Austin Sound

Mike and the Moonpies delivers the kind of country music we love - tear-in-our-beer, steel and fiddle laden honky tonk with a classic sensibility that keeps you company in a dark bar on a lonely and rowdy night. Fronted by Mike Harmeier, who took a turn to his country roots after the the Come Latelys, the quartet proves about as authentic as it gets, and to catch one of their shows at the Hole in the Wall is to experience Austin at it’s most essential. Harmeier’s tough twang settles like worn in leather, cut with a broken, aching drawl that splits the difference between Georges Strait and Jones with a distinctive Texas flair. Grab your Lonestars and RC Colas and check out the Moonpies this Sunday, February 22, at the Hole in the Wall with Shotgun Party and Horse Opera. You can also catch them tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 17, at the Austin Moose Lodge with Jenny and the Corn Ponys.

Profile: Mike and the Moonpies

Year Formed:
2007

Members/Instruments played:
Mike Harmeier- vocals and guitar, Preston Rhone- bass, Kyle Ponder- drums, Burton Lee- pedal steel.

Former Bands/Side Projects:
Me(Mike) and Kyle used to be in the Come Latelys but we dissolved that project cause it was a big hassle and I sold my rhodes to pay rent. Now I do the moonpie thing and play a toy organ with the Happen-Ins (members of the Dedringers and Brothers and Sisters). Kyle plays drums for jude/ross. Burton plays with every country band in Texas.

Albums:
We recorded “lyin’” at my house from sometime in ‘07 through probably the spring of ‘08. We never pressed it but you can download it for free on our myspace. We recorded some songs at the Troubadour in Lockhart with Steve Collins (Deadman) and we’re gonna put that out as an ep during sxsw.

Influences:
George Strait, Gary Stewart, and any band on country radio from ‘85-’97

Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:
The chick that books for the Dirty Dog bar once told me “Tape Machine” was the worst song she had ever heard, she said it was flat out terrible. That’s not strange I guess, just mean spirited.

Favorite local bands:
Leo Rondeau, Frank Smith, the Doolins, Jenny and the Corn Ponies
Bands that mentioned Us in this category: the Archibalds, the Last Gasp, Leatherbag

Favorite local venue:
Hole in the Wall. It’s like 1979 in there and we’re totally famous.

Upcoming shows scheduled:
Austin Moose Lodge on the 17th, Hole in the Wall on the 22nd.

Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:
I wanna go the Pop-Unknown reunion at Mohawk on the 21st and the afterparty the next day. I’d see frank smith at stubbs but we’re playin in Dallas.

Some of your favorite albums from the past year:
A few years ago I would have a ton of records to mention. I don’t really buy new records anymore. I like the new Kweller album that just came out though. How come I never see him down on Red River?

Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:
I’m gonna say current bands so we might actually land the gig. Ryan Adams, or Dwight Yoakum.

Austin Sound questions:
What’s the best dive bar to drink at in Austin, and what are y’all drinkin’?
Ideally I would drink in the smallest, darkest, smokiest room I could find. I would love to answer the Horseshoe or Ginny’s but honestly, I drink at the Mohawk everyday. EVERYDAY.
What are we drinkin’? Cold Lone Star and cheap well whiskey, come on.

What would y’all consider the difference between country music and Texas country?
I was just having this conversation with Burton the other day. The whole conversation sucked. I LOVE country music, and I HATE what is branded “texas country.” The TRUE Texas country is Jerry Jeff and Rusty Weir. I’m sure we’re gonna get branded “Texas country” when they start playing us on the radio everyday. Texas country pays.

Song Introduction:
Tape Machine was basically the song that started all of this nonsense. I felt like it was the first time I actually wrote something that was exactly what I wanted to say. It opened up a whole new window of honest songwriting for me. This version is the first recording of the song. It features Bobby Bang (Nick Kraus and his Austin Torpedoes) on drums. You can get the album version off our myspace page.

Sound Off:
I have a huge ego that needs to be fed daily. The best way to do that in my opinion is to play rowdy Honky Tonk music to the drunkest people I can find. If I could spend every day for the rest of my life in a smoky beer-joint or dancehall I would. Playing country music basically allows me to play the role of a drunk cowboy for the rest of my life. Whiskey, bar fights, and easy women.

Mp3:
Tape Machine

Website:
Myspace