Mike and the Moonpies

On-stage and on record, Austin's Mike and the Moonpies keep the torch of Texas country burning. Whether it's a hardcore two-step, freewheeling Western swing, Doug Sahm's Cosmic American Music, or George Strait's sweet, burnished ballads, Mike and the Moonpies tap into the traditions of the Lone Star State, yet their music feels nimble and fresh thanks to their deft interplay and sly touch. A nascent version of Mike and the Moonpies premiered in 2008, with guitarist Catlin Rutherford leading a variety of musicians through a Monday night residency at the Hole in the Wall, a di...