The Mother Truckers
Austin, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Top Ten Local Album for 2006
- Michael Corcoran
Named "Best Roots Rock Band" at SXSW 2007 Austin Music Awards.
Top ten in 5 other categories including:
Band of the Year
Best New Band
Best Country Band
Best Female Vocals-Teal Collins
Best Electric Guitar-Josh Zee - Sponsored by The Austin Chronicle and SXSW
Critic's playlist
(April 6, 2007) — THE MOTHER TRUCKERS: BROKE, NOT BROKEN. Why has it taken this long for some rootsy country rockers to latch onto this name? This Austin, Texas, outfit deserves the title. The twin lead vocals of Josh Zee and Teal Collins work like Jack Daniels on heartache, with songs both world-weary and world-wary. "If the devil don't dodge me," croons Collins, "I'm gonna spit in his eye." The Truckers' twang is properly dark on "Shadow" as they harmonize "We cast a shadow in the sun, for a moment then it's done, we all know that the night will fall." The highlight is "No Mercy," with an infectious guitar riff and Collins again pondering death: "There's only one way out of here. ... Walk out of these mortal coils that have been wound too tight." Great songs and musicianship, I highly recommend this one for the Americana crowd, but you'll probably have to get it on the Web site, www.themothertruckers.com.
— Jeff Spevak
- Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
the Mother Truckers song "SUMMER OF LOVE" has been chosen as one of the "Coolest Songs in the World" on the "Little Steven's Underground Garage " SIRIUS Satellite radio show. 2008’s “STREETS OF ATLANTA” was also chosen for this same distinction. - LITTLE STEVEN’S UNDERGROUND GARAGE
The Mother Truckers have now made three straight albums that I like -- how many bands have that kind of winning streak? Not many. “ Van Tour” leans more toward blues-based, Stonesish rock. My favorite track is probably the opener, "Alien Girl" it has a riff that reminds me of T. Rex! "Summer Of Love" is an obvious ZZ Top move and simultaneously the most metal and most country song on the album. Bottom line: Lots of good stuff- Chuck Eddy freelance witer for Village Voice, SPIN, and other fine music publications
- Chuck Eddy
“Austin's Mother Truckers, who've penned an instant pop classic with `Keep It Simple,' from their new `Van Tour' CD. The tune, featuring Teal Collins' sensational soaring vocals, has a nostalgic Top 40 radio feel, as it yearns for love minus drama. Zee and Collins are probably the most talented guitar/vocals tandem in Austin since David Grissom used to play with Lou Ann Barton in the '80s.” -Michael Corcoran - Austin American Statesman
Filled with sass, shout-along choruses, and rawboned guitar, 2008's Let's All Go to Bed put the Mother Truckers at the head of the class when it comes to Austin country rock. Van Tour follows in a similar vein,... the Truckers really hit their stride with the disc's last four tunes. "Size of the Sun" and "Concentrate" house Collins and Zee's coziest harmonies, the latter's guitar work on "Summer of Love" fusing Billy Gibbons and Joe Walsh, and the closing title track is just the right combination of goofy wordplay and 90 miles per hour country stomp. - Jim Calgiuri
- Austin Chronicle
“The mother truckers `Van Tour' is
a modern day black oak arkansaw
Goodtime hillbilly party rock n soul.
Josh and Teal are the new Delaney and Bonnie
Hotter than two foxes fornicating in a forest fire” ~ mojo
- Mojo Nixon Sirius Satellite Radio
"My theory is if you start on a good note, and you end on a good note, you can hit anything in between.” That only describes part of Zee’s maniacal approach to guitar. It’s his ability to combine Rock, Blues, Country, and Americana in a single tune that makes his bands’ latest ‘LET’S ALL GO TO BED” such a 6-string HOOT! -Matt Blackett - Guitar Player Magazine
Broke, Not Broken” recommended in The Village Voice’s top 12 “Eddytor’s Dozen” I'm liking the Mother Truckers' “Broke, Not Broken” a really happy, good-natured, sun-baked album.- Chuck Eddy - The Village Voice
With a twang-infused sound, Barely a year after relocating here from San Francisco, the Mother Truckers are practically the Austin, South Congress house band. - Chris Gray
Best Roots Rock Band - Chris Gray - The Austin Chronicle
Principal songwriters and co-lead vocalists Josh Zee and Teal Collins exude effortless chemistry. So often, when a band has two distinct songwriters, their fans fall into camps that favor one or the other, not with The Mother Truckers . Not only is the whole band on the same page, they finish each other's sentences. - Dante Domonick - Austin Music Magazine
A Mothertruckin’ great band! Teal and Josh are not only GREAT singers but also write some of the cleverest and original songs around. I’ve played their music for musician friends of mine here in Texas, including Willie Nelson, and they all agree: The Mother Truckers are a great, original and fun band! Ray Benson Austin TX - Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel
