Briscoe with special guest Matt Tedder

Briscoe

West of It All, the debut album from Americana folk-rock band Briscoe, is a coming-of-age soundtrack set against the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country. Written in the Lone Star State and recorded in North Carolina, it's an album that charts its own musical geography, with production from Grammy nominee Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats) and adventurous songwriting that bridges the gap between classic American roots music and its modern-day incarnation.

From free backyard performances on the outskirts of UT Austin's campus to sold-out gigs at Antone's Nightclub and The Continental Club Gallery, Briscoe's growth — like the group's music itself — has been organic. Bandmates Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton met as teenagers, reunited as students at UT Austin, and built their grassroots following the old-school way: by carving out a sound that nodded to the golden era of folk, rock, and pop music, then getting onstage and building a genuine relationship with their audience. Signed by ATO Records while still pursuing undergraduate degrees, the Texas natives wrote West of It All as graduation loomed in the distance, funneling the stories of their college experience — from heartbreak to hard-won lessons to weekend trips into the rural countryside — into a raw, rugged blend of classic and contemporary influences.

With contributions from drummer Matt McCaughan (Bon Iver) and multi-instrumentalist Phil Cook (Megafaun, Hiss Golden Messenger), West of It All offers a singular version of genre-fluid folk music, from rootsy rave-ups like "The Well" to brainy, literary songs like "Sparrows." It's a self-assured album that follows no directions but its very own, stacked organic performance and sharp songwriting that negotiates the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Matt Tedder

Though a Parker County native, Matt Tedder has long called Fort Worth home. Of course, home is rarely where any musician lays his head and Matt has been fortunate at 28 to have experiences over the last fourteen years from street corners to main stages at international festivals.

Those adventures are findin’ fruit in a recently released album produced by Gordy Quist of Band of Heathens infamy. After shakin’ Americana Fest in September the first peach to fall was a Fort Worth Weekly Music Award for Album Of The Year. That lead to some sweet bites like a Fall residency at The Continental Club & a feature spot for LUCK at Lone Star Film Festival. But maybe the tastiest treat was the honor of openin’ up for Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys at the historic Longhorn Ballroom. If you missed Tedder on those go ‘rounds, look for him on the Visit Fort Worth stage at LUCK Reunion or snag some tickets to the upcomin’ show at Gruene Hall.

Country roots were ever present as those of a post oak, but blues called him out at a young age and the road home was long.

Lauded as a guitar man since he was a boy, Tedder now feeds his true calling as a honkytonk wordsmith. He’s capable of laying down embraceable turn of phrase inside everything from a hot Austin boogie to a post-war waltz. Then he’ll light up your lava lamp with a psychedelic romp suitable for a desert run with the windows down. Of course, those blues are always close at hand & he can slide ‘em into a set seamlessly…

The voice is immediately recognizable due to quick web searches finding national television appearances long before he actually found his. 

And this voice carries a comforting Texas twang that’s like no other, clearly infused with childhood memories of the haunting sounds of Hank & Merle.

Everybody does a lil’ time in Nashville then makes parole & goes home, Willie in ‘72 and Tedder at just twenty after a hard three year ride. He did his time & don’t plan on reoffendin’, Fort Worth & Austin are a better fit. But regardless of where he finds himself, you can bet he’ll give ya one hell of a show. Y’all get ready…