Uncle Lucius Bids a Final Farewell
For over 12 years, Uncle Lucius was Texas music’s resident jam band, adding that necessary bit of groove, soul, and looseness to make the scene that much more diverse and infectious. They embodied the spirit of Austin, TX where they were based, and they did so better than most. And now like so many of Austin’s disappearing music institutions, Uncle Lucius is gone.
In September of 2017, frontman and founder Kevin Galloway announced his departure from the band, which meant the end of Uncle Lucius.
“12 years, five vans, 4 studio albums, countless miles, and friendships forged in fire, a lifetime of lessons and positive experiences,” Kevin Galloway said announcing his decision. “I’m forever grateful. I have no regrets. I’m moving on. To the fans … thank you for your belief and support. To the band … thank you for teaching me to be just one part of the whole.”
Kevin Galloway moved from east Texas as a former banker and music minister to make the most of the Austin music experience, and ultimately formed the band that would tour harder and farther than many, flirt with ideas of stardom in Nashville, and released their final record via Thirty Tigers called The Light in 2015. On this 12-year journey, Kevin Galloway was joined by Mike Carpenter from Houston on guitar, Josh Greco of San Antonio on drums, Jonny “Keys” Grossman from Lexington, Kentucky, and Nigel Frye from Tulsa, who was later replaced by Johann Valles on bass.
On Friday, March 23rd, Uncle Lucius played their final show after an extended farewell tour, which concluded as a two-night stint at the historic Gruene Hall in central Texas. Lew Card opened the show, and then musical mayhem ensured to the packed house of Uncle Lucius revelers.
Uncle Lucius is gone, but their music remains, and so will their legacy like a permanent footprint on the sound of Austin and Texas.
Photos by Brad Coolidge, who can be found on Instagram and Twitter.
March 24, 2018 @ 4:15 pm
“Keeping The Wolves Away” remains one of my favorite songs. I can never get tired of it. They will be missed.
March 24, 2018 @ 6:27 pm
One of the absolute best songs to come out of this scene, without a doubt.
(I would be interested to know how many people know what they’re talking about in the second verse without having to Google it…)
August 1, 2020 @ 4:49 pm
Fing love that song!
March 24, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for all the great shows and bad ass jams. You will be missed and Austin has lost another great band.
March 25, 2018 @ 12:16 am
I had the pleasure of interviewing them last year, and now feel that much more lucky than ever, if possible.. . Loved their sound and their contribution to the scene… rip Uncle Lucius
March 25, 2018 @ 7:26 am
“Their set went on and on but seemed a little distant somehow compared to the warmth of Skynyrds performance. It was freezing while the Stones were on, which didn’t help. I remember Mick rolling across the stage dressed in a ridiculous pair of glam-rock tights. Ron Wood was impressive, Billy Preston invasive. We were glad when it was all over.
All we could talk about was Skynyrd as we began the long hitch hike back home.”
March 25, 2018 @ 7:45 am
One of the best things about this site is learning about artists and bands I’ve never heard of. Uncle Lucius is one of those bands. But after giving them a listen on Spotify I’m hooked. I hate being late to the party but I guess better late than never.
March 26, 2018 @ 7:50 am
It might be worth noting that Nigel Frye was preceeded on bass by founding member, Hal Vorpahl. Hal also wrote some of the band’s tunes, including Ain’t It the Same, Pocket Full of Misery and Age of Reason.
March 26, 2018 @ 8:50 pm
I can say I was there to see them for the last time. Growing up in New Braunfels/Gruene I’ve seen and followed many bands, but Uncle Lucius was overall the best. I’ve never seen a band play with such an amazing blend and poetry. There will be no one else like them and I’m hopeful they’ll miss playing together as much as we do, and they return to the scene sometime soon. Thanks, guys! For now go Take in the View and thanks for the good times!
January 27, 2019 @ 8:53 pm
I am so sad to just now read this news! I saw Uncle Lucius for the first time at my favorite beer bar!!!!
