Austin Collins and the Rainbirds / Wrong Control (Eight Dollar Music) Review, Interview and a free MP3

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Talented Texas based singer/songwriter Austin Collins released his debut disc in 2005 ( Something Better ) and avoided the sophomore slump, with one of my favorite discs from the past few years, Roses Are Black (2008). Collins’ two discs of alt country gems recalled the sound and spirit of Steve Earle, Son Volt and Whiskeytown. Austin and the Rainbirds (Craig Bagby and Dylan McDougall) live up to the expectations and accolades (Collins won Airplay Direct’s 2009 All Things Americana award) and deliver another strong set of Americana rock on disc number three, Wrong Control (Eight Dollar Music, release date-March 2nd). There’s less twang, the electric guitars are turned up a little louder, the bass and drums rock a little harder, and Austin and producer Will Johnson (Centro-matic) have added some pop touches including hand claps, harmonies and ba ba ba bas to the Rainbird’s country-rock. Before radio was an unlistenable wasteland, when the term “pop” wasn’t an insult, these tracks would have been described as “radio friendly”. It isn’t just hooks. guitars and drums. Austin and the Rainbirds have written and recorded ten honest intelligent songs dealing with matters of the heart and relationships won, lost….. or maybe still being sorted out. This isn’t “tears in my beer” country or whiny alt emo. Wrong Control is a mature determined disc from a talented singer/songwriter and you get the feeling that Austin is going to be just fine as he sorts it all out. To give full credit to the Rainbirds, besides great playing, drummer Craig Bagby contributed two tracks on Wrong Control and Dylan McDougall steps up to the mike and delivers some great vocals from the Patterson Hood/Little Steven/Keith Richards school of rock on his “Forever Avenue”.

A minor complaint. I might have sequenced the songs in a slightly different order ending with either:

“Conventional Lust” (Austin Collins)
We can make this better
We can make this so much better.

or

“Head Down” (Craig Bagby)
And I’m never coming back again
With my head down.

to better reflect the optimism and resolve that ultimately shines through.

Wrong Control comes highly recommended (and you wouldn’t go wrong picking up both Something Better and Roses Are Black too).

You don’t have to take my word for it: download a free MP3 of the title track “Conventional Lust”, watch a video for "Island" or stream "Island" which is currently featured on No Depression’s music player. If you like what you hear, preorder Wrong Control before 2/26 and you’ll receive an instant digital download (a copy of the physical disc will be mailed on the release date-March 2nd).
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Interview with Austin Collins
HB: What/who inspired you to become a songwriter?

AC: Growing up, I always loved music and had always played guitar. Like any good Houston kid I listened to a lot of Robert Earl Keen and learned to play and sing at the same time by accompanying his records. I really enjoyed singing other people’s songs, but my ultimate desire was to write my own material. For a long time however I couldn’t get a song finished or couldn’t write songs that I felt really said anything. As much as I loved Keen and a lot of other songwriters, my disposition, style, and strengths didn’t really lean towards the role of the bard.

My freshman year of college, a friend turned me on to both Trace and Strangers Almanac in the same week. When I heard the way these guys each conveyed their thoughts and their hearts it was like a new world opened up to me. Before I heard Son Volt and Whiskeytown I didn’t think it was possible to pull your heart and passions out of your chest and display them without sounding campy or cheesy. After that, I soon discovered the Jayhawks and Wilco etc. These bands were writing and performing powerful songs and doing so with power. So these discoveries were pretty life changing to me – not only that, writing this way was cathartic, a sort of therapy for me.

I started approaching songs this way and working through my craft with a friend name Michael Jarrett and soon had enough songs that I liked for a record. This was 2004 and met up with my first producer, Billy Cerveny, and we made my first record in Nashville. Here we are in 2010, I’ve since hooked up with Dylan and Craig, formed a band and we’re on album #3, Wrong Control.

HB:Any plans to tour/Festivals in support of Wrong Control?

AC:Yes on the touring – we’ll be doing the Texas circuit through March, play some SXSW shows and then head to the southeast in April. Touring’s the best part of being a musician. I love getting to make friends all over the country. Festival season starts pretty soon too so expect to see us out at some of your favorites there as well.

Interview continues after tour info update:

Feb 23 2010 6:00P
Lone Star Music - Wrong Control In-Store New Braunfels, Texas

Feb 27 2010 10:00P
The Parish - Austin CD Release Party w/ Ruby James and Collin Herring Austin, Texas

Feb 28 2010 12:00P
Gruene Hall New Braunfels, Texas

Mar 5 2010 5:00P
Waterloo Records - Wrong Control In-Store Austin, Texas

Mar 6 2010 4:00P
West Alabama Ice House - Houston CD Release Party Houston, Texas

Mar 10 2010 8:00P
Main Street Crossing w/ Josh Grider Tomball, Texas

Mar 14 2010 4:00P
United States Art Authority - Austin Music Showcase w/Del Castillo, Shurman, Suz Austin, Texas

Mar 19 2010 1:50P
Ramble Creek Day Party - SXSW - Ramble Creek Day Party Austin, Texas

Mar 19 2010 3:00P
Maria’s Taco X-Press - SXSW - Sin City Social Club Austin, Texas

Mar 20 2010 4:00P
Threadgill’s World Headquarters - SXSW - Music Fog Austin, Texas

Mar 26 2010 8:00P
House Concert - House Concert - Austin, TX Austin, Texas

Apr 6 2010 3:30P
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) Austin, Texas

Apr 15 2010 10:00P
City Tavern Dallas, Texas

Apr 21 2010 10:00P
The Basement Nashville, Tennessee

Apr 30 2010 10:00P
Armadillo Palace Houston, Texas

HB: Best road food?

AC:My current top road food is at Sheetz gas station – Drew Kennedy introduced me the last time we were out together. The on demand ordering system is a modern marvel, the food is delicious and affordable, and to top it off its 24 hours.

HB:Favorite novelists?

AC: David James Duncan, Flannery O’Connor, Richard Russo, Larry Brown, Cormac McCarthy

HB:Some bands you've shared gigs with?

AC:Patterson Hood, James McMurtry and Reckless Kelly

HB:Do you ever do covers?

AC:Some yeah, not enough. We’ve had a bad habit of doing obscure covers that we dig, but that no one else has heard. We’re working on pulling some songs together that the crowd can sing along with us on. My favorite song to do is “Return of The Grevious Angel” by Gram Parsons.

HB:Strangest gig?

AC:I’ve played a bunch of weird gigs, but there is no contest: Reno’s in Webster, TX. It’s in an old gutted Walmart. I think that should give you a good idea why it was the strangest gig so far. Also, it would make a great place to hole up against a zombie attack.

HB:Why does so much great music come out of Texas?

AC:Bob Wills and Willie Nelson. Those are the guys who put Texas on the map musically.

HB: ____________ is definitely a band you should check out.

AC: I have four: Telegraph Canyon, Leatherbag, Graham Weber and Collin Herring.

HB: Thanks Austin! I’ll add a fifth: Austin Collins and the Rainbirds.