The South Austin Moonlighters Announce Release Date For New Album

Roots-rock renegades The South Austin Moonlighters have announced the release of their new full-length album, Travel Light. Available everywhere May 17th on Station House Records, Travel Lightmarks a new era for the Moonlighters. In addition to bringing in the New Orleans songwriter Anders Osborne to produce the record, The South Austin Moonlighters manage to connect with each other like never before, unpacking sometimes-heavy subject matter in grin-inducing multi-part harmony; and when Lonnie Trevino (bass), Chris Beall (guitar), Phil Hurley (guitar), and Daniel James (drums) share vocal duties, it's one hell of a blend. Today, The Boot premiered the first single from Travel Light, "Girl From Texas", a song written by Hurley; he calls it a "homage to the girl that stole my heart and saved my life." Fans can get an early listen here.

Travel Light runs the gamut of Texas-influenced songs; topics like small towns, lost women, and blazing guns permeate the entire track listing. "Nowhere Left To Run", a fortunately fictitious story of his wife, unborn child, and ultimately his will to live. Hurley says this song was made up out of thin air on a Fender Stratocaster in Echo Park on a sunny winter's day, but is quick to note that "No animals or people were injured in the writing of this song." Then there's "Cartersville Rain", a Beall penned finger picked tune that tells the story of a southern man who passes away tragically close to finally retiring. "I knew who he was, but I didn't know him," says Beall, Chris uses poetic prose to unravel this real life story and states "Its like looking at a beautiful painting from across the room and wondering what it means."

The album's title track is driven by slinky, Levon Helm-esque drums; a study on life's distractions that we're constantly burdening ourselves with. Beall says, the simple meaning of Travel Light is that "life is tough", we don't need to make it tougher." As a group, The South Austin Moonlighter's new album is sure to unburden fans old and new.

Catch South Austin Moonlighters On Tour In April:

April 5 - Spicewood, TX - Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse

April 6 - Austin, TX - The Continental Club

April 7 - Houston, TX - The Continental Club

April 13 - Llano, TX - BADU 1891

April 17 - Nashville, TN - G7 Loft Jam

April 18 - Nashville, TN - Dee's Lounge

April 20 - Bee Cave, TX - Hill Country Galleria Concert Series

April 26 - Houston, TX - McGonigel's Mucky Duck

April 27 - Bolivar Peninsula, TX - Stingaree Restaurant and Marina

A full list of tour dates is available here.

To post a comment, you must register and login.