Takin' a Walk with Buzz Knight: Celebrating 20 Years of Band of Heathens and Their New Album 'Country Sides'

Podcast: Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Date: February 24, 2026
Guests: Gordy Quist & Ed Jurdi (Band of Heathens)
Host: Buzz Knight

Episode Overview

Buzz Knight sits down with Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist of Band of Heathens to celebrate their 20-year journey as a band, the delayed yet phenomenal success of their song “Hurricane,” and the creative spirit behind their latest album, Countrysides. The conversation offers an intimate look at the band's origins, their philosophy on collaboration, stories of resilience, and how music continues to provide meaning and healing—not just for their fans, but for themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Magic of Momos: Band Origins in Austin

• Early Vibe at Momos (04:00–06:31):

  • The band’s beginnings were marked by informality—rehearsal was essentially “not allowed,” leading to spontaneous, magical moments on stage.
  • The “lightning bolt moment” was finding their sound in singing three or four-part harmonies.
  • Austin’s collaborative music scene and venues like Momos offered a nurturing ground for the band and its members.

  Quote:

  “One of the rules was that rehearsal was not allowed…part of that spirit of not taking things too seriously led to some magic. The first time we realized the magic that really spoke to us was us singing together—like three and four part harmonies. I think that’s where we realized, okay, this is something special.”
  — Gordy Quist (04:29)

• Acknowledging the “Instigators” of the Scene (06:31-09:17):

  • Paulo Vesey (owner of Momos and first manager), Kate Tomic (co-owner), Guy Forsyth, Dan Dyer, Susanna Shoffel, and John Pattillo (Fat Caddy Records) among others, were vital to the Heathens’ journey.
  • The Austin community was tight-knit and supportive, fostering not just the Heathens but the local music ecosystem.

  Quote:

  “He was responsible for getting us together... There was a very small sort of structure that allowed us to do exactly what we wanted to do without any of the bigger music industry pressures. That’s really why we were able to hit the ground running.”
  — Ed Jurdi (07:23)

2. The Art of Collaboration & Endurance

• 20 Years Strong — The Secret Sauce (10:52–12:51):

  • The foundation lies in mutual respect, shared drive, creativity, and the ability to adapt as life progresses.
  • The importance of compromise in creative work is emphasized—often leading to better results than individual vision alone.

  Quote:

  “What we’ve learned in this band is that we actually, by listening to each other, by compromising, actually, we sometimes make things that far surpasses what our initial vision was. ...the compromise has been something like a superpower of the band...”
  — Gordy Quist (12:51)

  • Bonus anecdote: Ed's dog Poncho “sings” during at-home recording sessions, displaying a playful side of the band.

3. "Hurricane": Platinum 14 Years Later

• The Unlikely Journey of a Hit (14:40–18:10):

  • “Hurricane,” first released in 2011, became a platinum hit in 2025, many years after its initial release.
  • The song was a reinterpretation of Levon Helm’s version—slowed down, moodier, and not designed for radio.
  • Discovery was organic; there was no major label push, just grassroots growth via fans and live covers.

  Quote:

  “People keep sending me videos of bands in bars singing our version of it, and it kind of took on a life of its own that had nothing to do with promotion... It really happened organically.”
  — Gordy Quist (17:00)

  • On the gradual nature of the “breakthrough”:

  “You mentioned the word breakthrough. I would say it's more like... Andy Dufresne, he hammers his way out of prison with the little ball peen hammer. It was more like that.”
  — Ed Jurdi (18:33)

4. The New Album: Countrysides

• Album Concept and Meaning (22:37–24:49):

  • The title Countrysides is purposefully ambiguous—referring to rural landscapes, divisions in America, music sides (A/B), and even food (side dishes).
  • The intent was to make a soul record with country flavors, inspired by the likes of Dobie Gray.

  Quote:

  “Our country is really divided right now... There's a magic in creating a space and an environment and a vibe that creates more magic.”
  — Gordy Quist (23:24)

• Lead Single “High on Our Own Supply” (24:49–25:52):

  • The song is a self-celebration of the world the band has built together and a meditation on music as a tool for processing life.

  Quote:

  “It's about us... We've built this world around ourselves that we've wanted to live in, and we've done it through music...”
  — Ed Jurdi (24:59)

5. Evolving the Live Show

• From Loose Jams to Intentional Journeys (25:52–27:53):

  • The band’s live shows have gone from chaotic and spontaneous to structured yet still improvisational, aiming to build a powerful emotional journey each night.
  • They embrace a variety of influences—introspective, swampy blues, country—and focus on tension and release in their sets.

