On their second album, Grackles Deux: The Grackling, Austin’s southern rock supergroup tells enduring stories that capture the moment. The first single, out below exclusively for Chronicle readers, reminds listeners of the age-old adage: “There Will Be Time.”
“If anything, the end of last year made me turn off the TV, the cable news and stuff, and put my record player back on,” says vocalist and songwriter Noah Lit. “Which is kind of what this song is about, honestly – there will be time to fight, there’s gonna be time to retreat. There’s gonna be all these times in between, and we just need to figure out which one we’re in.”
Grackles know what that time is as a group. Even more so on this second album, their sound is polished and self-assured, basking in the confidence of the core musicians and their collaborators. It’s fitting, given that the band is primarily a passion project for a group of seasoned friends and musicians.
“Some dads go on hunting trips or buy bass boats or whatever, and we like to go in the studio,” jokes Lit. The Grackles are no average neighborhood dads, though.
When they sat down to record their self-titled first album, it was because drummer Jimmy Paxson had just returned from touring with the Chicks and keyboardist/producer Kyle Crusham had a break from producing Paul Simon. Paxson and Crusham rustled up Ben Harper’s Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Mazursky and Lit, himself an illustrious Austin indie rock staple who led Love Supreme, Noah and the MegaFauna, and Oliver Future.
For round two, schedules aligned again for four days of furious writing and recording.
“I think we cut, like, 18 songs or something ridiculous like that,” Lit says, the rush and fun of the experience evident in his voice. “It was just fun and easy and just felt good. It’s just approaching music, you know, not like this,” he says, pointing to an ego-celebrating 2000 interview with the Chronicle that’s been stubbornly blocking his mayoral run for the past quarter century.
After trying his hand at chasing music fame in Austin and L.A. for decades, Grackles finds Lit comfortably inspired in the artistic community he’s fostered at Batch, the kolaches and craft beer spot he owns on Manor. As we chat on Monday afternoon, he gestures to the band’s photographer and the musicians that regularly take to the Batch stage – some of whom joined the Grackles on Grackles Deux, like the Invoke string quartet and Bat City Brass Band.
His ironic sense of humor hasn’t totally disappeared, however. When asked how his songwriting has changed, he deadpans: “Technology’s changed it a lot. Because I just put it in ChatGPT, and they write all the words for me.”
After a chuckle, Lit digs in earnestly, discussing his turn toward Austin-style songwritership in Grackles and his newfound embrace of fluidly fictitious storytelling.
“It’s a good testament to maturity,” Lit says of the band, and the space they’ve made for growth, a laid-back ethos, and friendly collaboration. “Getting to make music with your friends is just a real gift.”
This article appears in June 13 • 2025.
