The Texas Gentleman performing at the ACL Live Moody Theater in Austin, Texas on July 26, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
How does the Texas quintet manage to glide effortlessly between various styles and sounds? These aren't just any musicians. The members—co-singers and frontmen Nik Lee and Daniel Creamer (who also handle guitar and keys, respectively), guitarist Ryan Ake, bassist Scott Edgar Lee, Jr., and drummer Aaron Haynes (since replaced by Paul Grass)—have amassed thousands of hours on stage and in the studio, supporting a diverse array of artists from legends like Kris Kristofferson, George Strait, and Joe Ely to modern stars like Leon Bridges and Shakey Graves.
While many have praised them as the second coming of renowned backing bands like the Wrecking Crew, the Swampers, and The Band, the Gents remain humble. “We never instigated or condoned any of that,” says Nik Lee with a self-effacing laugh. “We appreciate the comparisons… we just don't think they’re accurate.”
Regardless of their extensive collaborations, they are, above all, their own band. “We’re a group of five, and when you hear us play, you’re hearing the influence of five different musicians working together as one unit,” says Daniel Creamer. “Everyone has the freedom to explore their parts and fulfill their creative spirit, but there’s always trust in one another to serve the song.”
Their second album, Floor It!!!, follows their 2018 debut, TX Jelly. Where their first record, recorded in four days at Muscle Shoals’ FAME Studios, was a snapshot of a moment, the new effort is more crafted. “The vibe of the first one was, ‘Let's just do this thing!’” Creamer says. “But this time it was like, ‘We have this idea about what we want to accomplish…’”
And accomplish they did. While the Gentlemen’s sound is steeped in the classic roots, rock, and pop of the ‘60s and ‘70s, there’s a dreamy (“Sing Me to Sleep”), spacey (“Skyway Streetcar”), and occasionally progressive (“Dark at the End of the Tunnel”) quality that makes their music timeless. Add elements of funk, soul, country, R&B, southern rock, and gospel, with rich arrangements featuring horns, strings, and heavenly background vocals, and you have more than just an album. Floor It!!! is a rich and righteous ride.
Recorded primarily at EchoLab Studios in Denton, Texas, with producer Matt Pence, the process remained organic. “A lot of it was tracked live in the studio, with as few overdubs as possible,” Lee says. “We like to have everybody vibing together in one room.”
Creamer adds, “The stuff you hear on the record is pretty fresh and spontaneous. We didn’t do a hundred takes of a song. We just follow the melody in a way that makes sense to us.”
The band's connection runs deep, with bonds stretching back to their pre-Gentlemen days. “Years before we started the band, Daniel and I and a couple of the other guys lived together in a big Brady Bunch house in Duncanville, just outside of Dallas,” Lee says. “We’d sit around and fiddle with stuff, and it always worked well. It was never forced.”
Regarding their songwriting partnership, Lee notes, “There’s never any hiccups in the process. We’ve worked together on different sessions over the years and know a lot of the same people, so we’re fluent in our ideas and opinions.” He laughs, “If we wanted to take a jab at somebody in a song without letting on, we could do it easily—‘cause we’d both know who it is.”
Creamer adds, “We like to nerd out a little with melodies and arrangements, finding something that tickles the ear and goes the extra mile.”
So, what exactly are the Texas Gentlemen? “First and foremost, we’re a group of friends,” Creamer says. “There are no limits on the music we create together. We like to have fun, do funky stuff, rock, and jam. Sometimes that takes us into country, sometimes into soul, sometimes into progressive areas. There are no constraints.”
Lee adds, “I like to say we’re a Texas boogie band. But really, this band is less about a style and more a way of life. Our music can change at any moment—we just go with the flow. We just want to have a good ol’ time.”
And so should you, dear listener. Just grab a copy of their latest record, slap it on your nearest hi-fi, drop the needle on the grooves, and Floor It!
Fan reviews:The Texas Gentleman shared the stage with Big Head Todd and The Monsters at the ACL Live Moody Theater. They continue across the United States with the last stop at the Hoodoo Mural Festival in Amarillo, Texas on September 28, 2024.
The Texas Gentlemen rocked last night! What an amazing show! It was an incredible show I felt truly blessed to behold!
Great show!
First time seeing them, they are amazing.
The Texas Gentleman
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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