Celebrated Austin roots-rock mainstays The Band of Heathens have officially released their 10th studio album, Country Sides, just in time to commemorate a monumental milestone: their 20th anniversary as a band. Out today, February 20, via their own BOH Records, the album serves as both a raucous celebration of their journey and a heartfelt thank you to the fans who have stuck with them through two decades of independent music-making .
Self-produced with longtime collaborator Jim Vollentine (known for his work with Spoon and Patty Griffin), Country Sides was tracked in just over a week at the band’s own studio, The Finishing School. The result is a collection that captures the raw, livewire energy the quintet is known for . As the title suggests, the album leans heavily into country territory—frontman Gordy Quist jokes that they "put more pedal steel on this record than we have with anything"—but it still delivers the greasy guitar licks, barroom piano, and soulful swagger that define their sound .
Lyrically, the album unintentionally evolved into a concept piece tracing the arc of a long-term relationship. Founding members Quist and Ed Jurdi reflect on the early days of wonderment, the challenges of a creative plateau, and a hard-won sense of resolution. "It is like any long-term relationship—everybody changes and has different seasons," Jurdi explains . Tracks like the swampy "Take The Cake" and the contemplative "Pleasing People" showcase a band comfortable in their skin, while the anthemic "Lead Don't Follow" doubles as a manifesto for their fiercely independent career .
The first single, "High On Our Own Supply," perfectly encapsulates the band’s current headspace. According to Jurdi, the song is about the joy of plugging into music and letting it sustain you . This theme of gratitude runs deep on Country Sides, which follows the band achieving their first platinum certification for the fan-favorite track "Hurricane" .
“We’re grateful to be 20 years into this and to have a fan base that has hopped on the creative journey with us wherever we have decided to turn,” says Quist. Ed Jurdi adds, “We’re in a really great space creatively after all these years. The songs reflect both our inner world and the stories living between the lines of our lives” .
Fans won’t have to wait long to hear the new material live. The band is currently on the road for their extensive Country Sides Tour, with upcoming stops in Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, and many more cities through April .
With Country Sides, The Band of Heathens prove that the main course is good, but sometimes the sides are what truly steal the show.
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