Texas Headhunters Review

What happens when three great artists come together to cook up a brand-new recipe using well-known and time-tested ingredients? You get some tasty, Texas-style blues. Such is the case with the Texas Headhunters’ self-titled release, Texas Headhunters. Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton, and Johnny Moeller are among the last musicians personally mentored by the great Clifford Antone (of Antone’s in Austin, TX), who guided and showcased many blues legends throughout his career. You can hear echoes of that brotherhood of blues artists in this collaboration. Individually, each member is a masterful musician, but as a trio, they’re exceptional. Their debut album was recorded in just five days at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio and is being released on Blue Élan Records. The band has also recently toured with Samantha Fish and released a couple of official videos to accompany the album.

Texas Headhunters is a collection of 12 smoking tracks. If you love guitar-driven music, and what blues lover doesn’t, you’ll love this record. The fiery second track, “Maggie Went Back to Mineola,” carries shades of ZZ Top, with lines like, “Maybe she should have stayed in Dallas, working at the Dollar Store.” It’s vivid storytelling that pulls you right into Maggie’s world, and the video on YouTube is equally enjoyable. “Kathleen” slows things down, offering a soulful breakup ballad in the tradition of the best blues songs: “Weighing heavy on my heart; tearing it apart, after ten years.” The emotion hits hard.

Track nine, “Seeing Around Corners,” is another slow burner with sharp lyrical imagery: “Done bought a fancy dress with our only credit card. I can see everything before it all goes down.” You know exactly where the story is headed, and it’s nowhere good. “Who Will Your Next Lover Be,” which follows, might be the most radio-friendly cut on the album, even outside of blues stations. The hook is undeniable: “If it’s really over, who will your next lover be?” Closing the album is the expertly crafted instrumental “Burnin’ Daylight.” If you love guitar work, crank this one up. It’s a showcase of serious chops. While I couldn’t track down all the supporting musicians on this record, they deserve credit for delivering strong performances throughout.

The Texas Headhunters already had established careers before this project, but I hope this won’t be the last we hear from them as a band. The songwriting and playing here are top-tier, and the chemistry between the three is undeniable. Personally, I’m eager to see what comes next and hope to catch them live in the future. Having seen live footage, I’m convinced that the best way to judge any band is on stage, where there are no studio fixes to hide behind. These guys can play, and they can play for real. Listen for yourself and experience what the Texas Headhunters are all about.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Maggie Went Back To Mineola
– Kathleen
– Seeing Around Corners
– Who Will Your Next Lover Be

The Big Hit

– Maggie Went Back To Mineola

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