When three seasoned Austin guitarists who grew up watching the same blues legends at legendary venues like Antone's and the Continental Club decide to collaborate, something special is bound to happen. That's exactly what occurred when Johnny Moeller—known for his work with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and backing artists like Marcia Ball—joined forces with Jesse Dayton and Ian Moore to form the Texas Headhunters.
What started as a casual studio session between old friends has evolved into a powerhouse trio that captures the authentic spirit of Austin blues while pushing beyond traditional boundaries. Their debut album, recorded in just five days at Willie Nelson's studio, showcases not just their individual talents but their remarkable ability to weave three distinct guitar voices into a cohesive, electrifying sound.
In this candid interview, Moeller opens up about the challenges and revelations of transitioning from a career spent primarily as a supporting musician to sharing frontman duties with two other guitar virtuosos. He discusses the delicate art of three-guitar arrangements, the organic songwriting process that drives the band, and how decades of friendship and shared musical heroes created the perfect foundation for this new venture.
More than just another blues-rock project, Texas Headhunters represents something increasingly rare in today's music landscape: an entirely organic, human-driven collaboration that stands as a defiant response to the artificial intelligence and manufactured sounds dominating the industry. As Moeller puts it, this is about getting back to "the real shit"—authentic musicianship, spontaneous creativity, and the irreplaceable magic that happens when talented musicians trust each other enough to truly listen and respond.
Texas Headhunters website: https://txhh.live/