Album Review – Mike and the Moonpies – “Live from the Devil’s Backbone”
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There’s a reason people come stumbling out of Mike and the Moonpies shows like their hair is on fire and they’ve just witnessed a miracle, swearing these boys from Austin are the best live band on this planet or any other, and it’s not the Kool-Aid they’re serving. Ever since bass player Omar Oyoque joined the band in 2018 right after they started to transition from a local honky tonk act to a national touring one, Mike and the Moonpies have taken it to next level, and have become perennials at the very top of Saving Country Music’s “Best Live Acts” list every year.
Mike and the Moonpies studio albums are stellar affairs themselves, and you can’t go wrong pulling any of them up and giving them a spin. Their last album One To Grow On pulled the rare 10/10 score at Saving Country Music. But there’s just no way to quantify what they do live. It’s at a whole other level that you have to experience to understand. Not even a live album can do it justice, but Live from the Devil’s Backbone will get you closer to that experience than anything else.
Often live albums feel like secondary entries into a band’s discography because they’re little more than the same studio songs you’ve heard before with slightly different arrangements and crowd noise in the background. That’s not the case for Mike and the Moonpies and Live from the Devil’s Backbone. The band’s songs are a completely different animal in the live context, and the frenetic energy of the performances comes blazing through.
Mike and the Moonpies are a Texas honky tonk band in every sense. They just happen to also have global appeal. You could put them in a stadium, and the fundamental appeal would still be how they embody the the spirit of Texas country honky tonk music. So capturing them in a true Texas honky tonk like The Devil’s Backbone is the perfect context.
Located on a picturesque limestone ridge in the Texas Hill Country just south and west of Austin, The Devil’s Backbone is built near what used to be an Native American campground. A blacksmith shop was constructed there in the 1890’s for wagons, then a liquor store in 1933 after prohibition, then a Sinclair gas station in the ’40’s. By the early ’50’s, a dance hall was added, and regulars love to tell you the location is haunted by a handful of different apparitions.
Just a few years ago, you could stop by the Devil’s Backbone for a beer, but the dance hall was basically a glorified storage area for the bar and virtually abandoned. Now it has become one of the most hopping honky tonks in central Texas, and this Mike and the Moonpies project only will help revitalize the spot, and lend to its legendary history. The Moonpies got the idea for the album while recording at the nearby Yellow Dog Studios in Wimberley and going to the Backbone for nightcaps.
About the only thing missing from Live from the Devil’s Backbone this is the visuals of seeing Mike and the Moonpies on stage, but luckily the whole Texas Music Scene TV show crew was on location to capture it all, and a concert video of the event is set to premier in November. Add Omar’s hair whips, Mike Harmeier’s magnetic stage presence, and this will be the closest thing to being in the room.
At 22 tracks, this double album probably has the songs you were hoping you’d get a live version of to enjoy at home, including the Saving Country Music 2021 Single of the Year, “Hour On The Hour.” Their show ender “We’re Gone” is also a great song to capture in the live setting, capped off by Mike’s walk-off music. Their version of “London Homesick Blues” gets a little lost in the chords though, and it would have been cool if we had a live version of the song “The Way” by the band Fastball that has become one of the Moonpies’ signature songs to play live.
If you have an opportunity to see Mike and the Moonpies live, do it. There are no good excuses why not to. The world has been slow to wake up to what it has within it’s midst with Mike and the Moonpies. But word is spreading, and some day, folks will be bragging loudly how they were there when Mike and the Moonpies played The Devil’s Backbone in Texas. Some of those people might even be telling the truth. The rest of us will just live it out vicariously through Live from the Devil’s Backbone.
8.3/10
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Pre-Order Live from the Devil’s Backbone on vinyl
October 9, 2023 @ 7:54 am
Based upon Trig’s articles and comments here, last spring I got tickets for a Mike and the Moonpies how in a small place in DC. I commented then that I was worried I over sold the experience to my wife and friends because while their recorded music was fine, it didn’t scream best live band. More than a few responded don’t worry, if anything the reviews under sell the experience. They were right. My wife just bought tickets for my sister and brother in-law to see them in small joint place in Portland. They have never heard of Mike and the Moonpies. I am so jealous of the night they will have. Thanks Trip. Looking forward to listening to this live music
October 9, 2023 @ 8:02 am
Dang! Those two live tracks sound mighty fine. Looking forward to the album (CD) release. btw, the full digital release (22 tracks) is currently on Bandcamp for $!0. Cheers & Twangs!
October 9, 2023 @ 8:08 am
This sounds excellent, which is really interesting, because I don’t think any of this translates to their albums at all. Seems like they flourish on stage and wilt in the studio.
October 9, 2023 @ 2:30 pm
How could you possibly listen to One to Grow On or Cheap Silver and say they wilt in the studio? Not everyone’s born with taste I guess?!?
October 9, 2023 @ 4:20 pm
Cheap Silver is an incredible studio album and the whole live/studio conversation dies in that specific situation. That is an amazing dinner making album with the wife.