  Quote:

  “I think we've gotten better at creating powerful moments that we know how to really build tension up and then release it… it's fun... we're still having fun.”
  — Gordy Quist (27:45)

6. Music as Salvation

• Music’s Transformative and Healing Power (27:53–32:36):

  • Both Ed and Gordy reflect on how music (and the band) has saved them personally, offering comfort during tough times and forming a cornerstone for life's challenges and celebrations.
  • The act of making and performing music is framed as a way of healing—for themselves and their audience.

  Quotes:

  “The thing about music specifically... It's always given me more than I could ever give back to it.”
  — Ed Jurdi (29:53)

  “It's healing, it's magical, it unites people in a really divisive time... I feel especially grateful to have this job in a time like this, when I feel like we need music.”
  — Gordy Quist (32:06)

7. What Do They Hope Fans Take from Countrysides?

• Meaningful Resonance (32:36–34:33):

  • The band creates because they have to; they hope audiences find their own meaning and make the songs part of their lives.
  • They aspire for their music to serve as a consistent thread of positivity in divisive times.

  Quote:

  “...this idea that we could be some sort of thread of positivity and something good that people could consistently rely on and go to...”
  — Ed Jurdi (33:36)

8. “Taking a Walk” with the Greats

• The Classic Closer (34:33–36:24):
  • Ed would take a walk with his grandfather, reflecting on legacy, music, and the “iconic generation.”
  • Gordy opts for enlightened figures—Jesus, Buddha—to ask “a ton of questions,” especially about divergence between intent and practice in modern spirituality.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------|-------| | 04:29 | Gordy Quist | “One of the rules was that rehearsal was not allowed…part of that spirit of not taking things too seriously led to some magic.” | | 07:23 | Ed Jurdi | “There was a very small sort of structure that allowed us to do exactly what we wanted to do without any of the bigger music industry pressures.” | | 12:51 | Gordy Quist | “By listening to each other, by compromising...sometimes [we] make things that far surpass what our initial vision was.” | | 17:00 | Gordy Quist | “[‘Hurricane’] took on a life of its own that had nothing to do with promotion... It really happened organically.” | | 18:33 | Ed Jurdi | “Breakthrough—it’s more like Andy Dufresne… hammers his way out of prison with the little ball peen hammer.” | | 23:24 | Gordy Quist | “Our country is really divided right now... There’s a magic in creating a space and an environment and a vibe that creates more magic.” | | 24:59 | Ed Jurdi | “We’ve built this world around ourselves that we've wanted to live in, and we've done it through music...” | | 27:45 | Gordy Quist | “We've gotten better at creating powerful moments... we're still having fun.” | | 29:53 | Ed Jurdi | “It’s always given me more than I could ever give back to it.” | | 32:06 | Gordy Quist | “It's healing, it's magical, it unites people in a really divisive time...” | | 33:36 | Ed Jurdi | “That we could be some sort of thread of positivity and something good that people could consistently rely on and go to...” |

Important Timestamps

• 04:00 – Band formation at Momos; the origins of their collaboration.
• 07:23 – Recap of “instigators” and community influence in Austin.
• 10:52 – What keeps the Band of Heathens together.
• 14:40 – The story behind “Hurricane” and its belated success.
• 22:37 – The various meanings of Countrysides; album inspiration.
• 24:49 – The lead single, "High on Our Own Supply" explained.
• 25:52 – How their live show evolved over two decades.
• 27:53 – Reflections on how music and the band have “saved” them.
• 32:36 – Hopes for what listeners take away from Countrysides.
• 34:33 – The “take a walk with anyone” question.

Episode Takeaways

• The Band of Heathens’ longevity is rooted in mutual respect, artistic compromise, and finding joy in the creative process together.
• “Hurricane” serves as a testament to authenticity and the unpredictable (and sometimes glacial) rewards of making art on your own terms.
• Their new album Countrysides is simultaneously a product of soul, country, and ambiguity—mirroring both the American zeitgeist and their own musical journey.
• Above all, both the band and their music are committed to being a force for connection, healing, and positive energy in challenging times.

For fans of independent music, stories of resilience, and the behind-the-scenes journey, this episode is a master class in authenticity and collaboration. The Band of Heathens offer not only hard-won wisdom but also warmth and humility, reminding listeners why music matters—now more than ever.