Texas Music Journal- NIGHTOWLS Channel Motor City Soul

AUSTIN, Texas — Two years after joining forces, nine-member Austin band the Nightowls are taking flight with their debut album, GOOD AS GOLD, releasing Dec. 3 on their own Nightowls Music label. With the tried-and-true sound of Motown lifting their wings, the album’s nine tracks capture the band soaring toward a new soul stratosphere — one all their own. And their grooves are earning a growing following of dance-happy fans.

The band will celebrate GOOD AS GOLD’s release with a Dec. 7 performance at Stubb’s in Austin. Bus Stop Stallions and the Jack Burton Trio will open the 9 p.m. show. Tickets are $10. For information, 512.480.8341 or stubbsaustin.com/events.

Formed by lead singer and songwriter Ryan Harkrider, the Nightowls have been filling venues all over Texas while perfecting their energetic sound — a syncopated nine-part symphony of voices, brass, guitar, bass, keys and drums. To lay it down, they sought out Austin producer/guitarist Jake Langley, famed for working with legends Roberta Flack and Bobby “Blue” Bland.

“We all cut our teeth playing Motown tunes,” Harkrider says. “For this album, we wanted to pay tribute to our influences, but with our own twist.”

The result is a recording that evokes the glorious “sound of young America” in its heyday while giving it a brand new beat.
Check out some of the new cuts from GOOD AS GOLD here: