Mark your calendars. The Band of Heathens is finally making it to the northwest, and on August 4 they're playing two shows at the State Theater.
Band of Heathens? Who dat? Our connection is through their bass player, Seth Whitney, who is, coincidentally, the son of our music director, Bruce Whitney (aka Nicholai), and nephew of artistic directors Scot and Linda Whitney.
Seth lives in Austin, Texas, but has toured more or less constantly for the last four years playing bass in a killer "roots rock" band called the Band of Heathens. They've recorded two live CDs, two studio CDs (both of which have reached #1 on the Americana music charts) and a DVD of a concert at Antone's. Just back from their fifth tour of Europe, they've played anywhere and everywhere, highlights including the Americana Music Awards in Nashville, Obama's Austin campaign rally (but the name of the band had to be changed for that event), Austin City Limits, and music festivals too many to mention. In May they toured with Mofro, opened in Austin for the Black Crows, and were nominated for "best group" in the 2010 Americana Music Awards.
"I've been trying to get the Heathens to the Pacific Northwest for a long time," says Seth. "I think audiences there will love our music. And playing the State Theater? That's like a dream come true. That's where I saw Star Wars when I was seven years old! And it's the day after my birthday. I can hardly wait."
Mark your calendars.