Buxton: “Boy of Nine”
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It’s true that we’re a bit spoiled musically in Austin. We’re so ensconced in this lovely bubble of great music here, that it’s so tantalizingly easy to overlook great artists from elsewhere in the state. But not today, because we’re going to spotlight one of those great artists. Buxton is a sextet out of Houston that deftly melds elements of folk, indie and psychedelic rock. It’s a sound that seems refreshingly out of time, like they’ve plucked the best bits from late 60s/early 70s folk rock and run them through the wringer of the last 40 years to create something that sounds fresh and contemporary.
In 2003 singer and guitarist Sergio Trevino formed Buxton with multi-instrumentalist Jason Willis and bassist Chris Wise in the town of La Porte (just east of Houston on the Gulf Coast). They self-released their first record Red Follows three years later, but it was sophomore record, A Family Light, that earned them new fans, including the folks at venerable roots label New West Records who signed the band in 2011. At New West they joined a roster which includes the likes of John Hiatt, Steve Earle, The Old 97s and Kris Kristofferson (to name a few).
In January Buxton released Nothing Here Seems Strange, their third full-length, and first with New West. Today’s song of the day “Boy of Nine” kicks off the second half of the record. The tune has the heart of a loose front-porch jam and the punch of a rock show. The instruments are pure folk (mandolins, acoustic guitars, banjos), but the sound of them all together is just plain huge. The percussion booms, and the vocal harmonies are really lovely. The song is a perfect representation of what makes Buxton great, and why we here in Austin (and beyond) should be taking notice.
You’ll get a chance to catch Buxton Wednesday night when they play the ND alongside The Donkeys from San Diego and Austin’s own Wild Child.
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