Band of Heathens, Trey Johnson

Austin's Band of Heathens has a nice little notch on its belt: being named the best new band in Austin at last year's Austin Music Awards.

Not too shabby. But maybe it was just an off year?

Nah, the fellas in the Band of Heathens bring it just fine, thank you. It's not that they do anything super unique with their bar-band country sound (they don't); it's that the Austin five-piece performs its original bar-band country and Americana music exceptionally well. You won't necessarily leave Dan's after their set ends with a bag full of merch or even thinking that you just found your new favorite band, but you won't leave disappointed either, having danced and drunk the night away while listening to a perfect soundtrack for the setting.

The real steal of this set, though, may be the fact that Trey Johnson, the guitarist and vocalist for local fan favorite Sorta, will be joining Band of Heathens on the bill. You don't necessarily see Johnson's name atop too many fliers these days, so this performance could be one that brings the Sorta crowd out of the woodwork. You can bet that any super-attentive listeners at this show will be there for Johnson, not the Austinites sharing his bill.