4 of the Most Unheralded—but Awesome—Country Bands From Texas

The Lone Star State is no Tennessee, but it has birthed quite a few of the biggest names in country music. George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and more are from the state of Texas. And there are even more underrated country singers and bands from the state that don’t get enough love. Let’s look at four underrated country bands from the big ol’ state of Texas! You might just discover your new favorite band.

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1. Randy Rogers Band

The red dirt music scene has seen a lot of killer country outfits through the years, one of which is the Randy Rogers Band. This San Marcos, Texas country band has put out quite a few albums through the years, and they’re a great example of down-home Texas excellence. Burning The Day and Trouble are essential listening.

[Buy Tickets To See The Randy Rogers Band Live In 2024]

2. Marie Sisters

This country music duo from Lewisville, Texas was only around for one year (2002) before disbanding, and it’s a real shame. Chaz Marie and Kessie Marie were great performers, and their single “Real Bad Mood” even made it to the Hot Country Songs chart. Their only album Marie Sisters is essential listening and deserves more love!

3. Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights

This underrated country/rock band from Dallas, Texas is the perfect blend of country, rock, and blues. They haven’t released an album since the 2015 record Holy Smokes, and we wish the band would jump back into the game again. Their 2007 album Hot Trottin’ is essential listening.

4. The Gourds

If you enjoy alternative country bands and are a fan of the state of Texas, you might just love The Gourds. This Austin-based band formed back in 1994 and toured together virtually non-stop until they went on hiatus around 2013. Their most recent studio album was the 2011 release Old Mad Joy. The band has said they’re open to doing something in the future; though nothing has been confirmed. We’d recommend listening to any of their 11 studio albums.

Photo by Peter Zavadil

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