This band is a trove of talent from guitar virtuosity, to male/female vocal harmonies that give Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris a solid run for their money. Their styles mix Blue Ridge reverence with Wild West rebellion and a strong dose of Texas tenacity.- Eben Sterling
- Thrasher Magazine
The Mother Truckers have more than a hint of irreverence. But the song craft and the musicianship makes it clear: For these Bay Area veterans, Country music is no laughing matter.- James Sullivan - San Francisco Chronicle
This outfit does a professional level type of Country music. Slick sounding and tight is the order of business for this group. But under all the musicianship and perfect harmonies lurks the wit and sarcasm that saves the group from music row blandness.- Billy Morgan - Repeat and Fade Magazine
Discography
"Van Tour" (2010) REGULAR PLAY ON KALX, KRSH, KFJC, KPIG, IOCOUNTRY, XM SATTELITE RADIO, SIRIUS RADIO, AND MANY MORE
"Let's All Go To Bed" (2008). REGULAR PLAY ON KALX, KRSH, KFJC, KPIG, IOCOUNTRY, XM SATTELITE RADIO, SIRIUS RADIO, AND MANY MORE
"Broke, Not Broken" (2006) REGULAR PLAY ON-KGSR, KALX, KRSH, KFJC, KPIG, IOCOUNTRY, XMSATTELITE RADIO, SIRIUS RADIO, AND MANY MORE
"Something Worth Dying For" (2003) -First album
still available on band website, amazon.com, and various other record stores and websites.
Photos
Bio
The Mother Truckers are a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band from Austin, Texas! Their music is high-octane Americana, blending elements of Country and Blues with loud guitars, big choruses and powerhouse vocals. Their creative songwriting and high energy live performances lift you up to a place that’s somewhere between a honky-tonk and a mosh-pit!
The core of the group is the singing songwriting team of Josh Zee and Teal Collins.
Josh Zee (vocals/lead guitar) has recorded 2 major label records on the SONY/Work label as the singer/guitarist and songwriter for the Rock group "Protein". They toured extensively throughout the U.S. on "The Warped Tour" and also toured Europe and Japan as part of MTV Asia Summer Fest.
Teal Collins (vocals/ukulele/guitar) Teal's early introduction to music was through her dad, famous Jazz disc jockey Al, "Jazzbeaux" Collins. Teal has recorded sessions for Grammy award winning producers Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston) and Stephen Bray (Madonna). Teal has also received Gold and Platinum albums for her work on Shanice (Motown records) and Third Eye Blind's album Blue.
Josh and Teal formed the Mother Truckers in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2002 after meeting at a local open mic night. The Band recorded several self-released albums including fan favorite "Something Worth Dying for".
In 2005, Josh and Teal moved their music to Texas, and set up shop in Austin, “The Live Music Capitol of the World”. There, they met local music scene veterans, Danny G (Bass) and Pete The Beat (Drums) who form The Mother Truckers powerhouse rhythm section. The band got a residency at the legendary Continental Club and quickly started drawing a large number of fans to their shows.
In 2007 they recorded their album "Broke, Not Broken" (Funzalo Records) at Ray Benson’s Bismeaux Studios in South Austin. The album was met with critical acclaim and received airplay nationwide. The Austin American Statesman's Michael Corcoran placed the album on his top 10 list of the year as did the Village Voice's Chuck Eddy. At SXSW The Austin Music Awards named The Mother Truckers "Best Roots Rock Band Of The Year".
In 2008, The Mother Truckers released “Let’s All Go To Bed” (Funzalo Records) which was responded to immediately by the fans, the press, and multiple XM/Sirius satellite stations, Including “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” where the Truckers’ single “Streets of Atlanta” was picked as one of the “Coolest Songs in The World” . They also had many TV and film placements including HBO’s “True Blood” Series, feature film “Touching Home” with Ed Harris, and feature film “Wake” with Jane Seymour.
Now, in 2010, the band has a brand-new album “Van Tour”. An instant classic of in-your-face, touring band, rock and roll imagination! Once again, Michael Corcoran from The Austin American Statesman has responded with high praise~ “... The Mother Truckers have penned an instant pop classic with ‘Keep It Simple’ from their new ‘Van Tour’ CD. The Tune, featuring Teal Collins’ sensational soaring vocals, has a nostalgic top 40 radio feel. Zee and Collins are probably the most talented guitarist/vocals tandem in Austin”.
Also, Little Steven's Underground Garage" has once again picked a single off of their CD, "Summer of Love", as one of the "Coolest Songs in the World". The single will receive heavy airplay on Sirius Satellite radio and on over 120 stations that syndicate Little Steven's program.
The Mother Truckers will continue their “Van Tour” this Summer in the U.S., with a European tour in September!
Links
