Mike and The Moonpies & Vandoliers

On-stage and on record, Austin’s Mike and the Moonpies keep the torch of Texas country burning. Whether it’s a hardcore two-step, freewheeling Western swing, Doug Sahm’s Cosmic American Music, or George Strait’s sweet, burnished ballads, Mike and the Moonpies tap into the traditions of the Lone Star State, yet their music feels nimble and fresh thanks to their deft interplay and sly touch. (Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Vandoliers are a uniquely Texas band, distilling the Lone Star State’s vast and diverse musical identity into a raucous, breakneck vibe that’s all their own. After spending much of the last three years furiously writing and recording music, this Dallas-Fort Worth six-piece is back with The Vandoliers, a new album that proves these rowdy, rollicking country punks are tighter, more cohesive and more sonically compelling than ever.