The Way-goners

THE WAY-GONERS are in some ways a throwback to the good old days when beer drinking, juke joints, and a band went together like dance floors and sawdust. Doing it up in the tradition of their honky tonk heroes Waylon, Merle, Hank, and others; playing anywhere that can offer the band beer and a good vibe. Formed in 2005, THE WAY-GONERS have found an outlet for their brand of rocking country music across the small river bars of southern Louisiana to the bright lights and big city stages of Nashville and Austin.

Adopting a ?Wherever and Whenever? approach to gigging has given the group the opportunity to become a tough, hard gigging outfit and hone their unique sound in front of appreciative audiences everywhere. After a year or so of playing every honky tonk and beer dive they could find, the band hooked up with legendary roots rocker and Nashville producer DAN BAIRD, former singer of the Georgia Satellites. In July 2006 BAIRD loaded up the car and headed down to Louisiana for the recording of ?KICKIN' UP DUST?. The CD features 12 original songs written by singer Michael Howes and guitarist Danny Bond. Recorded over a week and a half's time in an old warehouse just a few blocks from Lake Ponchatrain; ?Kickin' Up Dust? offers an unpolished glimpse of the band and their songs.

The Way Goners new release for 2011 marks the bands third CD, and 2nd full length album "Hella' Highway". The songs for Hella' Highway were recorded in a small studio in Nashville, by indie producer and studio owner Adam Landry. Landry is a long time friend and former band mate of Michael Howes. Landry has been building his credits as a producer, to go along with his notoriety as both a live and studio guitarist for Allison Moorer, Ray Lamontange, Hayes Carll, Dan Baird, and Trent Summar, to name a few.

Like the title and opening track, "Hella' Highway" features a dusty and organic sound throughout its 9 songs. The lyrics of songwriter and singer Michael Howes are honest & heartfelt, as is the music put forth by Randy Colona on drums, Colin Wiegand bass, Shane Willis lead guitar, and Buz Sibley fiddle. "Hella' Highway" features a variety of grooves like the country swinging Weed, Wine, & Willie; Cajun waltz Butte La Rose; and relentless boogie My Old Flame.