Wednesday, March 14   11:00 p.m.
BD Riley's   (204 E 6th St)

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  The Hudsons - It Just Takes One
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The Band:

The Hudsons (Hudson Mueller, Brian Hudson, Phoebe Hunt, and Jason Vopni) are a hard-working folk group from Austin. Mueller and Hudson started the band as an acoustic guitar duo back in 2001 basically swapping songs each week for two hours at Austin's famed Waterloo Icehouse until Ms. Hunt joined in '03, which led to more gigs, more complex music, and a growing of the fan base. Vopni with his enormous bass in tow joined in late '05 completing the quartet sonically and spiritually, and the band toured the U.S. and Canada shortly after his arrival in support of its second recording project, The Live Album.

The quartet is multifaceted and multitalented with three lead singers, two songwriters, and four skilled instrumentalists. Their music is spontaneous and thoughtful with interweaving threads of traditional and contemporary influences. They have an extraordinarily eclectic repertoire, and their performances are engaging and dynamic. The Hudsons please audiences and keep their shows honest with a light-hearted approach to often serious subjects. They work three nights a week performing and have just finished work on their third and most ambitious album, Spend Forever Going Nowhere. Indeed on many fronts, the Hudsons work.

The Members:

Hudson Mueller grew up singing in the choir and he's made his living singing for his entire professional life. He commands an unusual and brilliant voice and directs his powers towards good ends. His delivery is practiced and yet natural, and he strives to deliver the feeling of a song when singing. He plays a mean swing guitar and is an incredibly inventive songwriter. He enjoys spending time at home with a book or movie, and is always game for a round of disc golf. He's a skilled punster, a practiced diplomat, and carries a great and unwavering love for his band mates.

Brian Hudson is living proof that anyone can sing. He has a relatable and honest voice that plays well off the complexity of the Hudsons' music. He is a talented and adept lead guitarist capable of translating a mood through his instrument. He goes to Mexico whenever he has a break from the band and currently has a crush on the music of Elliott Smith, Gillian Welch, and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. He is working to improve his sense of direction and knowledge of maps, and he's developing a taste for movies. He enjoys sunny mornings on the disc golf course and is an amazingly devoted and supportive member of the band as well as the author of this promotional material.

Phoebe Hunt is hands down the best looking girl in the band. You simply can't not like her. She has a romantic and inviting voice, a love for the music of the first half of the twentieth century, and she can really play her fiddle. She's an impassioned performer who reaches out to the audience and she endears with her playful sense of humor. She is currently the holder of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Fiddle and an alumnus of the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp. You can catch Phoebe almost any night of the week playing or soaking up the live music of Austin. She is an incredibly duty-bound band member and a joy to know and play music with.

Jason Vopni may be insanely tall but he's no slouch on that big bass. His playing is sturdy, and he has a penchant for music that grooves. He's new to folk music having arrived recently from the jazz world, in which he developed his melodic sense and improvisational talent. He relishes the thanklessness of bass-playing, enjoys hanging out, breaking up fights, and grows a mustache almost as good as Brian's. He's a talented sound engineer, the newest member of the Hudsons, a diligent and devoted band member, and excellent company.