October 9, 2023 @ 8:17 am
I’ve seen MMP more times than I can count. Sometimes the venue and sound has been great but other times the mix has not been great. The one thing I noticed about this album just a few songs in was how clear Taylor Englert and the drums sounded. Being able to hear a really clean mix of the drums is something you don’t really get in a live environment. Hearing the drums on this album gives me a whole new appreciation for Taylor. He’s a phenomenal drummer and it shines through on this one.
October 9, 2023 @ 8:28 am
The week before the Covid shutdown I extended a Texas business trip saw the guys at Antons. I’ve seen then one time since in Atlanta but nothing compares to that evening. For the record Omar is one of the coolest fellas I’ve met in music. I feel sorry for those who know who Jelly Roll is but have no idea who Mike Harmeier is.
I’ve been really enjoying this album. I think the review is spot on. I can’t wait to see the video from the show. As good as this album is I think the 10/16//20 Coupland Texas show from their bootleg series does the best job of giving that live feel. It’s not cleaned up like Devils Backbone and doesn’t have anything from their last album but man it’s such a good listen. And it includes The Way along with a lot of their older stuff. I think it was their first show post covid and because of that it has lots of bottled up energy.
October 9, 2023 @ 8:28 am
I got to see them live in Vegas and there was less than 50 people there. Everyone was in the front row. It was incredible!
October 9, 2023 @ 8:37 am
Trig, have you listened to Tyler halverson? One of my favorites right now you should give him a listen if you haven’t already.
October 9, 2023 @ 11:29 am
I am very aware of Tyler Halverson. If he actually releases an album, perhaps I’ll feature him. Perhaps I’ll feature him before.
October 9, 2023 @ 8:44 am
Was excited about seeing them next week in Greeley, CO and this album just kicked that excitement up a whole lot of notches.
October 10, 2023 @ 8:25 am
Moxi is a great venue. I saw them there right before covid and they were great. Planning on being there next week.
October 9, 2023 @ 9:01 am
Saw them down in Coupland after Christmas in 2019. Driving down to Amarillo next Friday night to see them. Looking forward to another great show. Well worth the journey from Kansas. Will have to buy this album from the merch booth.
October 9, 2023 @ 9:10 am
They played The Way last Thursday and it was great. I had 8 people flake out on my extra ticket to so I drove an hour each way by myself after getting a flat tire 30 minutes before I hit the road and it was WORTH IT.
October 9, 2023 @ 11:02 am
Maybe you could post a list of all the albums that got a 10/10 rating?
October 9, 2023 @ 11:30 am
In the modern era of Saving Country Music, “One To Grow On” by Mike and the Moonpies has been the only one.
October 9, 2023 @ 3:08 pm
Any particular reason it didn’t win album of the year (if I recall correctly)? Not trying to be critical, just curious.
October 24, 2023 @ 2:44 am
One to Grow on is a great album for sure and I still listen to it to this day. But How the Mighty Fall was a beast, a force to be reckoned with and impossible to touch. If you’ve not listened to it give it a listen and you’ll understand why it won album of the year that year
October 9, 2023 @ 3:35 pm
What about Zephaniah Ohora
October 9, 2023 @ 4:14 pm
Both of his albums received 9.5. Close.
October 24, 2023 @ 2:40 am
Didn’t Chris Knights Little Victories get a perfect score? Maybe that was too long ago to be part of the modern era though
October 10, 2023 @ 12:54 am
I saw MMP on April 11th, 2023 in Norderstedt, Germany, playing for 20 people, and at The Ryman in Nashville, opening for Jason Bolander and Reckless Kelly, on September 16th, 2023, in front of 2,000+ fans. Both concerts,.where I was in front row, did not move me. In Norderstedt, the band seemed tired and reluctant, in Nashville I felt like visiting a rock concert, especially because of Mr. Oyoque, who posed and played as a rock star. Not my cup of tea attending as a country fan.
October 10, 2023 @ 4:20 pm
If you were at the Ryman and didn’t like their set, there’s no help for you. I was also there and they had by far, the best set of the night. I didn’t realize that engaging with the crowd (Omar) is a negative in country music. The music they play is country/honky tonk through and through other than the last part when Mike leaves the stage and lets the boys jam for a minute.
October 9, 2023 @ 11:34 am
We are so lucky here in my area that they play here often at a variety of different venues, giving myself and the independent Country loyals so many great memories. Rumor has it they’ll be headlining the 2 day Summer Solstice festival here in Yorkville, IL for the rest of their lives as they were given the key to the city this year. I know I always say it; they just keep getting better, especially live. The album sounds great; I can’t wait for this video. Thank you guys for all the incredible shows!!!
October 9, 2023 @ 11:58 am
Mike and the Moonpies were my first concert ever, last August. They were my favorite country band going into the show. They were my favorite band of all time afterward.
Going to see them again this Friday, and trying to bring a bunch of friends and family.
The comment about Omar taking the band to the next level as a live act can’t be missed. He’s an astonishingly charismatic and fun performer, and everyone who goes to see them play falls in love with him a little. I obviously don’t know what they were like before he joined, but I can tell you that the way he connects with the crowd is amazing.
October 9, 2023 @ 5:12 pm
I’m looking forward to the show at the Tractor, too
October 9, 2023 @ 12:13 pm
Love it!
