The South Austin Moonlighters

Live at the Saxon Pub

For the Mother Truckers’ Josh Zee, Deadman’s Lonnie Trevino Jr., Stonehoney’s Phil Hurley, and Monte Montgomery drummer Phil Bass, what began as a way to let loose between regular gigs has turned into something more serious. They’re still a bar band at heart, covering songs by bluesmen Tab Benoit and Peter Green as well as Lloyd Price’s “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” but Trevino’s vocals on the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody” define blue-eyed soul, and Bass surprises with a second-line-funky reading of Los Lobos’ “On Main Street.” Both Zee and Hurley offer more guitar flash than necessary at times, but “Last Time” extends its slow jam with gospel harmonies that evoke the Band of Heathens. In fact, like the Heathens, the Moonlighters travel the Americana highway with taste and a manner that’s good-natured and down to earth.

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This article appears in December 28 • 2012.

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