Grady’s Pub 66 in Yukon Ok. (Bar owner Grady Cross of the former Cross Canadian Ragweed) booked Uncle Lucius and I connected with the gritty poetic style.
I made sure I made it to see Uncle Lucius every time they played Grady’s! Thank you for some great Music!
I am forever fan!!!!!!
August 18, 2019 @ 10:00 pm
I just discovered them a few months ago. They are awesome! Dang… I love you guys… your music is amazing..
January 21, 2020 @ 2:24 pm
Yep I got on board kind of late too…..Uncle Lucius “Keeping The Wolves Away” popped in on one of my Pandora playlist while searching a different tune around early 2018. I basically shared the song with anyone that would listen. The story, the feel and just being a Houston boy just made the mesh stronger for me on this tune. It is truly one of my favorite songs of all time, and Led Zeppelin is my favorite band if that tells you anything!!!! Maybe a reunion will happen, I will surely be there. Thx !!!
December 30, 2020 @ 2:20 pm
I Had the Priviledge of Opening up for Uncle Lucius Twice in Cleveland,OH at The Beachland Tavern on Waterloo!!!!WOW…WOW…and WOW!!!!Instantly one of my all time Favorite Bands ever…!!
April 23, 2021 @ 9:35 am
I’m a 56 year old mom. I absolutely adore Uncle Lucious!!!! I have just discovered their music sadly…… beautiful work!!! Thank you Uncle Lucious for sharing your amazing music!!!????
September 2, 2021 @ 8:41 pm
Saw them in North Carolina at ziggys I went to see Shooter play was excited for the night…. Shooter showed up in BMW with 20 inch rims… got drunk at the bar… and hit on every girl within a 20 foot radius….than I thought well tonight is a waste of fucking money than I heard Uncle Lucious…. ive never not heard of a band and fell in love with a band that fast… absolutely one of the best bands and live music I’ve seen… was blown away… dont understand why they aren’t played on every outlaw station across the nation… why they are not smoking with Willie…. when fuck… Toby Keith… who had nothing but a mullet and a few bubble gum hits until until the war happened .. than he put on a bandana and sang how much of a badass he was… and who’s asses he would kick… but he didn’t enlist… he just cashed a check… the point is… I bet you Shooter wasn’t driving his dads car…. but he damn sure used his name… and Toby Keith… what a joke… Uncle Lucious in my uneducated opinion… was a band I thought would blow up….. because I was blown away at the show…. than Shooter got on stage… heard one song…. looked at my wife… we laughed and left… finished our date night … and got our kids….I love the music Uncle Lucious played…. im disappointed I won’t hear anything new…… apparently I’m late in understanding that they are longer together…in my defense… im in the middle of raising 2 teenagers…
September 23, 2021 @ 2:51 am
Brad: Couldn’t na putter better brah. They’ll be missed. “Murder on Music Row” comes every other night in full color on the airwaves and over the www interweb with the bicoastal focus group horseshit notewhores. Keep the faith my Brother do NOT let them steal the traditional culture via the music. A product of ALL ethnicities, welcoming all the contributions of the subtle geniuses who add to the musical genre from ANY background, religion, nationality, etc. Lordy, lordy I tire of this BS. Screw the Nashville lawyers and focus group monsters. They can’t steal the music if we don’t let em. Your teenagers will be in our prayers as will you. “Snowin on Raton, tomorrow I’ll be through those hills and gone.”
January 24, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
Damn..I just hear Uncle Lucious on Sirius XM and I had to Google if they were still playing. I was a radio DJ in Austin and had them on the radio around 2012. I had a band booking agency back then and I immediately wanted to sign them on. I was sure they would blow up and be HUGE. Well, they didn’t sign on with me but I will always remember having them in the studio and was completely blown away by their sound. I was very fortunate to have my own mini concert in the studio and release it to the world. I saw them many times after that studio experience and still jam to their tunes.