MUSIC

McGonigel's Mucky Duck presents The Wagoneers.

When The Wagoneers first came together in late 1986, little did they know how fitting the name they chose would become over time. Back then they were just four young Texas musicians barely into their twenties who wanted to write, play and sing real country music. Now reunited a quarter century later, The Wagoneers are heralded as pioneers and trailblazers, and rightly so. The group broke and seeded the ground for Americana and alternative country plus presaged the rise of young country that is in full bloom today in Nashville as well as a thriving revival of roots and progressive country in their hometown of Austin, Texas. They did it through the power of their songs and a potent unity as a genuine band. And their best is yet to come.

Hailed in Rolling Stone by veteran journalist and country music expert Chet Flippo as “the best honky-tonk band I’ve ever seen,” Monte Warden (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Brent Wilson (lead guitar and backing vocals), Tom Lewis (drums) and Craig Pettigrew (bass and backing vocals) made a “contribution to the never-ending search for real country music that places them in the history books,” says All Music Guide. Raul Malo and Jeff Tweedy have both credited The Wagoneers for paving the way for their own respective bands, The Mavericks and Uncle Tupelo. In the two decades since the group broke up, The Wagoneers’ legend has continued to grow. “Now people can actually hear us,” enthuses Warden.

At the dawn of 2011, little did the four Wagoneers realize that they would soon again be playing music together. But then they were asked to perform at the annual Austin Music Awards show on the capstone Saturday night of South By Southwest in March. As soon as they gathered to work up a 20 minute set it was almost as if they had never parted ways some two decades earlier. And it soon was apparent to all of them that it was time for The Wagoneers to roll once more and not just reclaim their proud legacy but burnish and build on it further.

“We appreciate what we have now,” notes Lewis. “We started as kids, and up ended back together as men.”

“We accomplished some incredible things at a very early age,” adds Wilson.