -- and a New Year's Eve send-off at Gruene Hall with Robert Earl Keen. Though initial rumors had the band likewise calling it quits, current plans are for the latter-day Bakersfield revue to continue with a player to be named later.