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Mustangs of the West, an all-female Americana country band based in Southern California but with a connection to the Tri-Valley, are bringing their musical talents to the Bankhead Theater later this month.
It will be the first concert following the drop of their latest album "Sea of Heartbreak", which was released just last week.
After originally achieving success as the Mustangs before breaking up in the mid-1990s, electric guitarist and vocalist Sherry Rayn Barnett reached out to two members of the original group — Holly Montgomery and Livermore's own Suzanna Spring — in 2017 to bring the band back together. They rounded out the quintet with the additions of Suzanne Morissette and Aubrey Richmond from Shooter Jennings' band and renamed the band "Mustangs of the West".
"The key component to maintaining the band has been that we've been privileged to have opportunities for us to play and record new songs, and then the magic happens in the studio," Montgomery told Livermore Vine. "It's complicated because we don't live in the same city (and even state) so we feel honored to be able to get together when we do."
"Sea of Heartbreak" is the second studio album for Mustangs of the West, as their first album "Time" was released on March 27, 2020. Despite being well-received by reviewers, according to Barnett, the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic shut down their concerts and promotional plans for the album outside of live streaming on social media.
This year, the band is excited about the opportunity to play their new music live on tours and shows.
"I love this record," Spring said. "As a singer, I feel that it's got some of my best vocal performances. And as a writer, the excitement comes from hearing songs you wrote on a guitar become many interesting layers of instruments and harmonies."
"Our first radio single from the album is called 'Crooked Road.' and it's one I wrote with the late Rusty Young from Poco," Spring added. "I love the interwoven harmonies on that track. Another song on the record, 'We All Lose Sometimes', has a beautiful atmospheric guitar intro from Sherry, a driving groove, and layered harmonies on the bridge."
With anticipation building up for their show at the Bankhead, Barnett said the band hopes fans will enjoy hearing the music on their records and some unreleased songs in a live setting, and gaining a better understanding of the group and their personalities.
"We're a California country rock band, and five very dedicated women, so you'll hear jangly guitars, great harmonies, acoustic songs that are true to the sounds we grew up with, some rocked-up songs and some traditional country," Spring added. "We love playing live. We'll also have copies of our new album 'Sea of Heartbreak' for sale, and it's a beautiful package with photos taken by renowned rock photographer Henry Diltz."
For Spring, the return to the Bankhead will be a joyful moment for her being able to play in her hometown and reminiscing on the band's long-lasting memories at this venue prior to the pandemic. Band members said they are thankful for the opportunity and support from the town as they return to familiar territory in the Tri-Valley.
"We are so honored to be back playing at the Bankhead," Spring said. "It's a venue with fantastic sound, and I'm looking forward to seeing old and new friends and fans. I also think that seeing a band of women playing instruments onstage is still unusual in a traditionally male-dominated field like country/rock, and I'd like to think that can inspire young female musicians too."
"I hope we give them an evening they'll remember in a way that will inspire them to support live music and the Bankhead Theater in particular," Barnett added. "We really appreciate the fact that they're coming to see perhaps a lesser known act, yet having faith that the quality and originality of Mustangs of the West's music will be worth spending an evening with us."
The concert will be held at Bankhead Theater in Livermore on Aug. 19 with the show set to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available via livermorearts.org.
