LONESOME TOWN
Austin “New Age country” duo the Lonesome Heroes have so many gigs, “We’re still really just figuring out what we’re doing, and it stems from playing so much,” says Brooklyn-born Rich Russell. Navigating country, folk, indie rock, and Daniel Lanois arcana, Russell and San Marcos native Landry McMeans, who alternate Dobro and acoustic guitar and lately have been borrowing the Weary Boys‘ rhythm section, met two years ago at the Austin Music Co-op. “Living there made us realize how hard you have to work to be a musician,” says McMeans. The Heroes weren’t sure where they fit in locally until hearing Li’l Cap’n Travis on KUT’s LiveSet. “I was like, ‘We’re going to the Continental Club tomorrow!'” Russell says. After 2006 EP Don’t Play to Lose on St. Paul, Minn.’s Floodwater Records (an LP recorded live at Flipnotics is due soon), things picked up when the Heroes began hosting Headhunters‘ popular Wednesday alt.country night, where they’ve welcomed American Graveyard, the Texas Sapphires, Brennen Leigh, Gary Newcomb Trio, Boxcar Preachers, and the Breathers. “Headhunters likes it because it’s mellow, a nice change from the rest of the week,” says Russell. The Heroes play Mean-Eyed Cat, 7pm tonight (Thursday), before a brief trip back East and several gigs during South by Southwest weekend.This article appears in March 9 • 2007.