MMP are top notch!
October 9, 2023 @ 12:34 pm
If everyone had a hype man like Omar, the world would be a happier place.
October 9, 2023 @ 2:18 pm
Yep, a great sounding live album! Which isn’t a big surprise, as their Live at Winstar album is also great.
It’s a pity Apple didn’t see fit to feature it on their New Relases pages (either Country or Americana); it would’ve definitely been worthy of such promotion.
October 9, 2023 @ 2:21 pm
I agree with what everyone says here – they are an exceptional live band. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen many bands who are rightly lauded for their live performances, but very few were as good as Mike and the Moonpies. Unfortunately, being in the UK means we do not get many chances to see them play, so this album is very welcome indeed and should help fill in the gaps between their European trips, or our next trip to the US, which I will be timing to ensure we see them at least once, but hopefully more than that.
October 9, 2023 @ 2:28 pm
Gosh, this album was so good the fact that it didn’t have a live version of ”The Way” just completely slipped my mind until I read this review. They really did do a great version of that song.
This is probably the best live album to come out of Texas since William Clark Green’s Live At Gruene Hall, which, BTW, is another one of those albums that’s on another level.
October 9, 2023 @ 2:49 pm
The growl in Mike Harmeier’s voice on “We’re Gone” reminds me of Gary Stewart in his heyday – a growl Stewart could summon at will. Knowing what fans of The King Of The Honky Tonks the Moonpies are and their efforts to keep his legacy alive makes me love this band even more. Much respect to Mike and the band. P.S. Hope Jimmy McDonough’s biography of Stewart is still happening and hasn’t been shelved.
October 9, 2023 @ 4:31 pm
Why aren’t they bigger than they are? They should be playing in larger venues by now. Is it a management problem?
October 10, 2023 @ 6:06 am
Agreed. I saw them a couple of months ago and the venue was waay too tiny. I should not have the option at a Moonpies show to walk up to the stage and take a swig off the band’s beer if I really wanted.
October 12, 2023 @ 7:54 pm
Similarly, they were playing the 1:30 pm slot at Rebels & Renegades in Monterey. Way earlier than many less popular acts. They rocked their set but it felt weird having a band play at that time that would have felt at home with an evening set.
After seeing them this Sunday, I’ve been listening to this live album nonstop. The best part about it is how it has made me like and appreciate some songs that on their studio albums were usually skips for me.
October 9, 2023 @ 5:11 pm
What other bands are in your “Best Live Acts” list?
October 9, 2023 @ 5:15 pm
Here is last year’s list:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/country-musics-best-live-performers-of-2022/
October 9, 2023 @ 6:07 pm
One of my favorite posts of the year. Looking forward to this years posts so I can start planning 2024
October 10, 2023 @ 5:33 am
I am a live album snob. Surprisingly they are the albums I usually come back to listen to the most. I mean years after release I still have them consistently on rotation usually. Saying that I have a lot of experience listening to them and this one’s pretty good only thing is the sound is a bit off. I have seen them a few times now and I know what they sound like live and this is close but it still doesn’t do it justice. Mostly because the percussion is tuned way too high up and at times you would like to hear the solos of the base and guitar and steel come through the rest of the noise a bit more. This has me beg the question I get trying to do these places that iconic venues that not a lot of people record live albums at but there is something to be said about a place that is done it a lot before.
They just deserve something on the quality of stoney at Billy Bob’s or Mickey and the motorcars at Billy Bob’s or even either of William Clark Green’s live records. Because they are that amazing and this is good but it falls just short of that.
October 10, 2023 @ 9:25 am
Y’all like live Moonpies? Go to Bandcamp.com – they’ve got 22 other live albums there from 2010-2020, all (most?) mixed and mastered by Adam Odor, the band’s longtime producer. Odor and the band released these during Covid. Support the band and go get ’em.
October 10, 2023 @ 9:39 am
Was lucky enough to see them twice this last weekend at two different venues.
They don’t disappoint. And as a bonus saw Taylor Hunnicutt as well.
October 10, 2023 @ 10:42 am
We was up in that piece. And it was a hot, steamy, and very Moonpie-y evening.
October 10, 2023 @ 4:50 pm
I’ve seen them in Ft Worth a few times before COVID then just saw them again last Thursday just outside of San Diego and also at Rebels and Renegades in Monterey on Sunday. Absolutely outstanding. I still cannot figure out why they are not getting bigger crowds at their shows.
October 11, 2023 @ 8:09 am
So is this the same Devil’s Backbone that is featured in the Todd Snider song?
October 11, 2023 @ 8:31 am
Yes.
October 12, 2023 @ 9:14 pm
A live album from this band is certainly something I want to check out.
The only obstacle is that I am still besotted with Charley Crocket’s live album.
Definitely a wealth of good country (live) music to take in right now!
Thanks largely to SCM!
October 17, 2023 @ 9:32 am
They’re live show just keeps getting better and better too. I’ve seen them twice in Corpus. The second time was last year, and man, it felt like a revival in terms of the energy level the band brought and the crowd had. The live show is electric!