The Band of Heathens perform songs from 'Country Sides' at The Current
by Bill DeVille
May 15, 2026
Austin, Texas, act The Band of Heathens have been together for 20 years, a feat that seems all the more remarkable given their approach, which has been described as "fiercely independent" by various outlets. “I think from the beginning,” says co-founding member Gordy Quist, “there's always been a kind of, this attitude of, like, no one's going to tell us what to do, and we're going to do things on our own terms, and we're going to own it all, and we're going to own the success and the mistakes and the failures.”
It’s an attitude that has served them well, as The Band of Heathens are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new album, Country Sides, and with a lead single, “Take the Cake,” that recently hit No. 1 in the Americana charts. “I don't know if we set out to make number one records as the objective,” co-founding member Ed Jurdi says, “but, you know, if you're going to be in the game and be on the radio, it's nice to win the game once in a while … And especially, just being amongst that kind of cadre of other artists in the top five or the top 10, it's always such great music and such incredible artists. So it's just nice to be in that company.”
While on tour in support of the album, The Band of Heathens visited The Current to record a session and an interview with host Bill DeVille. Watch and listen to the full session above, and find highlights below.
Interview Highlights
On Gordy Quist’s ties to Minnesota
Bill DeVille: Now you have some Minnesota roots. Tell me about that.
Gordy Quist: I do. Yeah. My dad grew up on a farm in — I think it was New Sweden [township in Nicollet County], Gaylord High School, and he went to Gustavus Adolphus. A lot of my family went to Gustavus Adolphus College, and still have a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins around. And never lived here, but spent a bunch of holidays as a kid coming up here.
Bill DeVille: Did you ever come [to Minnesota] in the summertime?
Gordy Quist: A little bit in the summertime. Yeah, a little lake time in the summer. And I grew up on The Current compilation albums.
Bill DeVille: That's awesome.
Gordy Quist: Yeah.
Bill DeVille: That's so awesome. I wish we still made those!
On the single, “Take the Cake”
Bill DeVille: The song, "Take the Cake," which you just played, just hit No. 1 on the Americana charts. How does that feel for a band like you guys who have been around for 20 years?
Ed Jurdi: It's great. … I don't know if we set out to make No. 1 records as the objective. It's to make the best art we can. But, if you're going to be in the game and be on the radio, it's nice to win the game once in a while, you know? So, yeah, it was nice. And especially just being amongst that kind of cadre of other artists in the top five or the top 10, and it's always such great music and such incredible artists, so it's just nice to be in that company.
Bill DeVille: Such a cool song. What inspired it? It has kind of a funkiness about it that I noticed.
Gordy Quist: Yeah — I don't know, we're into funky music from Little Feat and Delbert McClinton, and that's always kind of been in our wheelhouse. And that song, I just was kind of thinking about, in the world, there's givers, and there's takers, and the weird idea that somehow, if you're actually more generous [and] giving away, it all kind of comes back to you full circle. And which the fear machine sometimes doesn't — it hides that from us, I think sometimes.
On the band’s 20th anniversary
Bill DeVille: Let's talk a little bit about the Country Sides album. Now you're celebrating 20 years as a band with this one, right? And the tour as well?
Ed Jurdi: Yeah, it's, you know, it's a milestone or a mile marker, I guess, depending on how you look at it.
Bill DeVille: Mile marker, I like that.
Ed Jurdi: Yeah, I think it's better. I think "milestone" has some kind of weird finality or something to it. Yeah, it's just at this point, it's the fact that we've been around as a band for 20 years and been able to make it, if anyone's familiar with the music industry and the pitfalls that kind of hit everybody. We're really grateful, honestly, grateful to be making music, getting to live our lives by making music and art, and kind of building this world around ourselves that we've been able to inhabit and just be creative and have a space to do it.
On the Austin, Texas, scene
Bill DeVille: What's it like being a band from a city like Austin, Texas, known for all the music that that happens there 24/7? Does it feel like a crowded field?
Ed Jurdi: Well, I mean, Austin's always been dense in the amount of quality music. And I think as far as Austin specifically, we talk about this a lot, but I don't think this band would have happened anywhere else. I think the city and the vibe, the community of musicians, and honestly, music fans as well, that was really largely responsible for us kind of getting together initially. And the support of the community. There's always been an amazing amount of people who go to see live music and support bands, local bands, that really helped kind of jump start us and get us on the way.
Bill DeVille: Is Austin still weird?
Gordy Quist: You know, I just did a podcast, and that was the whole question. I think it is different, it is less weird, than it was. We've seen it change a bunch, but it still has an independent spirit. I think even though it's become more of a tech town, which is less maybe weird, I think there's still an independent spirit there that is kind of a middle finger to a lot of other things that keeps some of that spirit alive.
Ed Jurdi: Sure. I mean, I think what I would say is the city's grown, it's become a bigger city. That weirdness has maybe become diffused a little bit more. I like to say, 20 years ago, everywhere I went was where I wanted to be, and now it's just a little bit more intentionality, you know? Like, the spots that I love are still there. I just have to be specific about going there.
Video Segments
00:00:17 Take the Cake
00:04:38 Interview with host Bill DeVille, part 1
00:12:25 Lead Don’t Follow
00:16:33 Interview with host Bill DeVille, part 2
00:19:54 Forever’s Not a Long Time
All songs from The Band of Heathens’ 2026 album, Country Sides, out now.
Musicians
Gordy Quist – vocals, guitar
Ed Jurdi – vocals, guitar
Trevor Nealon – keyboards, vocals
Nick Jay – bass, vocals
Clint Simmons – drums, percussion
Credits
Guests – The Band of Heathens
Host/Producer – Bill DeVille
Audio – Josh Sauvageau
Video – Evan Clark
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Sean Belcher
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
External Link
The Band of Heathens – official site
